The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-06-26
Colfax be mt candidate because 30 much time

has elapsed since his exposure:
II is further said that Mr. Garficld's con.
stituenls IN his Congressional district have re-.
covered confidence in him. This counts for
/ little until we know whether they acquitted or
condoncd, and the grounds on which they nc.
quilted him, il It was m acQuittal. Certain it
is that he lost many votes in the election which
followed the exposure HIS majority, which
Ind been nearly 1000 in 1872, just previous
to the exposure fell to 2,j2S in 1873. But a
bare statement of the majorlties Is not fair to
Mr. Garfield since there was third candidate
in 1874 The loss of confidence is best meas.
ured by his loss OF votes. In 1872 he received
49, 1850 and in 1874 only 1881 "a loss of near.
" $500 IN consequence of the exposures and
in spite OF his strenuous attempts To parry
them. He aterward recovered his usual ma.
jorities.
But when we are referred to his constituents
it is Legitimate to inquire on what ground they
forgave or acquitted him. If it was on the
same grounds that are now urged their judg
ment cannot be accepted. We are now grave
ly told that it was only small matter of $329,
as if the dishonest acceptance of that sum were
not as fatal IA the acceptance OF "A larger
amount. 1t his constituents cOndoned his of
Tense on this ground, the country will not APP
prove of their lcniency. Besides, il is sheer
representation to say that the alleged bride
was limited to that amount What is charged
Is that he had Credit MObllcr stock To the
amount of $1,000; that he never paid, nor eX-
pcCtcd 10 pay, cent for 1t; that the dividends
on other stock which went with ii were so
enormous that they paid for the Credit Mobil.
Ter stock and lett a surplus of 1920, which was
pald over to Mr. Garfield, making the actual
bribc 81 600 of stock which cost HIM nothing
and the surplus which he received in money.
When the exposure came he threw up and re
pudiated his stock but had there been no cX.
pOsurc he might have retained il. His accept
anCe of the surplus of dividends beyond what
was necessary to pay for the stock looked like
an acknowledgment that the stock was his. |
There must be some better explanation than
has vet been presented before the country will !
think otherwise We are willing and anxious
t. see defense which is not rs damaging as
the original charge WIN any Republican
contend that If the three hundred and twenty
nine dollars which Mr. Garfield received from |
Cakes Amcs was a surplus of dividends on his !
Stock he is fit to be President? If, rs Mr.. Gar.
field tried to have it appear at the time, it was
borrowed money, why did he borrow so sin
gular a sum?
The defense put forward for the five thou
sand dollars received in the DE Golver bust |
ness is equally lame. 1t Is not denied that he |
received that sum, but it is asserted that it was
A counsel fee. 1t Is not yet shown what ser
wee Mr.. Garfield rendered to earn it. 1t was
equal 10 full years salary as Congressman, a
salary which Is earned by many speeches on
he floor much arduous labor in several com
nittces, and many services for his COnstitu-
snts. 1t Is averred that he never made speech
nor did any namabe thing for that large coun-
gel fee If he did, let his friends present a bill
If particulars. Ii they can find nothing to in
,ert in such bill let them cease prating about
counsel tee, for it will be evident that the
money was paid HIM because he was Chairman
If the Committee on Appropriations We waive
he indecOrum of taking counsel fee in the
interest OF job for which Mr.. Gdrfield's com
nittee was asked to make appropriations, and
simply suggest that a precise statement be
made of the services he rendered as counsel.
II the list of services proves to be a blank
what Interpretation will be put on the offer
md acceptance of the counsel fee?
Mr.. Garfelds defense Is thus far in such
weak and unskilltul hands that he should take
t up himself. We respectfully offer him the
courtesy of our columns for that purpose. We
viii chccrfuly give him all the space he may
cquirc. His supporters will damage HIM ir-
if he leaves his case in their hands
much longer They have inflicted so much
injury already that ii will require all his skill
o throw their blunders into the shade.