The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-07
wnv oaras1a Went to washington.

a Washington 0lspatcu slseSs inss al
the speculations about the present visit OF
Gen. Garfield to that city, connecting it
with politics and with cabinet making. are |
entirely erroneous. His business was OF
q more private and urgent nature.
In q certain circle here it in no secret
that for the last two or three years Gar
Geld has been very hard pressed for
money.
The exposures in the Credit Mobilier
and DeGolyer paving cases have IN
auestionably cut off sources of supply col
which he had been accustomed. and made
him chary Of jobs. even when thsy were 10
the hands of the most trusted friends.
HIS trade was practically stopped by
these causes, and by some others not
necessary 20 name now.
His regular expenses are much greater
then they have been generally supposed to
be, because some of his irregular tastes
are quite expensive, and dependent on
caprices not easily controlled. To keep .
house at Mentor and 9 house at Nashlng-
ton running together for at least half the
year, and to raise and educate family OF
Eve children, at Al age, too. when With the
utmost care the outlay must be large, to
say nothing of otner constant: demands on
q public man, would not leave much OF
Congress members salary for the newt
able wet days after the bills we're paid.
Garfield is o thriftless man. in q way
extravagant, and he has been
habituaIly used By adroit schemers. who
have taken the lions share and given him
the leavings, For example, Dick Parsons
got SIC. 900 in the De Golysr payment.
Job, while Garfield got bat 5000, and he
did all that work in carrying through three
and half millions of appropriations for
Boss Shepherds Ring in six weeks. In
fact, Parsons was only brought in be-
cause of his intimacy with Garfield, AID
not for any service he personally was
expected to rendar.
Driven into q corner, Garfield mortgaged
his house here several years ago, and he
has failed to pay the notes as they
became due. The parties in interest
acted lsnisntly until it became necessary
for their protection by law. to advertise
the property for sale, under q deed o.
trust. He was notified recently that this
was about to be put into the way OF being
executed; and he hurried to Washington
to prevent the calamity if possible.
After two days''of negotiation, postpone
meut was secured, and he returned to
Mentor relieved of this immediate and
torturing pressure. which is only
ons among others known TO exist
In different forms. These debts and
troubles, Of which the public know little,
have enslaved Garfield SO much as to
extort from him the declaration that II he
could be freed from the burden and the
strain on his mind, he would gladly
renounce the presidency.
The seekers of honors and of Offices
who are willing to buy them at any price
will be too glad of an opportunity to wipe
out all such claims against the coming
dispenser Of patronage. They will b
quick to profit by his necessities. He i!
already held fast IN the chains Of jobbers
who have the power to expose their rela
tons with him and who will not fail t.
exact their pound of flesh whenever i
becomes convenient for them to do so.
Between these existing ties. and other
likely to reformed, it is not difficult f
predict what sort of an administration j
in reserve for the country. Money vii
control II. and Grantism will again -four
ish under another name. There was
time in Garfeld's career when his bette
nature would have revolted at this bond
age. Thoss fine feelings were long az
bl1nted. He is the bondman of rings an
Of riches.