Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-07-14
LET GENERAL GARFIELD
EXPLAIN.


feet of the purest man in public life so
soon as he receives a nomination for the
Presidency. Every Presidential can.
didate from Washington down has had
to trample upon that sort of thing, and
not one Of them was worse for it in the
end. But now for the first time in the
history Of this country does q great
party present as its candidate one
whose personal and official integrity
has been impeached by the results Of
Congressional investigation. If Gen.
eral Garfeld's friends suppose that
candidacy so beclouded will receive
thcapproval or liberation of the Ameri.
can people when the facts are under
stood they are sadly mistaken and tho
spirit Of kindness he and they should
be undeceived at once.
The Credit Mobilier scandal is still
fresh in the memory OF all. Eight
years ago it was exposed to public
view, and it is unnecessary to tell the
story oyer again. Suffice it to say
that the disclosures made by Con.
gressional Committee Of investigation
were death to many fair reputation,
Some of the Congressman implicated
found it expedent to retire from public
life and have never since ventured to
ask any trust at the hands of the peo-
pie. Others were saved as by fire
the verdict against them was simply,
"Not proven !" they were allowed to
keep their seats in Congress, but did
not escape condemnation. Among
these fortunate ones was James A.
Garfield, of Ohio. When the charge
was made through the newspapers that
his name was on the list of Senators
and Representatives involved by the
revelation of Oakes Ames he was
quick to repel the charge. In explicit
words, through an Associated Press
dispatch, he authorized a comprehen-
sive denial. He had never subscribed
for nor received nor seen any share oi
that stock on the contrary, he had
twice declined to have anything to dc
with it. When the affair came before
q Congressional Committee, however
and he was put upon oath and con.
fronted by Oakes Ames, he explained
that he did take certain amount Of
stock and left it in the hands of Mr.
Ames until the accruing dividends
thereon should pay the principal o.
the purchase money. A check drawn
by Mr.. Ames in Garfeld's favor was
the latter explained, only a loan from
Mr. Ames to him. Mr., Ames, on hi,
part reluctantly denied the loan ant
settled the question by producing the
check of the Credit Mobillier Com
pany, which had been passed TO Mr.
Garfelds account. The Committee
came to this conclusion.
The facts in regard to Mr.. Garfield are as fol
lows Mr.. Garfield agreed with Mr.. Ames tC
La a.. anIr ~ M
not pay for the same. Mr.. Ames received the 81
per cent. dividend in bonds and sold the bondi
for 97 per oeul, and also received 60 per cen,
cash dividend, which together paid the price Of
the stock and interest and left balance Of s329
This sum was paid over to Mr.. Garfield by
check on the sergeant.at-Arn and Mr.. Garfield
then understood this sum was the balance o.
dividends after paying for the stock.
The Committee, however charitably
failed to emphasize certain minor dis
crepancies in Mr.. Garfeld's statement
which gave his friends great pain
One of these was that he explained
his need OF loan by saying that trip
to Europe had somewhat impoverished
HIM, whereas it appeared by other
testimony that the trip in question did
not occur until after the Credit
Mobilier transactions. 1t was several
ugly things like this that led that able
Republican journal, the New York
Times, to declare that Mr., Garfield
presented "a most distressing figure,
while the New York Tribune thought
he was fortunate to escape exputsior
by Republican House. Other yictimi
had been selected, however, and the
House, by ruling Of the Speaker
evaded a vote on Mr.. Woods resolu
tion, which absolutely condemned Gar
field and Others for becoming pccu
niarlly interested in a corporation dc
pendent upon Congress for its main
tenance and support.
We have stated the case mildly ant
dispassionatcly solely for the purpos,
of calling tho attention Of Genera
| Garfield and his friends TO the gravit,
of the matter and the manifest pro
pricty of an immediate explanation /
he is to remain candidate for th,
Presidency. General Garfclds nomi
: nation was not premedltated for pre-
meditation would have been fatal to II
/ II was born OF a crisis IN convention
There was no time to think, and pro
badly not one of the 399 delegates who
in the furry of the moment, cast thei
votes for him as the only way of cscap,
from the third term, recollected tina
this was the Garfield who was involvec
in the Credit Mobilier scandal. |
they had so recollectod they woult
have rejected the Garfield movcmen
as a suggestion Of suicide. The sobel
second thought has since stolen owe