The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-06-26
WATTERsON ON GARFIELD.

Watterson, of the Louisville Courtr-Jour,
nal, who was for several years the associate of
Garfield in congress and knows HIM intimate
ly and thoroughly, gives, among others, the
following spicy etchlngs of his character:
WASHINGTON, June 10.-Mr. Garfield is a
pretender in politics. He is not what he says
he is, nor is he what he has succeeded in max
ing some people believe him to be. While he
would appear strong he is thoroughly weak,
and whereas he would have the reputation of
an independent statesman he is in reality one
of the most subservient of partsans. He is a
weak and not very honest politician In the
extra session he said more than once, in open
session and III private conversation, that he
would vote for the repeal of the laws forbid
ding the use Of troops to keep the peace at the
polls He announced 1t once too often, how
ever, for when his party saw that the demo-
Gratis were about to profit by the promise, Con-
ger and some other stalwarts openly upbraid-
ed him on the floor, and poor Garfield retreat
ed from his manly position under cover of a
fasehood
Ten years ago Gen Garfield made strong
speeches in favor Of revenue reform, and warn
ell the prOtectlonlstS against standing in the
way Of the inevitable. HIS accession to the
ranks of revenue reiormcrs was hailed every
where with delight, and he was made mem
Der of the Golden Club and accepted his cleo
ton. When, however, he was a candidate last
winter for the senate il was plainly intimated
to him that Ohio would send no one as repre-
sentative to the upper house except an avOwed
protectionist. Hls membership of the Golden
Club then became a reproach to him. For
the position he was seeking he forgot his
manllness he surrendered his honor, and he
deliberately told an untruth when he said he
had always been q protectiOnrst, and that he
did not know the character of the Golden Club
when he permitted himself to be made a
member of it. The name of the club was not
sufficient notice to him of its purposes! Last
summer he .vOted for the rider on the army
bill, which is now on the statute book, pro-
viding that troops shall not be used as apoliCe
force to keep peace at the polls. This winter
he ran away to OHIO to escape voting on a
similar provision, while all the followers
whom last year, he had led to vote with him,
voted the other way at the command of Ros-
coc Conkllng and the other stalwarts of the
senate.
Mr.. Garfield has given proof of his coward
ice whenever, following his better thoughts,
he has stepped beyond the lines of party dis
ciplne The smallerminded but firmerheart
to the ranks. This element would control his
should he unfortunately be
elected president; Conkling and the old Grant
ring would revive. He may know better, but
his fears guide him. He lacks character. He
is of that soft, tlabby nature which spreads
over men like poultlce and draws the weak
and wicked to him. He Is like great pack
age of fluffy wool which gathers to itself all
The impurities that happen to be floating about
in the air.
Mr. Garfield is not bad man, and he is not
a very good man. What he does would not
injure kim, as the world goes, hut he thinks it
would, and he cOnceals it. He would have
the world look upon him as one whose life is
pure from the little vices that mark other
men. | imagine he smokes cigar with q
feeling that he sacrifices votes by his devotion
TO tins habit He would not havelhIs Western
Reserve constituency know that he had ever
lasted whisky, and yet he las, and a deal of II.
He lOyes the pleasures of the table, good eat
ng and drinking, as do most men of healthy
bodies and minds; but he hides his healthy
ippetites from the world as he would hide eX-
,esses. His appetites and desires are coarse.
What he is can be read in his heavy sensuous
ace; but worse than his natural tendencies Is
lis deCeptiveness. During the filibustering
against the Force bill, when Randall aided
~ Blaine, was leading the minority and But
er the majority, Garfield, Foster Frye, and
me other, whom do not recall, were in the
Speakers room, down stairs, playing poker.
During their absence they were voting with
he democrats) they were regularly voted by
he tally clerk Finally Butler discovered the
rick and protested that they had not been pres
mt during the roll call, although their names
we're recorded as voting. Blaine rushed down
tairs to inform the players of Buffers dlscOv-
ny. One by one they entered the chamber
through different doors and appealed to the
ecord as an answer to Butler, 1t was a little
hing; but Garfield will say, and tries to say
n all that side of his life that is turned to the
public gaze, that he knows not poker nor any
'ther game at cards; that betting is abhorrent
o him, and that he is an enemy to cheating
nd immortality of every sort. He wants the
world to believe that he Is a clear minded
nan that his thoughts are elevated and his
anguage pure, In this, too, he plays the hypo-
rite. He has strong mind, Of coarse fibre
t is vigorous but lacks refinement When
e unbends he loves common and gross things.
lis wit is very coarse, and the stories he will
ELL IN the company of gentlemen at a dinner
able are some Of them revolving in their vul-
arity. As distinguished senator said of
i'm yesterday: He paints his iniquities on "a
sunday school banner"
But way down at the bottom he is bad
nan. He was one OF the most cunning of the |
epublican visiting statesmen at New Orleans.
he local rascals found a more useful ally in
fairfield than in all the others combined. He
las as cunning as they and as constituencies.
the true history Of the days when the Lou
'iana conspiracy against the government was
ERECTED should ever be written, it will he
lund that James A. Garfield is as responsible
5 any one of the returning board scoundrels
)r the disfranchisement of 10000 citizens of
lat state. 1t was easy for HIM, after the work
I which he engaged in New Orleans, to take
art in the Electoral Commission, which com
leted the fraud.
The country knows of the disclosure of his
in the Credit Mobilier scandal
knows, too, Of his persistent efforts during
he present session, as a member Of the Ways
y q Al