Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-05-28
Garfelde's Legal Apologist.

Il appears that Elwood Evans has been
constituted TIE attorney Of Sclucus Gar
ielde in the present campaign. and has
entered upon the task assigned lin with
all the skill and experience which his
long connection with the bar affords. In
his speech in Columbia Hall last week he
said there appeared to be no endorsement
Of Mr.. Garfclle from the Old Settlers Of
the country. and Lc could not bn.er al
low all the praises to be sung by the new
corners to the Territory. lie the, touched
up the picture drawn by Salomcn Of the
worn and ha@gard appearance of Mr..
Garfelde at Washington, bourne down
with the cares Of state, laboring so devot-
cdly for his constituents, and with the
tears slistcuiny in his eyes as the dew
drop on the rose, he asked, "Caa you de-
sert him now :" Sobs choked his utter.
ance, and it was several moments before
he could proceed with tho remainder of his
speech. He then attempted to convince
his audience that Garfedc was a Rcrub.
lican in 1859, and cited the fact that he
had canvassed Oregon that year in favor
Of Douglas to split the Democratic party
and thus secure triumph of the Republi-
can party, as evidence Of the truth of the
statement. With all his skill as lawyer,
and eloqucncc as a public advocate, he
could not cover up the fimscy garb of
sophistry which clothed his remarks. If
his position is true one, then Garfelde has
changed his politics, tortuous as his record
was supposed to be, once oftcncr than we
had counted, for If a Republican in 1859,
he was Democrat in 1861, when he be.
came the nominee of the Democratic party
for Congress. The fact is, however, that
Garfclde stumpcd Oregon for two,fod
purpose, to punish the Administration for
removing him from an Office he had dis
graced, and to fill his pockets with tie
filthy lucrc furnished by Republicans
to hire just such tools to do their bidding.
lie was induced to enter the canvass by
precisely the arguments which Denny and
Flanders induced him to canvass in the
interest of the Republican party, once just
after ha"ing left his Co?perhead skin on
the classic shores of Williams Creek, and
again while protesting to be one of John
sons most devoted adherents. 10 illus
trate: Garfcldc operated then from precise.
" the same motives which prompts Mr.
Evans now to become his apolosist-that
thrift may frowuing follow" We care
not to follow Mr.. Evans though his at.
tempted justification of Garfclde 1t was
throughout, the argument of hair-spIit-
ing, pettifogging lawyer upon condemned
criminal for whom there appeared no hope,
requiring abundance of faith and strong
imagination to make it bear the scmblance
Of logical discourse. If Mr.. Evan is
now willing to suffer any pcnancc as
punishment for his participation in the
Philadelphia Convention, what can he do
few months hence to absolve himself
from the sins he is now committing against
the rrofessed faith Of life time? Pause,
Elwood, before it is too late. Ambition,
desire for Office, led you to endorse Andy F.;
do not let it make you persist in an endorse
ment Of man whose record is far more
damnable, from your political stand point,
than that Of your once beloved Andrew
johnson.