The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-10-22
THAT LETTER OF aARr1rLD,s.
II In Gsnnfns.

1t III Genuine.
Tho Union is very much incensed ut
The ARGUS because letter written by
james A. Garfield. the Republican candi-
date for president. in which he advocates
the employment of cheap labor, and ex
presses himself as favorable to continu-
ance of the Chinese treaty. ives published
in The ARGUS. The Union would have
beeu better pleased. perhaps, if the matter
had been passed over without comment
ID would have been so much better for
Garfield. THE ARGUS, however, is not
laboring to elect the Credit Mobiier can
didate. it is engaged in better cause
it is trying to assist 10 the election of Gen
eral w. s. Hancock. man whose purity
of character cannot be called into question
- whose whole.'lif is without single
blemish, and whose brave deeds in defense
of his country have entrenched him in the
hearts of the people. The Union gives
what purports to be denial of the au-
thenticity Of the letter. but the denial
comes unsupported, from James
A. Garfield. through the assoc
dated press. and the people
who remember the Poland investigating
committee report in the Credit MobiIieH
business, will feel better satisfied with
something besides a mere denial from
lGarfeld, to brush aside the charge.
| But the letter is 10 the handwriting of
james A Garfield and has been compared
with other letters from him and pronounce
ed genuine beyond doubt. The Quincy Her
aid telegraphed w FL. Barnum chairman Of
the Democratic National committee rela
tive to the matter. and he telegraphs back
full text of the letter aud says.
The letter is authentic. Il is 10 Gen.
GarGelds handwriting. Denial is worse
than useless. Ii should have the widest
circulation among all classes. as it un-
masks Republican hoiiowness aud hypo
cricy on the labor question through their
chief. (Signed) W. u. BARNUM.
The Chicago. Times correspondent al
New York. in special says that the lettei
has been carefully compared by experts
? and by gentlemen who have letters from
D Garfield, and is pronounced genuine be
i yond the shadow Of doubt
Hon, Abram s. Hewitt, of New York
in q speech at Chickering Hall. New York
said. referring to the letter.
Some people may incline to pronounce
it forgery. / Am familiar with Gen
Garfeld's signature. [ have compared i
: With his letters in my poss ession, and
!, have no doubt
IT IS GENUINE.
| IF it be forgeryit IS the work Of a con
summate artist. Ii thought after exam
animation thee was the slightest doubt o.
!. its authenticity | should not refer to it
! but it aecords with the course Gen Garfield
. always took Oh questions affecting the
l interest of the employees. Observe the
concluding language: We have treaty
3 with the Chinese government, and 1 an
a not sprepared to say that it should be
abrogated until our great manufacturing
interests are conserved in the matter o
labor How could they thus be conserv-
j. ed except to bring down the price of our
y own labor to the level of Chinese wsgesT
e Garfield will need something more thar
t mere denial to disprovs the authorship
r of this letter. His record on subsidies
9 the labor question aud with bonded cap
tai is too fresh to he forgotten, and tn,
r letter accords with it fully. The Union
;, makes mistake in resorting to abuse, Il
s brush aside the charge. nor can the rhetor
ical sentences of dozen Harrisons avail
against the authenticity of this letter. !
proves that Gen. Garfield is not only no
Q friend to the laboring men, but is favor
able to such legislation as tends TO degrade
4 labor to the level of Chinese serfs.