The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-06-29

| his path. He worked on the canal. learned to
| carpenter, taught school, did the first thing
| that came to his hand, got through college;
| learned profession, went straight into politi-
| cal life; could not have been chained out of
| the army, walked into Congress without even
| a whisper of question; stays in the House
| eighteen years without even a single delegate
| in district convention against him since his
| first nomination, is elected to the Senate by
| the unanimous choice of the Republicans, and
| his nomination to the Presidency dissolves
| every squad of dissent in the whole Republi-
| can party. e..
And now Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart
wake up General Garfield was offered ten
shares of stock in corporation that was rep
resented to be dealing in lands and houses along
the Pacific railroad. The offer was renewed
by Mr. Ames. A ring of not more than twen-
ty men knew the secret plans of the Credit
Mobilier then, and they only knew that the
Pennsylvania corporation would ever have
any direct interest in Congressional legislation.
General Garfield held the matter under ad-
visement. A year or two afterward (see Judge
Blacks letter. the character of the speculation
was explained, and he told Ames he would not
join in it. He never paid dollar, never re-
ceived certificate of stock, never had stock
IN his name on the books of the company.
and swears that he never received dividend.
Ames Swears in a half and half way
that he paid him 1929. Ames says there were
several sums of that amount. He may have
given him the cash, he 'may' have given him
the check. The cashier of the sergeant at
arms swears he has mo doubt he paid the
cash on that check to Ames himself. The
only other evidence to aid memory is found in
a few memoranda by Ames, who used to put
figures scraps and post them in q blind way
in pass-book Garfield never saw the en-
tries never was told of them, till Ames testi-
fed four years afterward that he had sold Gar
field ten shares which had never been trans
ferred on the books, and that out of the many
fat dividends made thereon only fraction Of
one has ever been paid to Garfield In every
case but Gar6eld's Ames produced u certif-
cate OF stock, or a receipt, or check with
name or initial ON it, In this case he produced
no one of these classes of memoranda In the
meantime Ames was hard pressed by his asso-
ciates in plumber to account for the stock
placed in his hands, and tried to do it by show
ing memoranda of old sales to Congressman
that never knew they owned it. . e..
The committee of investigation did find that
General Garfield ''agreed to purchase" the ten
shares, and that he received 1929 Though how
they found chat is inexplicable), but they also
found that Mr.. Ames never explained to the
members he dealt with the relations between
the Credit Mobilier and the Union Pacific, nor
told them what dividends they could receive
save that in some cases he guaranteed ten per
cent. The committee said 1T did not find that
the members Nv ere aware of the object OF Mr..
Ames Ito interest them for the Union Pacifc),
or that they had any other purpose than to
make favorable investment, or that they had
been affected thereby in their votes, or that
they had any corrupt motive, or were aware
that Mr.. Ames had any, "nor did either of
them suppose he was guilty of any indelicacy
in becoming purchaser" The charge that
stock was given in consideration of votes was
wholly abandoned. But this is sufficient to
indicate the value of the charges against Gen.
eral Garfield. 4A eE
In the pamphlet review of the case he pub
lished, he closes by saying:
have shown that during the Presidential cam
pagn did not deny having known anything about
the Credit Mobiier company; that the statement
published in the Cincinnati Gazette September
10Th, is substantially in accord with my testimony
before the committee; and that finally, during the
progress OF the investigation there was nothing in
my conversation or correspondence with Mr.. Ame5
i'll any way inconsistent with the facts as given in
my testimony. To sum up in a word Out OF an un-
important business transaction, the loan OF trfng
sum of money, as matter of personal accommoda-
ton, and out of an offer never accepted, has arisen
this enormous fabric of accusation and suspicion
II there be citizen of the United States who is
willing to believe that for 1929 L have bartered
away my good name and to falsehood have added
perjury, these pages are not addressed to him. If
there be who thinks that any part of my public
life has been guaged on so low level as these
charges would place it, do not address him-I ad-
dress those who willing to believe that it is pos
sible for man to serve the public without persona
dishonor have endeayored in this review to point
tion wearing the garb OF an honorable industry have
robbed and defrauded a great national enterprise,
and attempted BY cunning and deception, for sell
sh ends 10 enlist in its interest those who would
have been the first to crush the attempt had their
objects been known.
Ii any of the seheming corporations or corrupt
rings that have done much TO disgrace the coun-
try by attempts to control its legislation have
ever found in me conscious supporter or ally in
disclose it. In the discuss = of the n many grave and
difficult questions of pubhc policy which have oc-
cupied the thoughts OF the nation during the last
twelve years have borne some part and conf
IDENTIFY appeal to the public records for vindication
of my conduct. JAMES A. GARFIELD.
This is enough and more than the matter
deserves. rf
1 imagine that know something of James
A. Garfield from dozen years of acquaintance
and nearly four years of daily association in the
House. lfollow his Republican associates in
saying that those who know him best do more
than respect him-they love him. They had
forgotten the Credit Mobilier wrangle and
scandal until the guerillas OF the coming battle
raked it up. Their vehement answer is HE
is NOT THAT KIND OF MAN" .. % ..
Why, while he has been in the House he
could have stolen himself rich, up to millions,
but he is poor. In that new Connecticut" he
in part represents, where in every town some
citizens bear Connecticut names, he has a dis
trict more puritan than any now left in New
England. You can throw stone from one
school house and church to the next. 1t is
district that has had but four representatives
in tifty-eight years: Elisha Whittlesey of Con-
necticut tOr sixteen Yeas; Joshua II. Giddings
for twenty years; John Hutchins for four
years, and James A. Garfield for eighteen
years. Hs.
When these scandals and the back-pay
charges arose, he went home and faced all his
people. They believed him and stood by him.
AS l said, for eight successive terms not even
one delegate has appeared in convention
against him. The people have given him ac-
cording to the warmth of the tight from 5000
to II, 900 majority. AT his last election they
gave him over 10000. This petty prosecution
was submitted to as good jury as any in the
land, the verdict was given six years ago, and
the case was forgotten.
From childhood enricIed by the prayers of
a mother worthy to bear such children, and
whose trembling steps it is his happiness to at
tend, his soul has been full of desires to do
something to make the world better for his
having lived. His mind is grand power,
when great theme moves it, and if ever he
should fail by hairs breadth to do his whole
duty as a statesman, it will be through the
deep love of heart ye rning with good will
toward all men.