The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-09-11
JUDGE BLACK ON GARFIELD.

The Philadelphia Press publishes an In
terview with Judge jeremiah s. Black.
the lbiest, us he is the most extreme and
partisan of Democrats. No one knows
Garfield better than he does. 1t was he
who gave to Garfield the first case he ever
argued. the great "Milligan case" in
which. without d fee. and at the risk Of
his political fortunes, lie made in the Su=
preme Court of the United States one Of
the ableSt dcfenses of civil liberty ever
heard. Their friendship has continued
ever since, Bearing these things in mind,
let the impartial reader, Democrat or Re
publican. carefully consider the follow
ing, from the interview in the Press, viz. {:
Judge, you know Gen. Garfield well.
Would you object giving your estimate
of him?'
{" have no desire to add anything to
my published letter to Blaine. What
said then If him was true and is true.
With regard 10 tie Credit MQbiiier trans
action, have said. AMI always will say.
that | believe that Gen. Garfield told me
the truth about it. He would not do any
thing else. watched the development of
the investigation, and | saw nothing in
that to alter my opinion. | will tell You
Gen. Garfield hands We're clean in that
transaction. rs he always has kept them.
but he unfortunately adopted the false de-
feaca 9t those who were guilty and ex-
pected OoIaS Ames to swear them
through, instead OF s,a,.d!i3" on his own
true and good defence and leaving the
guilty to their fate. There was his de
votion to party. 1t was urged upon him
as a party necessity, and he yielded to
that consideration. as he always will
His party demanded the sacrifice and he
made it. FGr thar reason the Credit Mob
ilier affair has not hurt i.,u with his
party. and will not and ought not. lie.
lieve firmly in Gen. Gariield's personal
integrity, and base my Judgment upon
an intimate knowledge of his private
walk and conversation. He has large
sympathy and great humanity; would
make any sacrifice to serve his friend in
any honorable way. lnt in politics gives
to his party the key 70 his ,.9n@cienee.
He is Il man Of the gentlest nqture: would
not harm II hair OF Your head: yet, at his
party command, he would help on the
and brutal policy against the
South. Personally he believes in the
Constitution; knows the tenth article is
there and has read it: knows that the
President has no right to use his standing
army ~ i,Giie2 he pol IS and dragoon the
South alter Il fashion thlt ii,ts ais,Eraced
our civilization. | heard him say Sc he.
fore the Supreme Court i'll an admirable
argument i'll the Mulligan case, profess
ing his ardent devotion to the Constitu-
ton, declaring that no officer of the army
could tramplc Oh the Constitution with
ont laying perjury on his soul, and yet he
went into the !laHse 1T the direction of
his party, struck down the Constitution
and insulted the corpse by kicking it.
There you see Garfield the man, knowing
the right and struggling to do it, yet
driven to wrong by his party, a bad lot
which holds conscience i'll as little esteem
as its great leader Stevens did. When
ever hear man begin 10 talk about
SAID Stevens, know that
he is about to betray lis party. Con-
science. Bah" Now understand me.
There is Garfield, the man who would do
no wrong, and Garfield the party servant,
who will do his party's bidding. Now
and think tiere is nothing i'll what |
have said that the PUBLIC will want to
hear
"Do you look upon Gen. Garfield as
being An strong man as his party could
have nominated, judge
intellectually he is the strongest man,
md morally he is the equal Of any mau
in the party. But yon understand that
the head of IL party is like the head of
A snake-it is wagged by the body and
tail. Now Gen. Garfield has very bad
tail. lie will always be us good as the
party will let him he-no better. Ii Gen. |
Garfield would carry his private convic-
lions ints- his political action he would
be as good Democrat as | am
What is your Judgment Of the party
chances i'll this campaign?'
1t is hard enough to talk history.
Now you want me to talk prophecy. |
ant do it, | never was good at that /,
tuyhow,' and then, after a silence. as
5hough lost in thought. the Judge re-
,umcd: Il will say that am diappoint-
3D. | did not believe that any consider
,ble number of the American people |
would ever forget the monstrous infamy |
If the Presidential fraud. But to great |
many very respectable people it really !
seems to make no difference. The long
nisrulc of the Republican party seems
% have blunted the conscience of many |
men. But we have made great progress
Is people in fifteen years. and there is |
great encouragement to liberty-loving !
DO you give President Hayes any
,rcdit for this?'
"Oh he has done rs we'll as his party !
would let him, and better than one .
clement wished him to do
- Is he Gen. Garticld's equal?'
" He is not. but he has this advantage .
he has caught his fish and can hang up /
lis net, while Garfield has his fish to
'atch. Now. | shall not talk any more .
Unless you promise me that you will not .
'rint it, If you do say anything about /
his interview. say that said nothing
worth printing. and tell the newspaper
men that there is no use of any more of .
hem coming to interview me. and | will
give you :; little parting advice. If you .
write anything and see anything good in
t. cut it out. and You will he surprised .
q see how it will improve your article
Judge Black talked with much tlucncy /
nd charm as ever. and his bright blue .
yes have lost nothing Of their original
parkle.