The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-09-02
what NEessrs Blaine and COnk-
ling Think of Garfield.
From the Brooklyn Eagle.


The incident | am about to relate
was told me by one of the men whose
name figured prominently in the in
vestigation of Credit Mobilier, and
who had dealings with Cakes Ames
at the time Garfield, Kelley, Scofeld,
CoIfax, Wilson. Patterson, Logan and
Others were in his employ.
"You remember" said my inform
ant. THAT Garfield went before the
Poland Committee and denied, upon
oath, that he had ever owned a share
of Credit Mobilier or had received a
dollar from Ames. When he made
this denial, it was not expected that
Ames would give away any of the
boys. The pressure exerted upon
him was too great, however, and he
produced his memorandum book with
the statement of Garfeld's account in
thatgentleman's handwriting. Doesn't
it seem strange that the innocent Gar
field should not have promptly APP
peared before the committee second
time and explained away the damag-
ing testimony Of Ames? Well, he
came mighty near doingit Not that
lie could have explained anything,
but, rs said before, he came mighty
near going again before the committee.
The truth is, the committee had we'll
nigh determined to make Garfield
-capegeat of the affair, along with
AaIes and Brooks. Garfield. heard
that he was to be called before the
committee and forced to explain all
the circumstances of the matter. He
knew that a severe cross examination
would bring out the truth. He was
in terrible state of mind. In this
dilemma he went to Blaine, who was
then speaker of the house, and pos
sessed nnhounded influence with his
party associates. Ihave been told by
different persons, who knew the facts,
that Garfield, with tears in his eyes,
begged Blaine to save him from the
exposure which hung over his head.
Blame, out of the goodness of his
herrt, consented, and a candidate for
che presidency was saved to the Re-
publican party.
Considerable surprise has been ex>
pressed at the conduct of Senator
Conkling toward the Republican can
didate for president. Democratic
newspapers have carolled gleefully
over the fact that he dill not partici-
pate in the late conference of Repub>
lican Iealers at the Fifth Avenue Ho>
tel. He avoided the conference for
two reasons: One that he did not wish
60 he mi.judged by the public; the
other his intense personal aversion to
Garfield.
His private comments upon the
Republican nomination have been
n,ort severe. He has in the most sar-
cystic manner expressed his regret at
the paucity of honest men in the Re
publican party which made the nom-
inatiun of Garfield necessary. He has
expressed his sympathy with the Re-
publican press of the country, which
on the day after the nomination was
made. compelled them to defend a
man accused of grave crimes. he has
described the torments of good Repub-
licans, suffering the nightmare IN
their sleep for fear lest, when they
awaken, some new charge of dishon>
esty or fraud should appear against
their candidate in the morning news
papers. Yet Mr.. Conkling will do
what he can to secure the election of
Garfield and Arthur in New York
state in November. 1t is not the men
at least not Garfeld-but the alleg-
ed principle that he is fighting for.
He is mindful of the $500 postmas>
tiers and minor federal officers who
h"iped 10 elect him TO the senate.
These Office .hnlders would lose their
places if he Republican candidates
should he defeated. 1t is Mr. Conk-
lins's duty to do all for them he can
do.