The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-09-04
No.14.
stut,part Retigions Opinion.
ew YOrk InaependenL, luIy %. l874.

new tOTk InucpsHachtJ 1M'J "Vi Iot1'
i There is now no absorbing qucs
ton OF statecrdt before the people
Tho great question Of the last gal
cralion is settled. II wc say excep
the problem how and when We shH!
replace our dcprcciated currency
by genuine money, there is moth
in. but mere administration to bt
attended 10. What the next Con
grcss has to do is to keep thing.
a-going as quietly, frugally and
honestly as possible. It might not
havo been Tie banner Which would
have nuttcred most gully in the
breeze, but if the Republican party
had, at its last Presidential Convcm-
ton, confined itsclfto tile promise
to administer Government well,
aud then bent its energies mainly
10 this task, We believe it would
have stood better with the people
to-day.
The main point then 10 be con-
sitlcrcd BY those who select Con-
gressionat candidates is this: Who
will administer the Government
that is, most honestly and most
intclligcntly? And Of these two
qualifications honcstyis even more
essential than intelligence. Let
electors get IN intelligent repre-
sentative, if they can lind him; but
they must find an honest man. IF
their representative in the last Con-
grcss is not tainted by the sus-
picion Of jobbcry, il he has keep:
his hands clean, if he has not been
getting rich in Washington-and
no honest man can get rich us a
Congressman. any more than he
could as q soldier in tho rebellion
let his constituents be very slow
to replace him by a new man.
But the most sterling moral in
tegrity should be required. Let
electors look very sharply at charS-
cs which affect tho purity Of their
servants. An honest anvil not
shrink from the most thorough
scrutiny Of his official acts.
Let us take an example. The
Nineteenth Congressional District
Of Ohio has been represented for
twelve years by james a. Garfield.
IIo is d man Of uncommon culture,
a graduate Of an Eastern College,
was for some time principal Of al
cxcellcnt scllool=in= 0hio, and u
preacher, We believe i'll the de.
nomination which supported it
and EafterwGrtlzazlawyer. He has
risen ruptdly5in Congress, until5hc=
occupies the Craftsmanship Of the
Committee which is second in im-
portance in the House, and, if
elected, will doubtless next winter
be the recognized leader OF the low
or branch Of Congress, taking the
place vacated by Mr.. Dawes. His
constituents have been very proud
of him, and have had reason for
their pride.
But were VIC citizens Of tho Nino-
tecnth District Of Ohio we should
seek of Mr.. Garfield Il very clear
explanation of his conduct before
consenting to vote for his re-clec-
ton. We refer only 10 facts in his
late career, which We judge Of sim
ply from the uncontradicted record.
We cannot forget that he was
more deeply involved in the sad
Credit Mobilier difficulty than any
other member Of The House OF Re-
presentatives-cxcepting. Of course,
Ames and Brooks. After such an
experience he ought to have been
extremely cautious. But tho testi-
mony taken in the Investigation Of
the District of Columbia frauds
show that Mr.. Garfield received
5000 for his mid in getting through
a paving contract accepted by the
| District Government. A. Mr..
Parsons, u notorious iobber, made
an argument for the Paving Com
pany, and then got Mr. Garfield to
make q further argument and to
Use his personal influence in its fN-
vor. OF course'.AEr. GalGlcd's ar
gument was successful. How
could it be otherwiso? He was
Chairman of the Committc Of Ap'
preparations. Every cent Of money
voted to tho District had to come
through him. Shepherd could not
afford to refuse him anything that
he asked, and Mr.. Garfield knew it
when ho asked and received for his
service Il fec which would hayc
beon grossly extravagNnt but for
official position.
That is, so fur as the case is
known to the public, for 5000 he
was willing to soil to the Mcclellan
contractor his influence MS a lGgis.
tor. For $4,000 he was willing to
use his position It's u guardian Of
the Treasury Of tho Nation to make
the District Government award 4
profitable contract. So fur us most
mon can sea 5000 was an eXtray'
ngant price for any service wEliel
Mr.. Garfield could render that did
not depend on his official position
ind, it wo can judge, the breaking
away of the Williamsburg Dam III
more indicated the wOrthlcsSncss
!, .1o..a ,.,,. l.