The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-09-10


Nothing seems to afford the Radical
ring such supreme pleasure as to be
constantly chanting the praises of the
great Christian patriot and Statesman,
Hon. Rev. Gen. Garfield. What be
has done to entitle himself to such
distinguished consideration it is diff
cult to conceive. True he has the
questionable honor of having figured
somewhat conspicuously in the noto-
rious Credit Mobilier affair, the COM
mittee, composed mostly of men of
his own party, having found that he
was to be classed along with Kelley
in the swindIing operation, and re-
ceived 1929 as his share of the plunder
without the investment of q dollar.
Admitted that he voted for the salary
grab infamy, knowing that it was an
outrageous plumber. and knowing at
the time that an honest, earnest effort
on his part in the Committee and on
floor of Congress would have COM
pIeteIy 1squeIched" the outrage. 1t
can't be denied that while acting as
Chairman of the Committee on APP
preparations, at the late session of
Congress, he went before tine Board
of Public works of the District of
Columbia, and for a paltry fee of $5,-
000assisted in obtaining the acceptance
of swindling patent pavement con-
tract by which the Government was
defrauded out of hundreds of thou
sands of dollars. Yet his friends as
sure us he is an Honorable man, and
the only person in the Nineteenth
District whose intelligence and homes
ty qualify him to represent her patri-
ocic people. But these things they
would have us believe are among the
/ little smistakes" he has committed.
Well, then, what are the evidences OF
his great statesmanship? What bill,
what measure for the relief of the
people OF the Nation or of his District
has he ever originated or urged
through Congress that should entitle
him to such high consideration? He
has been in Congress during all these
long months while business has been
dead and the energies of the people
crushed owing to the wretched cOndi-
ton of our financial affairs, and pray,
what has he done to relieve the gener-
al distress2 For years has he occupied
a seat and seen the producing people
oppressed with taxation and plunder-
ed to promote the interests of the
privileged and untaxed bondholders.
without once raising his voice in faY-
or of equal taxes and equal rights. He
has aided in establishing tariff sys-
tenn which makes the agricultural peo-
I, pie the West mere hcwers of wood
and drawers of water to the lordly
manufacturers of the East, without an
effort to prevent the injustice. He
has seen Ohio, with not half the
wealth of New England, paying three
J times the amount of taxes of those six
States, without an effort to right OIL
wrong. He has tamely sat in his seal
and witnessed fhe Inauguration of the
plundering rule of the carpet-b -baggers
in the South through the despotic use
!. of the federal army without word Of
rebuke. In short, he has witnessed
all the peculations. plumbers and cor.
ruptions that haYe been carried on
+ against the Government and the peo
pie without an effort to prevent them
And yet his friends tell US he is a
man of most transccndcnt- ability
man of national reputation-the only
person in the District capable ofrepre
senting its interests and claim tha
it would be akin to treason for any
one not to joinin the grand anthem
which they are chanting 10 the praise
of the great Colossus.