It appears that the contest between President Hayes and the
Senate was really terminated by the country. The "wire- pullers," with Mr. Blaine at their head, were extremely irritated at Mr. Hayes's selections for the Cabinet, and resolved to give him a decided check by refusing his nominations. Mr. Blaine accordingly made furious speeches, and for four days it seemed as if the old Senatorial " Ring " would triumph over the White House. Then the opposition suddenly collapsed. The Senators outside the Ring resisted its dictation, and a perfect shower of telegrams warned the leaders in the cabal that they would lose their seats. They gave way completely, and the new Cabinet was accepted by a nearly unanimous vote, only two Senators voting against the nominations. Mr. Hayes has repeated his determination to im- prove the Civil Service, and as a beginning has declined to move anybody except upon specific charges. He has, at the same time, directed a Commission to inquire into the quarrel between the rival Governments in Charleston and New Orleans, and has ap- pointed Mr. Frederick Douglas, once a slave, Marshal of the District of Columbia. His main difficulty now is with the Democrats, who expect more concessions in the South than he can make.
Previous page
