American citizen., 1880-08-28
A Most Distressing Figure.


A Most Distressing Figure.
In commenting on the report of the
Poland Committee on the Credit-Mo-
bilier scandal the New York Tunes on
the 10th of February, 1873, described
James A. Garfield as presenting "a
most distressing fgure.'' The Times
spoke of the dishonor of Garfield s po-
sition as "a participation in an obvious
fraud" and it Indignantly asks if wheth-
er, "in order to save q few Republi-
cans, Garfield and the rest, is it worth
while to run the risk of running the
Republican partyP' How much more
momentous and solemn becomes the
question when this ''most distressing
| figure is presented as a candidate for
President of the United States.
But unfortunately the Credit Mo-
bilier business forms by no means the
only instance in which General Garfield
cuts distressing figure. General Gar
field presents a ''most distressing fig
ure'' in the De Golyer paving transac-
ton, in which he appears as hired
tool of the Shepherd ring, dividing with
ent guise of fee what was in reality q
bribe, and selling his official influence
as Chairman of the Committee on APP
tressing figure for candidate for Presi-
d ent of the United States.
Garfield presents distressing figure
in the character of a civil service re-
former. In public address in 1876
he Indignantly denounced the system
under which congressman have be-
come the dispensers, and sometimes
the brokers of patronage, and civil Of
flee has become vast competitive
power to be used in running the ma
chine of party politics" 1.-The Of
fices," he continued, ''are an i'm
meiIse bribe. securing to the party in
poweran army of retainers who are
the most servile of their sort in the
world" AS a candidate for President
he surrenders this position and sue
cumbs to "the vast competitive
power" which formerly gave himself
so mucn solicitude, while Hayes de-
serts his civil service policy, and Nc
Pherson fevies two per cent contribu-
ton upon ''the army of retainers who
are the most servile of their sort in the
world"
Garfield presents an awkward and
distressing figure in his double-faced
record on the tariff. In one session he
votes to repeal the duty on coal as IAN
odious taxi and in another to MAIN
tain the excessive rates of tax on salt
At one time he inclines to theories of
protection, at another he lauds the
British free-trade system as the per-
fection of human wisdom, taunting the
protectionists with the declaration that
''the great thinkers of modern times"
are against them.
Garfield presents a distressing figure
in his connection with the great elect
r,.ol fra,J A uicifinn Stato vuhn
sat at the side of Madison Wells when
erasing ten thousand votes in Louisi-
ana, he returned to sit upon the Com
mission as Judge. He denounced the
Electoral bill as IS a usurpation in every
meaning of the word" asserting that it
assumes the right of Congress to go
down into the colleges and inquire into
all the acts and facts connected with
their work. But when made a MEM
ber of the Commission he deliberately
refused to investigate the fraudulent
processes by which Hayes obtained the
Electoral votes of Louisiana and Flori-
da. AS a member of Congress he as
serted that the law meant one thing
and as judge on the eight by seven
Commission he maintained that it meant
another thing.
On the Federal election laws James
A. Garfield presents ga most distress
ing figure" In momentary display
of fairness he suggested an amendment
to these laws to the effect that the
Deputy Marshals should be selected by
the Federal courts from both political
parties. The suggestion was adopted
by the Democratic Chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee and incor-
porated in the bill. But when Thersites
Conger, Frye and other stalwarts lifted
the party lash, Garfield deserted his
own amendment amid the derisive
laughter of the house.
Such is the insincere, inconsistent,
and distressing figure that
is presented before the people for Pres
ident of the United States. The dupe
of Oakes Ames, the tool of Shepherd
and Parsons. selling the influence and
power of his official position for a
s'fee,'' there has hardly been an i'm
portant question in Congress during his
public career upon which he has not
shifted sides. He has been for and
against protective tariff. He has
spoken against the extravagant system
Of appropriating annually millions of
public money for rivers and harbors
and has voted for the bills. He has
spoken in favor of amnesty and voted
against it. He has admitted that the
Federal election laws are partial and
unjust and yet has refused to assist in
them. He has denounced
the spirit of sectionalism displayed by
leaders in Congress and
Ipon the mere exhibition of the party
ash he has been driven into silence.
A more distressing figure than that of
James A. Garfield was never presented
n the political history of the country.
Harrisburg Pa Patriot
Tho Presidential battle now be-
ng waged throughout the United
states differs from all other campaigns
n this remarkable fact: The charges,
md they are serious ones, made
lgainst the Republican Presidential
md Vice-Presidential candidates owe
heir paternity to members of their
,wn party, and every one of them is
by Republican testimony.
They are of II character involving the
.ravest of offenses, and, If true, as the
vidence shows them to be, cover Cen
raj Garfield and Mr.. Arthur with
rime AS the leper is covered with
ores. These charges, involving sal
nv grabbing, Credit Mobilierism, sell
ny influence as a member of Congress
0 corrupt ring to fleece the Govern
lent, made against Garfield, and of
orruption and of a profligate admins
ration of the affairs of the collector
hip of the city of New York, made
gainst Arthur by President Hayes and
is Secretary of the Treasury, John
herman, for which Arthur was dis
lissed from Office, all come from Re-
ublicans, and are all proved to be