Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-06-30
MORE ABOUT GARFIELD.

II wasn't Democratic House, nor
n Democratic Committee, nor yet the
Democratic press that fastened on Mr..
Garfield the inefiaccablo smirch Of
Credit Moblier This was the work
OF Mr.. Garfield himself aud a Republi-
can Committee of a Republican House.
The Chairman of that Committee,
Luke Poland, of Vermont, Is one OF
the veterans of his party, one Of the
men who helped lay the foundations
OF the Radical structure. Before that
Committee came James A. Garfield,
NJ. g., and on his oath said be "never
owned, received, or agreed TO receive
any stock of the Credit Mobilier or OF
the Union Pacific railroad, nor any
dividends or profits arising from either
Of them" But when that Committee,
majority of whom were political
friends Of Mr. Garfield, got ready to
report, it was obliged to find the facts
in direct and positive antagonism with
Mr.. Garfeld's sworn statement. This
sounds harsh. 1t even smacks Of that
vulgar felony called perjury. 1t i'm.
plies false swearing, but Il isn't our
work, nor the handiworl of any Dem
ocrat. If the facts are crushing to Mr..
Garfield, the fault or misfortune lies at
his own door, He wasn't Obliged to
dabble in the Credit Mobilier iniamy.
He knew il was scheme Of scoun-
drols to cheat the corporations whose
agents they were. He knew it was n
vile plot to get millions of money for
no consideration. He knew that, if
he wanted to go into il without money
and without price, it was his position
in Congress alone that made his par.
ticipancy desirable. We say he knew
all this, because he is an intelligent
man. because he is not an unsophisti.
Gated country boor. Having gone
INTO it, he was not compelled to step
still farther in the bad way. He might
have told the truth frankly and been
forgiven. But he chose TO 90 before
the Committee and the country, and,
on his oath, deny all connection with
Oakes Ames and Credit Mobilier. This
second otiense was much more crimi-
nal than the original act That might
have been done in haste, without due
deliberation. That might possibly have
been more Of q criminal blunder than
a premeditated crime But the testi.
mony before the Committee, the denial
of acts performed, admits of no posi-.
bic excuse or palliatlon. II was de-
liberatc, intentional, carefully prepar.
cd, And Poland's Committee gave
the lie direct to Mr., Garfeld's sworn
statement when they reported that
Mr. Garfield agreed with Mr. Ames
20 take ten shares of Credit Mobilier
stock, but did not pay for the same
Mr., Ames received the eighty per
cent. dividend in bonds and sold them
for ninety-seven per cent, and also re-
ceiyed the sixty per cent. cash divi.
dend, which, together with the price
Of the stock and interest, left balance
of 1929 This sum was paid over to
MI buihViu ny Chech ON tue scr
geantat-arms, and Mr.. Garfield then
understood this sum was the balance
ofdividends after paying for the stock"
This 1929 was the net profit on no in.
vestment except sacrifice of honor.
Mr.. Garfeld's stock, which was scar
ried, paid for itself, and left him a
balance in Il few months 1t would
be well, if the Republican managers
propose to keep Mr.. Garfield on the
track, to call for the venerable Luke
Poland, and ask him to explain away
hia rnnnri