The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-06-23
Blaine and Garfield.
New York Sun1

We invite the attention of the more
thoughtful and high-minded Republicans to
a comparison that will probably be of inter
est to them at this time.
By this description of Republicans we
mean that numerous and influential wing Of
the party which makes concessions 10 prin-
ciple and decorum, even in politics. These
are the Republicans who were Disguised
with the scandals of Grantism; who have
made an effort to preserve their self-respect,
although at the expense of the machine and
the machine candidates; who. as rule, OPP
posed the third term; and who. almost to q
man, opposed the nomination of Mr.. Blaine
in 1876, and again in 1880, on the ground
that his personal character rendered him
unfit to receive their votes for President.
IL Mr.. Blaine cou6 have convinced these
Republicans that bis record was Hnstsined,
that the suspicious of corruption in his ca
reeT as a Congressman were IN just, nothing
could have prevented his nomination at Gin
cinnsti four years ago; nor could anything
have defeated him at Chicago last week.
The Republicans whose reluctance TO take
up with a suspected man wrecked Mr..
Blaine's hopes in 1876 and $780, are now
forced by an accidental nomination to con-
slider whether they can give their support TO
Garfield. The best way, undoubtedly, for
them to make up their minus is to measure
Garfield's record by the same rule that they
have applied to Blsine's.
Mr.. Blaine's name. like General Gerfields,
appeared in Cakes Ames' memorandum list
of Cor gressmen bribed. He was there set
down for thirty shares of stock, while only
twenty were allotted to Garfield. Ames was
q cool headed, practical man, who bought
Congressman as he bought shovel handles,
deliberately. dispassionately, and with q
close regard to the market value OF the COM
modify. Mr. Blaine denied. as General Gar
field denied, any participation in the bust
ness. The investigation came, the truth wss
dragged from the reluctant lips of Cakes
Ames, and the evidence was spread before
the people. The report of the Poland Com
mlttee in regard to Mr.. Blaine's case was as
follows:
versation with Mr.. Blaine in regard 10 taking
ten shares OF the stock, aud recommended Ii
as good Investment. Upon consideration,
stock of the Union Pacific Railroad Company,
and never did take 1t, and never paid or re-
celved anything on account OF 1t.
But long before the Poland Committee
came to this conclusion, the Sun, judging
on the evidence had acquitted Mr.. Blaine OF
corruption. How different was the finding
of the Poland Committee in the case of Gar
field, who had sworn, like Blaine that he
never owned, received, or sgreed TO receive
any stock of the Credit Mobilier or of the
Union Pacific Railroad, nor any dividends
or profits arising from either of them'
He agreed with Mr. Ames to take ten shares
of Credit Mobilier stock, but did not pay for
the same. Mr.. Ames received the so per cent.
dividend In bonds, and sold them for 81 per
cent, and also received the 90 per cent. cash
dividend, which, together with the price of
the stock and interest, left a BALANCE of 1929.
This sum was paid over to Mr.. Garfield by
check on the Sergeant alarms.
The blame and shame which attached to
Mr.. Blaine at the time of the Credit Mo-
bilier investigation were, however, earned
by his efforts, as Speaker of the House, to
shield Garfield and the other convicted
bribe-takers from the natural consequences
OF their crimes.
The blame which General Garfield IN
CURED was the blame of proved guilt, the
shame was the shame of conviction by his
own party associates.
Mr.. Rlaine's unfortunate reputation rests
upon the Mulligan letters. His friends
have meyer admitted his guilt. No Republi-
can Investigating Committee has ever de-