A Democrat reporter, David Weigel (Slate) claimed recently that Rutherford Hayes (R-OH) stole the 1876 presidential election. That's just so wrong, big time!
Here's the real story, without the Democrat spin: Rutherford Hayes won, and the Democrat nominee, Samuel Tilden, lost -- by 185-184 in the Electoral College.
Both sides reported small margins of victory in South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana. History books written by hordes of Democrat professors since then obscure the fact that, at the time, it was obvious that Tilden's alleged victories in those disputed states were the result of Democrat vote fraud. Most African-Americans (Republicans back then) had been prevented from voting by Democrats, who also falsified many county-wide ballot tallies.
Forgotten by now is the fact that during the election dispute, the Grand Old Party held the moral high ground.
In any case, the official tallies from all three states showed Hayes the winner.
Tellingly, the 1880 Democrat platform accused Republicans of having cheated their way to victory in only two states, tacitly admitting Democrat vote fraud in at least one.
If the Republicans had indeed stolen the election, why did Rutherford Hayes become such a popular president? He could easily have been re-elected, but decided to retire. In his place, the nation elected another Ohio Republican, James Garfield.
If the Democrats had really been cheated, why didn't Samuel Tilden (D-NY) become a hero? Instead, he quickly faded away. Why? Because he was busted trying to buy an Electoral Vote, that's why!
Republicans would benefit tremendously from not relying on Democrat history books. For the truth about Hayes vs. Tilden, see pages 118-21 of Back to Basics for the Republican Party.
This topic is continued at Samuel Tilden (D-NY) tried to buy an Electoral Vote in the 1876 presidential election.
Michael Zak is a popular speaker to Republican organizations around the country. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is his acclaimed history of the GOP, cited by Clarence Thomas in a Supreme Court decision. He is also the author of the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar. His Grand Old Partisan website celebrates more than fifteen decades of Republican heroes and heroics.

Just finished a bio on James Garfield -- both he and Hayes were truly remarkable men. The Democratic Party has always been vile and corrupt, hasn't it! The history of the Republican Party has much to be proud of, so thank you for the efforts to re-educate people!!
Posted by: listingstarboard | September 29, 2011 at 09:48 AM