The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-08-26
Sailing Enflilencc.

selling
That great religio political journal,
the New York Independent, in its is
sue of July 80, 1874, which was after
Gsucral Garfield had made and pub
iished his defense, i'll 8 long article
had this 10 say OF Garfield's jobbery
But tbe most sterling moral in'egri-
ty should be required. Let electors
look very sharply at charges which
;,ffrct The purity of their servants. An
honest man will not shrink from the
most thorough scra iny OF his official
acts.
Let us take an example. The Nine
teenth Congressional District of Ohio
has been represented for twelve years
by James A. Garfield. He is one OF
the ablest and most promising MEM
bers of Congress. He is man of un-
common culture, a graduate of an
Eastern College, was for some time
principal OF an excellent school iDOhio
and preacher, we believe, in the de-
nomination which supported 1t, and
afterwards a lawyer. He haa risen
rapidly in Congress. until he occupies
the Craftsmanship of the Committee
which is second in Importance in the
House, and, if elected, will doubtless
next winter be the recognized leader
OF the lower branch OF Congress, TAX
ing the place vacated by Mr.. Dawes.
His constituents have Leen very proud
| of him, and have had reason for their
pride.
But were we citizens of the Nine
| ieenih District OF Ohio We should
seek of Mr.. Garfield very clear ex-
plantations of his conduct, before con-
| seniing to vote for his reelection, We
| refer only to facts in his late career,
which we judge of simply from the
uncouiradicted record.
DEEPLY INVOLVED IN CREDIT MoBILIER.
We can not forget that he was more
| ieeply involved in the cad Credit
| Mobilier difficulty than any other
! member of the House Of Represent
| aiives-excepting, of course, Ames
and Brooks. After such al expert
| ance he ought to have been extremely
cautious, But tho testimony taken in
the investigation OF the. District of
| Columbia frauds shows that Mr.. Gar
] field received $1,000 TO- his aid in get
ting through paving contract accept
ed by the District Government A
| Mr. Parsons a notorious jobber, made
an argument for the Paying Company,
] and then got Mr.. Garfield TO make a
further argument and to use his per-
.nnal influence in its favor. OF course
Mr.. Garfield's argument was success
| tut. How could il be otherwise! !! He
was Chairman of the COmtnirree OF
| Appropriations. Every cent OF money
voted to the District had TO come
through him. Shepherd could not af
ford 10 refuse him anything that he
asked, and Mr.. Garfield knew it when
ne ASKED aud received Tor his services
fee which would have been grossly
| extravagant but for his official position
WILLING TO SELL OUT FOR $4,000.
That is, SO far as the case is known
o the public, for $1,000 he was willing
10 sell to the Mcclellan contractor his
influence as a Legislator. For $5,OOO
he was willing to use bis position Is
guardian of the Treasury of the Nation
| % make the District Government
award a profitable contract. SO far as
most men can see, SO OOO was an eX-
.ravaganr price for any service which
Mr.. CARTE could render that did not
| depend on his official position and ii
We can Judge, the breaking away OF
| he Williamsburg Dam no more clear
ly indicated III, worthlessness of its
obstruction than does such an act as
.his, thus far unexplained, the giving
way of the moral foundations OF q
mans character. Mr.. Garfield should
| very clearly eX plain this transaction
before asking the vote of one honest
| man. ~.
THOROUGHLY TRUSTWORTHY MAN
WANTED.
We have selected Mr.. Garfield's 8
| case as an illustration, not because wc
have any i'll will against him, for our
respect for him has been very deep,
and his act has paiued US grertly, but
because he best points the moral which
we wish to draw. Doubtless if Mr..
Garfield were returned, he would
make an excellent Representative, and
do honor TO his constituency but that
district and every other wants now
not SO much an able man as thor
oughly trustworthy man; snd we
would haye every citizen IN every
State ask similar questions about his
Representative to those which we
suggested to the Nineteenth Ohio
District. Ia the man for whom yOu
are requested to vote, through your
primaries, at the Convention, at the
polls, a man who is beyond all taimt of
lust suspicion that he will use his Of
fice for personal ends? Not merely
| ia he too honest TO lie and steal, but is
he honest enough 10 feel disgust for
those Indirect aud speciOus disguises
which corruption SO much adectsI