Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-06-18
GARFIELD AND ARTHUR.


GARFIELD AND ARTHUR.
Never before in the history of American
politics has the nomination for the two high
est offices in the gift Of the people been re-
ceiyed with such intense, yet, such signifi-
cant indifference as that of Garfield and
Arthur.
Heretofore the selection of candidates for
President and Vice-P President, and particu-
larly so by the Republican party, has been
the signal for blaze of popular enthusiasm
and demonstrations of joy which extended
throughout the entire country, but the Chi
cago nomination awakens no interest, arouses
no excitement, creates no enthusiasm, nor
produces the slightest ripple in the social or
political current. Like huge iceberg which
has broken from its winter home, it creeps
along imparting whitening and chilling
influence upon everything that comes with
in its reach. The people over whole coun-
try never pass from state of quiescence to
one of tumult, or from one Of usual demon
strative joy to one Of profound silence with
out the experience Of practical grievances.
Temporary distress occasions passing sedi-
tons, local grievances excite partial discon-
tent, but general and long continued suffer
ing alone can produce steady and ex-
tended resistance. A little knowledge, says
Bacon, makes men irreligious, but profound
thought brings them back to devotion-so it
may be said that sense and appreciation
of the wrongs perpetrated and the cruelties
and hardships inflicted upon the country
by the Republicans have aroused a feeling of
indignation and distrust which is best ex-
pressed by silence.
The nomination Of Garfield and Arthur
is but another step in the continuation of
those evils which have cursed the land for
twenty years, when ambition was SO blindly
worshiped, when the sad and bitter expert
ence of ages was so violently and haughtily
rejected and the fancies of the moment were
so rashly adopted, in which the rights of
property were so scandalously violated, the
administration of office so tortured and
abused and the wishes of the people re-
garded SO little It is but the contemplated
extension of that chapter in American his
tory, wherein is written the sacrilegious
innovations of the sovereign law with an
impunity and wickedness that applauds the
act by intriguing politicians, corrupt parti-
sans, the graduates of the bar-room, the
faro-bank and the prize-ring-men of bad
repute, sullied character and feeble and de-
based intellect. A chapter which tells Of
the ascendency Of demagogues and syco-
plants in the administration of public af-
fairs-bad men deputed to execute the laws
which bad men enacted. A chapter which
stands living and incontrovertible witness
of the period, when accidental heroes and
political schemers took the place of patriots
and statesmen, who by the enactment Of un-
just laws and waste of the public money,
almost ruined the best government ever de-
signed by man.
Mr.. Garfield is no new figure upon the
political stage. He has figured largely and
conspicuously in our political history for
nearly quarter of a century, and throw
around him as far as we can the mantle of
political charity, he appears before us the
pitiable object of suspicion and distrust. In
that body of the public service with which
he has been associated for so many years, he
has ever appeared as the prominent and
blatant defender of that system of legisla-
ton and fraud which has blackened our
national honor and lowered our national
standard. He has exerted his talent and
ability in shielding and protecting dishon-
est and corrupt men from punishment due
TO crime, that has given the most unbridled
license TO the preparation Of corruption in
positions of official trust, that has made our
public men byword and subject of re-
proach in the eyes of the civilized world.
Whatever of corrupt ingenuity coupled with
the tyranny Of Jeffries or the cruelty of a
Nero he could command, he has not hesi-
tatcd nor failed to bring into mastery ac-
tiyity in order to secure the continuation of
power In that party Of which he is to-day
the chosen exponent
Imagination itself can scarcely do justice,
or words can but family and fceby portray
the deep and damning part that this man
played In that drama Of political emergency
and expediency, whereby an honest expires
sion ofthe people, fairly and constitutionally
expressed, was repudiated and fraud was
installed into the Office of which he is the
heir-expcctant.
Neither will an indignant and outraged
people excuse him in those matters of record,
wherein it appears that he is not only party
to the crime, but Shared largely in the prize
which was allotted to each and every one
who took part His connection with and
interest in the Credit Mobilier, the most gi-
gantic swindling corporation that ever fright
ened or cursed the land with its huge pro
portions.
His five thousand dollar corruption fee
from the DeGoyler Paving Company.
His vote in favor Of the five thousand dollar
Congressional salary grab, and his letter of
coincidence to Anderson and Wells, who
were indicted for fraud, forgery and felony
and imprisoned, will eyer confront the
American people as towering evidences Of
the moral depravity and corruption of this
Reverenasand perjured politician.
Conceding whatever of the abilities Of the
statesman, and the massive proportions OF
an intellect enriched by high culture which
the friends and supporters Of Mr.. Garfield
claim for him, still these qualities, In the
face Of such damaging record, will hardly
warrant his elevation to the highest and
most important Office within the gin of tn,
people. Lord Bacon became receiver o.
brides, Macedonian gold purchased the pa
triotism Of Athens, the populations of Cau
dius and Verres disgraced Roman jurispru
dence The high accomplishments Of learn
ing, the dreams Of philanthropy, the die
tates OF enthusiasm, the feelings of virtu,
are but frail safeguards when men bccom,
infatuated by speculation or ambitious o