Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-06-26
THE CHARGES AGAINST GENERAL
GARFIELD.
From the New York Herald.l

The Herald has no Yindictive fee!-
ing toward the republican candidate
for the presidency. Although it has
borne a leading aud persistent part
in denouncing the Poland report III
1873, which made scapegoats of Ames
and Brooks, and absurdly shielded
Colfax and Garfield while admitting
that they were smeared by the same
transactions, We did not choose to re-
peat what we had then said, but TO
await the public judgment on MIR.
Gartield's nomination., preferring to
comment o. the news of 1880 instead
of the news Of 1873.
When the nomination had been
made it became our duty to show
how it was received as all Interesting
part Of the current news of the day.
Our vigorous and independent con-
temporary, the Sun, although exulting
over the defeat of General Grant.lost
no time in %proclaiming its sense OF
Mr.. Garfield's unfitncss and setting
forth its reasons. Its prompt action
and cOgent statements were lifted TO
command attention. No representa-
ton of the manner in which the re-
suit of the Chicago convention was
received could haye been faithful
which omitted to notice charges which
must be fatal unless they are reiuted.
No mode OF recognizing the eXis-
tence of those charges and of the use
certain to be made of them could
have been more c~onsiderate to Mr..
Garfield than the mode we adopted
of attributing them merely to one
journal aud inQuiring whether they
can possibly be true. From the mo-
ment the Sun presented them we
saw that they could not be ignored,
aud %forbearing to express any opin-
ion of their truth or fslsity we treat
ed them in the name which seemed
least likely to wound the senslbllities
Of General Garfield. Some of his ill.,
discreet friends have made this stud
led tenderness a matter of reproach,
as if because we did not GO further
back than the present accusations 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 I'M
important to be made a target for
any other reason than his completely
in a great public scandal. Our only
purpose in refraining to 20 behind
the authority of the Sun was to put
the csse as mildly as possible, end to
indicate a willingness to waive our
former severity, to give Mr.. Garfield
d new hearing, and to judge him on
the merits of his defense. it a defense
shall be made, without being bound
by the opinions we expressed respect
ing him when the Ease was new. Hi:
friends makea shabby return for thit
considerable reserve by trying ridi'
cule, as if we had just earned of the
existence of such charges. If his i'll
discreet champions will allow us. We
prefer to make a tabuM rdSa of al
the Herald said of him when the sub
ject a fresh and to give him the
advantage of q new hearing i'll a state
of the public mind more favorable to
his defense. We are sincerely anX
lous that he should be cleared, for i
would be a reflection on our institu
tions if we jump out of the frying
pan OF Imperialism iutO the fire o
| bribery, perjury aud corruption.
: The Suns charges 1--WE trust ou
, benevolent limitation of the sourc
. Of the charges to a single Journal will
Garfield's friends) are altogether to,
grave to be dismissed without exam
, ination. If the Suns charges ar
: proved General Garfield Is not fit t
. be president. They are so utterl
t ds maging, il true, that we reproduc
| the SUMS statement in another par
t Of this paper. The parallel whic.
. the sun draws between the case O