The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-08-03
Garfield'S RemOrse.

The public revival of the quarrel OF
the etalWarts and hslf.breeds in the
lower house OF Oongrts % has brouR BIT to
light a confession of Mr.. Garfield On
his death bed that is neither strange
nor surprising. An all wise Creator
has ordained that the most common
phenomenon 10 the hour of death is
remorse. Men at that time uDburdea
loaded conscience which the whip.
pings OF years have failed to accom-
plish. Those who have during long
lie borne q reputation above suspi.
clon, often when death approGcnes
confess to that which shows that their
lives had been one long deception.
In tbs hundred years of our history
many political crimes have been
committed, but in sl save one, pas
sion or misled patriotism oorld be
pleaded IN excuse or palIation. The
action of the republican party in
1876. by which the legally and NOR
ally elected President of the United
States was prevented from taking the
presidential chair, Was cold-blooded
and selfish crime, which cannot be
defended upon the ground of human
weakness. The tnett vas deliberately
planned, and as deliberately carried
out, and it is not at all surprising that
on his death-oed one of the Chief
actors should repent OF the part taken
ny himself and bis party in the
wrong. Concerning this the Wash
iBgton correspondent of the New Or
leADe Times Democrat says:
"a strange story comes to ms from
the desth.bed of the late President
Garfield. II is to the effect that while
yet in his fall senses, but convinced
that be could not recover, be x
pressed not only regret but deep cou-
triton for the part be bad borne in
Idepriving President TIlden of the
Office TO which be was elected in
1876. 1t will bs remembered that
Mr.. Garfield was one ut the visiting
statesmen who thrust Themselves
into the canvass OF the vote OF Loulsi-
ana in that year, bringing cut 'evi-
dence' OF 'DuIldozing' in some of the
rural parishes; and in particular that
of the old woman whom Mr.. Garfield
examined, ;;'not, he ssid, as 9 judge,
but IS q lawyer
IL is now related that feeling that
he could not recover, that his death
must take place in few dsys, he
talked with his attendants about his
public career az veil as his personal
affairs. It is said on authority, that
! have no reason to doubt, that he
showed himself sincerely penitent for
the part he took in the great fraud OF
1876. He regarded that as the one
great stain OF his public career, and
be made some reference to documents
which he felt sure would serve to
mitigate the Judgment Of posterity
upon him. He expressed the greatest
apprehension that at no distant
period an svenging Nemesis would
visit upon his party and friends ter
rible revenge for that wrong. Those
who listened to him were bis political
and personal friends; they regarded
the words and emotions of Garfield as
the effect OF physical weakness and
long sufiering, and agreed 20 be silent
regarding them. But 10 the quarrels
that have arisen between the stalwarts
and the hslt.breeds they have been
repeated, and are at length the sub
lect OF discussion in private circles.
at no distant day some authorized
publication on this subjet may be ex.
pected. "