The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-07
JUDGE BLACK ON GARFIELD
How Garfield Thinks Treachery
to His Country Fidelity
to His Party.
New York World, September IS. 1880

New ork w orld, september 25. 1sS)
The following letter from the Hon.
j. s. Black. OF Pennsylvania, sent in
reply 10 al invitation TO attend the
great Democratic mass meeting OF
Thursday evening. but not received in
time 10 be read that evening, will
command the attention of thinking
men of all shades of political opinion ::
BROCKIE, YORK, PA, Sept. -. 1880.
GENTLEMEN: Il cannot attend the
meeting Of The Democratic lsepubli.
cans at the city of New York on tho
23 INST. But | can assure you OF my
concurrence i'm its object, and it time
and space permitted, l could give you
q reason for the faith that is within
me.
In public affairs General Garfield
does not act upon hia aonvictions !;
when he passes into the domain OF
politics his conscience loses It's grip,
and for his party he is willing to do
any wrong which will promote tn. ir
interests, or play any card, how false
soever. which will win them power.
This surrender of his moral and men,
tai integrity ia the condition upon
which he holds his high place in the
affections OF the party he belongs to.
Treachery to his country is fidelity to
his faction. II at any time in the la.
fifteen years he had supported the
Constitution and laws in spirit OF
pure Justice. refused to defie himself
with election frauds, withheld his
counienance from executive cOriup-
ton, or denounced the fOrcible INSTALL
ment of thieves in state offices, he
would have converted himself into
Democrat, and been expelled from the
communion of the anti-constitutionsl
party.
General Gartield's public career fur
nishes more striking examples OF NOR
al prostitution than the history OF any
individual have known.
Mr.. Tilden was elected in 1876. "A
false return was the only resource
against him. General Garfield went
down to Louisiana and there found it
absolutely certain that the TIldeD elec-
tors had been duly appointed at
legal and full poll, SO peaceably con-
duct ed that there was not even squab-
bic about it in the whole state. Aud
the appointment SO made was attested
by and recorded upon the certificates
aud the Oaths of election officers ad.
verse to the app0intees in all their
feelings and wishes. There was no
earthly excuse for denying this; no
contradiction OF it could be honest.
10 count the state for Hayes was a
thing that could he done only by i'm
pudent and unmitigated fraud. Gem
eral Garfield gave his active assistance
in that great crime. His judgment as
member Of the Electoral Commission
was y thing TO be expected, for he
must long before that have convinced
himself that q fraud. was as good q
way as any other Of eltc.ing Presi-
dent. In political game he did not
think that anybody had moral sense
enough to abstain from throwing u die
which he himself had loaded 10 win
the stake. X x
The Credit Mobiier stock distribu-
ted by Oakes Ames was intended to
influence the legislation of Congress
corruptly. lie and the company who
put it into his hands meant business,
and that business was bribery. Gen.
eral Garfield agreed to take the stock,
and did actually take dividends upon
it, X
They had but one answer, and that
was positive denial of the fact that
any stock had ever been. taken by
them and on that line they expected
Mr.. Ames to swear them through.
General Garfield united in making
this false defense. Their witness fail. |
ed them, and they were all convicted. |
Fithfully and hopefully yours,
j. s. BLACK.
The Hon. Augustus Schell, Chairman,
and members of committee