The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 26, July 1922 - April, 1923 Page: 234

- Southwestern Historical Quarterly

THE BRYAN-HAYES CORRESPONDENCE
EDITED BY E. W. WINKLER
VI
HAYES TO BRYAN
Fremont, 0.
22 Dec 1875
My dear Guy:
Your kind letter of 13th is before me. Your views on public'
questions I can subscribe to without important qualifications. But
this candidacy business, I feel is another thing. I do not feel like
severely censuring men of commanding position, who have ren-
dered large services, who seek or seem to seek the Presidency.
Our greatest Statesmen have committed that mistake. But for
others, for mere availabilities, to do it is unpardonable. My rule
as Gov. was to obey the 11th commandment to the letter. I never
alluded even to general politics except when my state was to act
on an amendment to the National Constitution. To depart now
would be a mistake. On the proposed Const. Amend't of Blaine
I might properly speak.
A stye on one of my eyelids prevents me from writing with com-
fort. I shall be glad to hear from you. I know your soundness
& friendship if this thing becomes practical will be of great value.
The more I think of it the less I desire it. In any event I must
be passive.
Sincerely
R. B. Hayes
BRYAN TO HAYES
Galveston, Feb. 4th 1876.
Dear Rud:
I have read your inaugural sent to Ballinger; it is good. I have
also read your last letter to me, and noticed particularly what you
say about "available candidates." Are not all now selected as
such ? I did not know that we had any citizen that could step
down to the Presidency, or that any were necessary to fill it.
What I wrote and suggested to you was from my standpoint,
and what occurred to me as your personal friend. My hope was

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