The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-11-19
Garileld's Bargain,

The smoke of the battle having cleared
away, and the result become assured
thoughtful persons of each party are begin
ming to ponder seriously as to the bargain
made between Garfield and the Grant lead
ers. That there was such bargain made
does not seem to be questioned, Not only
do all the facts of the case justify such con-
clusion, but the Republicans have meyer
made any effort to deny it. The only thing
about the compact unknown is the terms;
the existence of the agreement is an open se-
cret, in which the whole country shares. If
there was no such bargain made, why did
Conkling, Cameron, Logan and the other
Grant stalwarts, who hitherto had persistent
Garfield, assemble at Mentor, Ohio, his
own home, and after the meeting at once
plunge ardently into a canvass which up to
that time they had retarded rather than assis-
ted? When Garfield was in New York, though
he requested an interview with Uonkling, the
latter scornfuly refused to see him. Why
did the latter, a little later on, go all the way
to Mentor for an interview, and call with
him the other prominent third -termers?
The truth is, that CARTE Id, finding the
current setting against him, foresaw that un-
less he obtained the support of the third.term
faction, which really contains the brains
and organization of the Republican party,
he was doomed to sure defeat Up to that
time his was tagging cause; Maine had
b1lted from the Republican column, and the
clouds of disaster were darkening all around
the skies To hold any reasonable hope of
victory, he must make peace with those for
ces which the party that named him had
overcome in the Chicago convention. 1t is
reasonable to co include that the only terms
to be entertained were those of a complete
surrender. indeed when Garfield was in New
York, Conkling's friends outlined to him the
price of the latter's assistance, but so much
was exacted that the Presidential aspirant
refused to accede. Later events changed
his mind. Success, with any unscrupuous
agreement or stultifying condition, was pref
erable to an honest defeat, with clear con
| science and so he closed the bargain.
Is it reasonable to suppose shat the terms
Of the compact, refused at New York on &C
count of their stultifying features, grew any
| more savory during the interval before Il G
| Mentor con ference? On the contrary it j.
safe to conclude that the Grant men were al
the more grasping, since Garfield knew what
he had not before, the extreme necessity OF
their services.
The terms, whatever they were, Garfield
acceded TO, and the Grant men fell to work
Indiana was moved down upon by their for
ces, and by that matchless power of organiz,-
ton which they possess and by the vast
sums OF money they command, that State was
wrested from the Democrats to whom it
iightfully belonged, and the tide of battle
turned. New York then became the deci-
sive State, and this Conkling thorugh the
mysterious methods of his most worthy
henchman and fellow candidate, Arthur,
secured by buying out the INSCRIPTIONS
Kelly, who for price sacrificed his own
party.
The victory, then, is a Grant victory and
the Grant men will claim it. Garfield will
find he has sold his independence and his
power of position for mess of pottage, and
though nominally the chief, will be pup
pet to dance when the Grant men pull the
strings. What profits the opposition of
more than three-fourths of the Republican
party to the Grant faction; they are again
in power, bring ing up to the surface all the
infamous record of corruptions, embezzle-
ments, NAL feasance and abuses of power that
blot the history of our uation. The full
| terms of Garfield's surrender will be but
gradually learned, but they will be COM
plete, debasing and contemplate. Certain.
! ly the Republican party has not great cause
| for rejoicing in their victory, for they haye
fallen a prey to the Phiistines in their own
camp, betrayed by the very one set up to bat
tie with foes within as well as foes without
--,IefersOniau