American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-07-31
A Conformation Rather Than Defense.

IN taxing up Cn6 cuQgel lOr Geuerat
Garfield the Republican papers attempt
a conformation rather than defense OF
his connection with the Credit Mobilier
and other scand sls. The weakness of
this tactics must be apparent to the
most ordinary intelligence. Any organ
of the party or medium of public in
formation has a right to defend General
Garfield. and its defense is valid when
it has satisfactorily explained the con-
demning features of his record and dem
Onstrated that the evidence which
seems to convict him is susceptible of
an Interpretation not inconsistent with
his innocence. This we say the party
opponents have right to do; in fact, it
is their duty to do it il it can be done,
SO long as they maintain that their can
didate is worthy to receive the endorse
ment of the people for the highest Office
in their gift. But no newspaper can
skip the vindication aud condone the
offense that it caunot clear away by
proof, except for itself. We can make
demonstration SO strong, if we have
proof enough, that the whole world
must acknowledge it; but we cannot
forgive man on our neighbours account
for wrongs done. That must be left
for every individual to settle for HIM
self. If q majority of the voters of this
country are willing to put behind them
the evidences of General Garfeld's
damaging record; if they are willing to
guilty or not" we could hardly have
any protest to make, however much VIC
might regret the low moral standard
that would seem, according to such a
result, to prevail in politics; but we say
again, that no newspaper or political
orator can assume the responsibility OF
condoning the offenses of Presidential
candidate for the people.
The Cincinnati Com 1lerciGl tells how
General Garfield became entrapped:
g He was poor and had power, and,
sensitive about his poverty, was ANXIOUS
to be practical man, not to be driven
from public life like Senator Gordon;
and yet those who were experts man
aged to involve him in affairs that his
pursuits had not enabled him to under
stand, and that have subjected him to
annoying miscOnstruction." He was
"a practical man. and did not know
that shrewd men were not in the habit
OF giving something for nothing, as
must have been the case in the Credit
Mobilier affair, if he was innocent. He
was "a practical man" and supposed that
%
an immense fee yet to be earned, for
preparing the latter's brief upon the
paving contract during his absence.
How truly unsophisticated all this
was. With such a supplemented man
in the Presidential chair there would
be a mortgage upon the country
before two years had gone by. He
did not wish to be driven from pub
lie life as Senator Gordon has since been
by reason of his poverty. But we APP
peal to the stern mOralist, wherever
he may be, which is the more honora-
BILE, more self-respectful and more
manly, to sell the influence and power
that are his by reason of his public pO-
sition, or. like General Gordon, retire
and employ his talents in way that
will bring him larger pecuniary returns.
Yet the Republican journals, now SO
sensitive over alleged mud-throw-
ing" could not conceive that a Senator
might withdraw from public life upon
tho strength of SO simple and hon
est motive, and when General Cor
don resigned searched industriously.
but in vain, for one that would not be
so much to his credit. If General Gar
field, in spite of his economic training.
was unable to live upon $1,000 year.
he was at liberty to withdraw to private
life and earn as large fees as his clients
would give him. Had he done so he
might not have had the Republican
for the Presidency, but he
would have had what is worth infinitely
more an unspotted reputation. 1T
is better to be right than be President"
boston Statesman.