Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-08-13
A Deliberate Falsiher,

1t is time to fix where it belongs the
responsibility for one Democratic lie.
In number and meanness the Demo-
cratic lies of this campaign have been
remarkable, but one of the basest of
them has been brought home to re-
sponsible source. Some days ago the
New York World stated, with much dis
play, that Justice Swayne, in a decision
rendered in 1875 by the United States
Supreme Court had characterized an
employment of General Garfield to act
as temporary counsel for paving com
pany as "a sale of official influence
which no veil can cover" 1t turns out
that Justice Swayne never used any
such language in respect to General
Garfield, in the case professedly cited
nor in any other; that the matter was
never before him or the Supreme Court;
and that Justice Swayne publicly ex-
presses, in most emphatic manner,
the very highest respect for the candi-
date whom he was said to have judi
cially branded as guilty of "a sale of
official influence" The untruth was
Immediately exposed by Justice
Swayne himself, and by the distin-
guished Democrat, ex-senator Doolittle,
who was counsel against the paving
company, but who felt that in self-re-
spect he could not see so gross a false
hood circulated without contradiction.
and therefore stated, in a published
card, that the case was never before
Justice Swayne nor the Supreme Court.
There has been ample time for the
World to retract the falsehood thus ex-
posed, and to make the apology which
decent self-respect would have
prompted. Instead, it has resorted to
dishonest evasions which match the
original forgery in shameless infamy.
When Senator Doolittle's card APP
peared, the World pretended that the
only question was whether Justice
Swayne had used the language quoted,
in reference to General Garfield, in the
precise case named by the World or in
some other case. The original asser-
ton might have been thought an error,
but this, in view of Mr.. Dooittle's ex-
plicit statement, was deliberate falsi-
tication. When Justice Swayne indig.
nantly denied the story, the World
raised doubt as to the veracity of the
report of his language, and doubt as
to his veracity in asserting that he had
never made any such statement as was
quoted with respect to General Garfield,
whom he highly respected. When it
was fully proved that the words quoted
were taken, not from any decision of
any Judge, but from an argument of
counsel, the World then deliberately
lied again, in asserting that the Ian
guage had been used by Justice Swayne
in a matter precisely parallel to that of
General Garfield. These dishonest eva
sions, these shameful attempts to keep
alive lie after its utter untruth had
been exposed, put the World precisely
on level, as to honor or veracity, with
the man who originally invented the
malignant falsehood.
The Democratic party appears to find
extraordinary difficulty in this cam
paign. In no other contest for many
years has the Democratic fertility of
Justification been so recklessly indulged.
Clear-headed Democrats see that this
wild riot of mendacity is hurting the
party, and Democratic journal at the
West observes that "the fool-killer'
would do great service to the Democ-
racy if he would exterminate the men
who set on foot such falsehoods as those
of General Grant to support General
Hancock. OF course the party would
gain more votes il it would rely less
upon lies. But the matter ought to be
considered on plane much higher than
that of political eXpediency. 1t is hurt
full to party to resort to dishonest aud
scandalous statements; but it is also dis
graceful to the country that Presiden-
tial election should not be conducted
without degrading editors aud orators
by the score, who hold positions which
gentlemen only are fit to fill, to the
level of the basest blackguards. In
both parties there ought to be man
hood enough to put down any creature
whose behavior tends to dishonor Amer
lean citizenship. BY decent men of all
parties the use of deliberate lies about
an opponent ought to be resented as
personal insult.
The Democratic party will not gain
anything by its personal attacks upon
the Republican candidate. Able and
eager opponents have for years made
the most of every possible accusation
against him in successive campaigns in
Ohio and have given it up as bad job.
His supporters are not alarmed when
they see the time and strength of Dem
ocrats wasted in the same futile attacks
This latest falsehood so easily and eff
fectually nailed to the counter, will &c
far to make people cautious about cred
iting others. In tho end, that party
will command public confidence which
respects itself, and treats with respect
and honesty those whose votes it asks.
1t is 20 the credit of the Republican
party that il has not degraded itself
nor insulted the public by resorting TO
any personal ISLANDERS about General
Hancock. His shrewdest supporters
know that afewinfamous performances
like that OF the World viii go far to dis
gust people with party which can
find no better weapon than falsehood.
IN " Tribune