Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-06-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special Correspondents PUBLIC LrDerRI

Special Correspondence PUBLIC LEDGER.
WASHINGTON, D, c., june S.-The
Chicago republican nominations to-
day are subjects of general comment.
The defeat of Grant, Blaine and Sher-
man, though not surprising, has re-
suited in a great advantage to the
democracy. The republicans, while
rebuking the selfish ambition of
Blaine, condemning the third term
theory and rewarding the official lit
tleness and meanness of that charlatan,
Sherman, have done so at the cost of
victory for their party in November.
After all the maneuvers Of the leaders
the incessant labors of the great con-
vention have resulted in the twin
mus-Gar6eld and Arthur. The cucur-
rit is satisfactory to the democracy; it
is a sad disappointment to the repub-
licans, for the latter know, and many
of them admit, hat the ticket is not
strong. General Garfield is an accom-
plished man and is among the most
polished l~iterati to be found in the
school Of western belles-lettres. But
he is not a statesman, nor is
his official record stainless and spot
less as the robe which charity will
give as his presidential shroud in the
havoc of the black November. In
fact, the republicans could not have
selected a more elegant victim for the
great political sacrifice to be made at
the national election. Already the
blurs, the blemishes, the stains, and
the deep black dyes Of General Gar
fields official garment are being point
ed out to the attention o fthe thought
full and the considerate of the
American people, He has been tried
and condemned even by the rulers of
his own party, and the great sheriff OF
Americas highest court, the ballot,
will execute the sentence in Novem-
Der. All through the coming
canvass the republicans will have to
act on the defensive, for both of their
candidates are under sentence. For
instance, General Garfield is one of
the chief salary grabbers.
Again, General Garfield is the
proven beneficiary of the Credit Mo.
bilier swindle.
And then General Garfield sold
himself to the De GOlyer paving com
pany for the sum Of $1,000.
Moreover, General Garfield is the
pulp protectionist.
And now comes General Arthur.
whom President Hayes removed and
whom Secretary Sherman condemned.
Read these testimonials to the char
acter, honesty and morality of General
Arthur, and ask why any one, espe-
cially a decent republican, should
hesitate to vote for this man, or be-
lieve that the tail is about as unwieldy
as the De Golyer part Of the political
kite, which has been strung out for
the bleak winds OF November. These
are General Arthur's testimonials:
you have made the custom house
a center of partisan political manage.
ment."-[R. b. Hayes to Collector
Arthur, January 81, 1879.
with a deep sense of my obliga-
tiOns under the constitution, | regard
it as my plain duty to suspend you
in order the office may be honestly ad-
ministered ."-[R. b. Hayes to Col
lector Arthur, January 3lst, 1879.
Gross abuses Of administration
have continued and increased during
your incumbency ,"-[John Sherman
to Collector Arthur, January 81,
1879.
Persons have been regularly paid
by you who have rendered little or no
service the expenses of your office
have increased, while its receipts
have diminished. Brides, or gratui-
ties in the shape of brides have been
received by your subordinates in sew
eral branches of the custom house,
and you have in no case supported the
effort to correct these abuses. "-[Sec-
rotary Sherman to Collector Arthur,
January 81, 1879.
l know nothing personally of these
charges against General Garfield. |
give them as the charges already made
and that will be urged against him on
the stump and through the press.
Irrespective of these Gen. Garfield is
D weak candidate. The democracy
will achieve a great triumph in No
vember. SALTUs MoHEdAN.