The Penn Monthly Volume 7 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 edition. Excerpt: ... think it most probable that had the nomination been effected by the direct vote of the Republican party, Mr. James G. Blaine would have been the successful candidate. He has, more than any other man in the party, the qualities which excite popular enthusiasm; and while he would not have united all the elements of the Republican party in his support as Mr. Hayes will, he would have drawn a much heavier vote from the great and irresolute mass of citizens who are not active and zealous for either party. That he would have been what "the better self" of the nation is demanding, a President devoted to the reform of abuses and the correction of our methods, we do not see any reason to believe. But neither are we confident that Gov. Hayes will be--if elected--anything more than a respectably efficient President, who will leave our governmental traditions and machinery very much as he found them. He is a man of liberal education, great wealth, and great local popularity. He was one of the thousands of excellent and faithful officers to whom we owe the suppression of the rebellion; but he won no special distinction in the army. For three years he was a respectable member of Congress, but kept his mouth shut and exerted no influence upon the legislation of his country. He has been thrice elected to the Governorship of his native State, defeating successively three able Democrats, Thurman, Pendleton and Allen. Whatever promise is contained in those achievements, he gives us, but nothing more; and to those who look beyond the election to the policy of the coming President, the future is a blank page, fringed with the consolatory motto, " we might have done worse." If the ticket we turned " topside t'other way" it would be vastly stronger. In national...