The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-05-21
THE WRIGGlER.
The n. Y, HeraId's Terrific screed Against
Garfield.


Garfield.
A decided sensation was ocCasi0ned in Wash
inton on Thursday of last week, spreading
thence all over the coun,ry,by terrific assault
in the New York Herald of the preceding day
on President Garfield IN connection with the
Garfield Conkling fight over the confirmation
OF Judge Robertson. The illumination attract
ed all the greater attention from the universal
impression that, if not actually written, it was
at least inspired by Conkling himself. The
article is too long for insertion here and we
shall attempt no more than to indicate Its gen
era scope and give few of It's more pungent
paragraphs. 1t starts out by charactcrizlng
the present contest IN the L. :. senate as a
duel between Senator Conkling on one side
and Senator Blaine on the other" in which
the president plays but a small and pltiabe
part.
The article goes back before the election
and details how, before the great battle came
off, there were weeks and days Of gloom and
uncertainty, when the leaders of the rcpubli-
crn party were in despair and 1t was next to
impossible to get more money TO carry on the
contest How in this strait the celebrated
Fifth Avenue Conference was held, attended
by Garfield himself, and to which Conkling
and Grant were invited but which neither at
tended. How then 1t was decided to send for
Lew z. Morton, Conkling's bosom friend, and
to tender him the management of the financial
part of the campaign. How Morton at first
declined but after long private interview with
Garfield accepted, under the following tempta-
ton:
As an Involvement to Mr.. Morton to under
take the labor Of raising money for the cam
paign General Garfield then and there offered
him in the event OF his election his choice Of
one OF four places as follows
First-The Secretaryship of the Treasury.
Second-The headship of the new syndi
Third-The English mission, or
Fourth The French mission, If he pre-
lerrcd that.
This offer was made to Mr.. Morton in Ian.
guage SO clear and unmistakable that there
could be no doubt as to It's meaning. The
next question considered was the distribution
of the patronage of New York, and the prom.
Use was given by General Garfield in an equal
" clear and emphatic way that IN the event of
his election the wishes of the state Organiza-
ton in all the appointments should be fully
consulted and that their advice and recon-
mendations should govern HIM in all that he
did. That there may be no mistake about
what is meant by the state organization, let
me say that il Is understood to mean, prlmari.
Ily, the two United States senators and the
state committee. a memorandum OF these
agreements was made at the time and other
memoranda in the shape of recolections by
those who were present of what was said and
done am prepared to produce it shall it be
found necessary to do so to substantiate the ac-
curacy OF my statements.
As a contrast to this shameful bargaining
away of high offices in advance to purchase
political aid the writer makes the following
reference to General Hancock under similar
circumstances:
About the same time some of the democrat.
ic politicians and leaders vino were striving to
elect him were restless and uneasy over his
reticence IN regard to the future. His election
was almost certain, and with spirit Of thrift,
for which the leaders of that party have al
ways been distinguished they thought 1t time
to put mortgage upon his administration
And so they came to HIM to consult
with him and bind with HIM in regard
to the treasury and state department and
the post office, the collectC rshlp, ard the for
eign consulates Instead Of offering TO auction
them off at so much in consideration OF mon.
ey for the campaign fund, General Hancock
remarked substantially Mo, gentlemen; ]
cannot do what you ask. | cannot pledge my
self to you. | have been nominated for the
highest office in the gift of the country and if
| am elected | must go into II free and un-
ltrammelled | can make no pledges" Mr..
Garfield was not only willing to make pledges,
but he was willing to barter away everything
in his gift provided he could only WIN.
StIl--!hough Morton had been thus
bought up and enlisted IN the campaign
the work dragged and Garfield was again in
despair Then he invited Conkllng Logan
and Cameron to Mentor, ana that famous con.
ference took place. No details of the Mentor
agreement are given, but 1t Is we'll understood
that it involved a carte blanche to Conkling,
&c, as to the disposal Of the patronage in
their respective states.
Then Conkling, Grant and Cameron began
the memorable campaign which threw life and
spirit into the canvas and from the very jaws
Of defeat wrenced the victory which has sent
Mr.. Garfield to Washington and given him
the opportunity to show that In duplciiy and
political ingratitude he stands alone among
American politicians When Conkllng and
Grant threw themselves INTO the breach the re
publican cause was almost lost. The party in
Maine under the leadership of Blame had
come ont of the fight with broken, battered
ranks In every part of the republican camp
there were disnay and dissffeclon. States
doubtful became doubly so.
Hancock, 1t was predicted would SWEEP
New York by 10000. Indiana WAS more un
certain than ever. Even Ohio was thought &c
be IN danger. Nothing was to be expected il
the South. From the Pacific states every
breeze across the Rocky mountains whispered
of discouragment and disaster. In less thar
thirty days from the date of the first speech by
| Mr. Gambling and General Grant the who'd