The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-06-14

were better if the gentleman could dis.
prove them. because Il not only involves
himself but the Republic aswelI. for il
does not enhance the good opinion Of ous
great nation, that we are willing 60 name
for the highest Office in the gift of the
peeple,sa man whose reputation for integ.
rIty is smirched, The .charge is made
that Mr.. Garfield periared himself to es
cape conviction. but the records show
beyond the shadow Of doubt that he i,
guilty of all that is charged against him
that he did dabble in Credit Mobiliel
stock; that he did receive divie.
ends and that when he was con
fronted with the indisputable evidence, he
per3uyed himself to escape coHr'etioH. Ii
did not avail. however, for the COMMITTEES
appointed to investigate the charges,
unanimously agreed that he was guilty.
This was Republican committee. too, 80
that the charge that it was partisan
advantage cannot be made. The New
York Herald says of the charges against
Garfield: 49,
''There are two methods by which Mr.
Garfield could vindicate his character.
One is the heroic method adopted by
Hamilton. He might write q letter stat
ing tho exaot facts of his connection With
the Credit, Mobilier and with the De Col
yer Job, admitting. With Hamilton's cour-
aeeous candor, the facts for which he has
reason 90 blush; bui if his pecuniary
honor comes off as clear as Hamiltou's did
the country will condone minor offences.
But if he has nothing to confess or ex-
plain, if the whole Credit Mobilier story
and the whole De Go.yer story are malici-
GUS fabrications, let him besir proceedings
against the Sun for libel. We haze teo
much respect for the mani ness OF the Sun
10 suppose that it would avail itself OF
techuioal defence. Mr.. Garfield being CIT
izen of Ohio and Mr. Dana citizen ofNeN
York. we suppose a civil suit for damages
would not lie; bat IS the Sun has circu-
ton in Ohio its editor ia subject to cIimi-
nal indictments in that state for libel, and
our good opinion of him would be ainlia-
ished If he should shrink from the issue.
We hope be will say in bis Journal that he
will answer to an indictment for libel IN
any Ohio court and waive all technical
grounds of defense. A journey to northern
but little, aud the editor OF tie San could
easily give bail for his appearance ct the
trial. The liberal constitution OF Ohio
permits him to plead the truth in justifica-
ton of a libel, He has no reason to fear
a packed jury, for an attempt to pack q
Jury against him would be virtual con.
fession of the truth Of his charges, But
the com position of the local jury would be
Of no Importance. The evidence would |
be published by the whole press OF the |
United States, and the American people |
would be the real jury. IF the charges |
against Mr. Garfield should be Hdisproved |
there won!d be an end to campaign of
calumny; but if they were supported by |
valid evidence Mr.. Garfield would have no |
right to complain of the consequences. |
We are greatly mistaken If the editor OF
the Sun would not waive legal exceptions |
and promptly appear before az Ohio court |
to answer an indictment for libel.
The New York Sun publishes the entire |
es .denee and asserts its ga13iness to ap-
pear anywhere aud answer to libel suit |
f the same are not credited. Mr.. Gar
ieIG nor the Republican party cannot |
afford TO bid defiance ID thlse grave &C.
,usations. They must either disprove |
hem CT once, or else the people will &C.
ept the charges as true, whicE they are,
nd the outcome will be the defeat of
fairfield By an Overwhelming majority-so
arge aud decisive, as 10 preclude the
light est pretext for contest