The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-07-31
A CAMPAIGN OF cALuMNY


A CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY,
N, o. Times ga.
Nothing could be more irresistibly
funny than the pathetic despair with
which the Republicans appeal to the
Democrats not to make the Preslden-
tial canvass a campaign Of calumnyN
Such an appeal is sheer impudence,
coming from a party which pursued
Horace Greedy, Salmon +. Chase and
Charles Summer to their graves with
fiendish malignity. The Republican
party has never hesitated to use the
most brutal weapons of political war
fare; and this hypocritical plea, for
decency results from the fact that
Gen. Garfield's civil record is marred
by some very ugly stains, while Gen.
Hancock's reputation is as white as
the driven snow. If mud-throwing
should be practiced, the Democrats
would have the monopoly of the mud
and the Republicans know il only TOO
well. Hence these tears. a....r
Moreover, it must not be forgotten
that the Democrats are now merely
calling attention to the merciless pelt-
ing which Gen. Garfield underwent at
the hands of his own party, before he
was dreamed of as a Presidential can
didate. The leading Republican jour
nails, notably the New York Times,
most severely denounces Gen. Car
field for his connection with Credit
Mobilier. On September 7, 1876, there
was a large meeting Of the Republican
voters of Gen. Garfield's Congress
sional district: A long sefiesof reso-
lutions was adopted, from which we
quote the following:
Fourth Resolved, That there is no
man to-day officially connected with
the administration of our national
government against whom are justly
preferred more and graver charges OF
r0rruption than are publicly made
and abundantly sustained against
James A. Garfield, the present repre-
sentative of this congressional district
and the nominee of the Republican
convention for reelection.
Sixth-Resolved that we especially
charge him with venality ana
cowardice in permitting Benjamin F.
Butler to attach to the appropriation
bill of 1878, that ever to be remember
ed infamy, the salary steal, and speak
ING and voting for that measure upon
its final passage. And charge nm
with corrupt disregard OF the clearly
expressed demands of his constituents
that he should vote for its repeal, and
with evading said demand by voting
for the Hutchinson amendment.
Seyenth-Resolved that we further
arraign and denounce him for his cor
rupt. connection with the Credit
Mobilier; for his false denials thereof
before his constituents; for his per-
iuried denials thereof before COM
mittee of his peers in congress: for
fraud upon his constituents in circula-
ting among them pamphlet purport-
ing to set forth the finding OF said
committee and the evidence against
him. when in fact portions thereof
were omitted and garbled.
| Eirhth-ResOlved That we further
arraign and charge him with corrupt
bribery in selling his official influence
ms chairman of the Committee on APP
preparations, to the DeGolyer pavement
ring, to aid them in securing a con
tract from the Board of Public Works
of the District of Columbia; selling
his influence to aid said ring in impos-
ing upon the people of said District q
pavement which is almost worthless
at price three times it's cost, as sworn
to by one of the contractors; selling
his influence to aid said ring in pro
curing a contract, TO procure which IL
corruptly paid $97, 900 "for influence;
selling his influence IN a matter tha'
involved no question of law, upon the
shallow preteXt that he was acting as
Il lawyer; selling his influence in 4
manner so palpable and clear as to Dc
SO found and declared by an impartial
and competent court upon an ISSUE
solemnly tried.
The result of this feeling among the
voters of the nineteenth Ohio district
is seen in the fact that Hayes led Gar
field by 1869 votes For our part, We
frankly say that nothing would be
more pleasing than to see the spots
removed from Gen. Garfield's record
1t is not pleasant to think the candl
date of "a large mass of American voters
is corrupt. Moreover, even if Gen
Iarfields character were stainless, W.
do not believe he would have any
chance of success against Gen. Han
cock. Meanwhile, the leading Repub
lican organs must either prove thai
they have deliberately DETAINED thei
candidate, or admit that he is corrupt
1t is a horrible choice of evils.