Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-06-23
No representation G

III
refutea. No mode Of recognizing
the existence Of those charges, and
Of the use certain 10 be made OF
them could have been more con-
siierate 70 Mr.. Garfield than the
mode we adopted Of attributing
them merely 70 one journal, and
enduring whether they can posi-
hlv be true. From the moment the
sun presented them we saw that
they could not be ignored. and,
forhearing TO express any opinion
Of their truth or falsity, we treated
them in the manner which seemed
the leas; likely 70 wound the sensi-
bilities Of Gen. Garfield. Some of
his iniiscreet friends have made
this studied tenderness matter Of
reproach. as If because we did not
20 further back than the present
accusation Of the Sun we thought
them new. These indiscreet friends
should not tempt Us TO reproduce
what we said Of Mr.. Garfield in
1873, when he was too unimport-
ant 10 be made a target for any
other reason than his completely in
great public scandal. Our only
purpose in RETAINING 10 60 behind
the authority Of the Sun was 10
put the case as mildly as possible,
and 10 indicate a willingness 10
waive our former severity, 10 give
Mr.. Garfield a new hearing, and 10
Judge him on the merits Of his de-
Tense. If a defense shall be made,
without being bound by the opin-
ions we expressed, respecting him
when the case was new. His
friends make a shabby return for
this cousiierate reserve by trying
10 ridicule as if we had just learn
ei Of the existence Of such charges
II bis indiscreet champions will al
low Us. we prefer TO make a ta5lid
rrsl Of all the Herald said Of him
when the subject was fresh, and TO
give him the advantage of new
hearing in the state of the public
mind more favorable 70 his defense
We are sincerely anxious that be
should be cleared, for il would bt
a reflection on our institutions il
we Jump out of the frying pan o.
imperialism into the fire of bribery
perjury and corruption.
The Suns charges I'VE trust oul
benevolent limitation Of the source
of the charges to a single journa
will not I've further objected to by
Mr.. Garfeld's friends) are altogeth
> er too grave to he dismissed with
ont examination. If the Sum
charges are proved, Gen. CARTEL
IS not fit to be President. The!
are so utterly damaging, if true
. that we reproduce the Suns state
, ment in another part of this paper
The parallel which the Sun draw
. between the case Of Mr.. Colfax an
that Of Mr.. Garfield is forcible an'
striking. and tends to show tina
the ruined Colfax is an injured ma
if Garfield is innocent. They ha
the same amount of Credit Mobile
stock assigned them; they ali<
denied that they had received any
: the denials Of both were rebutte
, by strong evidence; but one {
them has been seven years in dis
grace, aud the other is nominate
for the Presidency. If the owe
: whelming ruin Of Colfax is just,
: hehooves the friends of Gen. Ga
i field TO show how their cases diffe
y We are willing to judge of NJ
: Garfelds defense with the san
candor and impartiality as if Il
accusation was new, and as if "
it had never pronounced stror
.e opinion against him. But the ia
il that the charge is old does not a
n solve him from the necessity Of +
IS futting it.
e The grounds of defense thus f
to offered by his supporters are
D damaging as the original accus
1T ton. They try to belittle it
" SAYING that it is raled up from q
N past. Do they really think that
Gen. Garfield was corrupt Gig
i years ago that is no reason why
err should not be elected Preside
re now What is Of real consequen
ne is not whether the charges are Of
n but whether they are true. Iftr
on they are as fatal a bar to his ele
n ton as If the offense had be,
tn committed yesterday. Would G
Y. fax be fit candidate because
Sc much time has elapsed since bis
no posure
IN 1t is further said that Mr.. CT
fields constituents in his CO
gressional district have recover
al confidence In him. This counts
r.: little until we know whether I'll
IN acquitted or condoned, and
us ground on which they acquitt
I'm him, If it was an acquittal. G.
tain it is that he lost many votes
II tie election which followed the ,
he posture. His majority, which /
cir heen nearly 1900 in 1872, j
nd previous to the exposure, fell
ac- 1928 in 1874. But the bare sta
ment of the majorities is not fair
Mr.. Garfield, since there was
A. third candidate in 1874. The ]
of confidence is best measured
ice the loss Of votes. In 1872 he