Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-08-12
Credit Mobilier.

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the Harrisburg Patriot, have perform
ed pious duty in an effort to rescue
the memory of their father from the
odium that has been cast upon it by
the Credit Mobilier scandal. They
have just published in the Boston
Herald a communication in which the
history of the Credit Mobilier is re-
lated at length and the argument
made that .Oakes Ames did nothing
throughout the whole transaction that
was not entirely consistent with up
rightness and honor. The immediate
occasion of this production is the ap-
pearance Of extracts from forth
coming biography of Gen. Garfield in
which n labored attempt is made to
controvert the testimony of Oakes
Ames before the investigation com
mittee as well rs the proofs of his
fatal memorandum book.
After reviewing the history Of the
construction of the Pacific railroad
with all the financial difficulties at.
tending it, and with the distribution
of Credit Mobilier shares among mem
bers of Congress Gas an act of friend
" good will" the sons of Oakes Ames
tell how the transaction was divulged
through a suit in court. When this
controversy became known they say
most of these Congressman to whom
Oakes Ames had agreed to sell stock
became alarmed. Some returned their
stock and got back their money with
interest; some declined it, and some
atle7cdrds denied that they had erer
agreed 10 take IT," To this last class
belongs Gen. Garfield who swore he
chad never owned, received, or agreed
to receive any stock of the Credit
Mobilier or of the Union Pacific rail.
road, nor any dividends or profits
!, arising from either Of them" The
memorandum book sf Oakes Ames
showed the payment to him of divi-
dend of 1929, and the Poland COM
mittee so reported. Garfield further
swore that he never heard of the
Credit Mobilier until told of it by
Judge Black in 1870, when the rec
ords of Congress show that he had
participated in a debate with Wash
burne and others in the House in
which the whole character of this
construction company and their prof
its are reviewed. In this debate Gar
field was on the side of the Credit
Mobilier.
The pious sons conclude that there
was a panic in Congress under the
influence of which, brave men be-
came towards, truthful men prevari-
Gated, honest men acted like convict
ed pickpockets, while the meanest
men in Congress assumed airs of
phsrasaical superiority" and that in
that panic there was but one man in
Congress who would neither lie, nor
prevaricate, nor conceal" That man
was Oakes Ames. Without pausing
to inquire here whether the Republi-
can candidate for President became
"a coward" or "prevaricated or
"acted like a convicted pickpocket" or
was one Of the Pharisees, it must be
regarded as strange that these gentle
men should at this late day attempt to
brave the public judgment which at
the time rightly estimated the corrupt
character of the Credit Mobilier trans.
action. They do not regard 1t as
General Garfield and his defenders do
Whilst the latter deny and resort to
every device to escape from the re-
proach of the Credit Mobilier the
former come to the front and argue
that the transaction was fair, honest
and legitimate in every respect.