Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-09-07
DEACON GARFIELD. THE RE.
FORMER.

that the people have lost their memory
attempt to explain the significant 81
lence of Garfield's letter OF acceptance on
the vital question of reform, by asserting
that his political record, as well as per-
sonal character, is a sufficient guaranty
that, if elected, he will bend all his en-
ergies to the work vf reformation and
sweep away the innumerable abuses gem
Grated in twenty years of Republican
administration. The party organs have
been compelled to invent a good many re-
markable stories to help the chronic
weakness of their candidate. but this
statement surpasses all Others in magniti-
cent impudence, and would bring a blush
of shame to the cheek of Baron Mum
chausen.
Mr.. Garfield, leaving Hancock and
other gallant soldiers to fight out the ma
tion's battle, rode to the rear early in the
action and took a comfortable seat in
Congress. The war was then at it's
hight, and with the war had come an av-
alanche of fraud and corruption such as
the country had never SO much as i'm
agined before. As the blood of the peo-
pie was wasted by the persistent inter-
meddling of President and Cabinet in
military affairs, so the treasure of the
people was s%quandered and stolen by the
flock of loyal cormorants who fattened
upon national misfortune. Every de-
partment of the Government was in
tested with them, and so bold had they
become by escape from punishment, or
investigation, that their iniquitous
operations were conducted without an
effort at concealment. Mr.. Garfield was
then a young man, fresh from collegiate
duties and the pious ministrations of the
pulpit. Then, if ever, it might have
been expected that his soul would be
shocked by such systematic rascality un-
der the guise Of patriotism, and that he
would have consecrated all the powers of
mind and body to the work of reform.
If his moral sense was disturbed in the
degree by a spectacle which
every honest heart sick, he gave
no indication of it. He never lifted voice
nor finger against the tide of wickedness
which found its way even into the halls
Congress. He never introduced q res
or spoke . word for any purpose
or remotely connected with re-
By his silence and inactivity he
virtually sanctioned the crimes of high
and low degree thrust under his eyes
every day and hour. The Republican
which blossomed into infa-
nous perfection during the progress Of
the war did not provoke so much as a
from the present Republican can.
didate for the Presidency.
How was it after the war;, when the
pressure of public danger could no longer
be urged as an excuse for ignoring the de-
mands Of REFORM Did Mr.. Garfield
rise in the majesty of outraged and
indignant virtue, and pour out the walls
his righteous wrath upon the heads of
rogues? Did he endeavor to
the decentralization in all branches
Of public business which Republican
rule had practically produceds Did he
do anything which the most charitable
ingenuity can torture into an attempt to
make the Republican administration
cleaner and better! If he did, nobody
has ever heard of it. On the contrary,
participated in several of the worst
performances of that wretched era. He
hands with Shepherd, Babcock &
in the Washington ring; he took a
Zee Of $4,000 in the DeGolyer pavement
swindle; he had a share of the Credit
Mobilier 'tslush fund.-" and was con-
Victed of perjury in that matter by a
Jury Of his own political friends.
But the strength of Mr.. Garfeld's re-
'orm proclivities was best displayed dur.
Ing the great struggle with the whisky
Here was the most favorable op.
portunity possible for a genuine and res
reformer to distinguish himself in
The service OF the people by lending Wig.
orousa aid and comfort to those who were
frying to protect the public cash and
punish public thieves. How did Mr..
Garfield improve that opportunity, By
keeping his arms folded and his mouth
shut. Not word from his lips, not q
line from his pen, encouraged the secre.
tary OF the Treasury in the desperate
struggle against a organized band Of
backed by the whole weight
executive influence. Whether b.
thought the whisky ring "a sacred thing"
. thing aeeurssd. nobody knew then
and nobody knows now. Sufficiently
communicative on all ordinary occasions.
on this supreme occasion he was AZ dpmb
ss an oyster. He allowed Bristow to
tight the good fight single handed and
aione; 70 fail. for lack of help, in catch.
ing all the thieves, and in furnishing ali
those caught; and finally to be driven
out Of the Cabinet in disgrace-so far as
Presidential displeasure could disgrace
him. The whisky ring and its friends
sA~s every reason to Be- grsteiuI to Mr.. !