Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-22
DORSEY AND GARFIELD.
Another Letter from she Great Star
ROuter 90 the President.
CONFIDENTIAL !

FEBRUARY "a.
Hon. j. d. Garfield, Mentor, o.
Ny DEAR GENERAL-General Arthur
came over last night from Washington and
I had conference of several hours with
him. He informed me that Mr.. Blaine and
his political adherents were very much pro-
voked at what they called my interference,
namely, because had suggested with many
others the name Of Judge Folger for Secre-
tarY Of the Treasury.
General Arthur says that he has never
heard such buzz and disturbance of feel
ing as there has been among the Blaine
people. He furthermore says that Mr.. FL
kins, acting no doubt for Mr.. Blaine is talk
ing very noisily against the selection Of
Judge Folger because he was tool Of mine
| simply wish to call your attention to the
fact that when I mentioned Judge FoIger
to you first l had never seen him. Ny
whole intercourse with him since would
cover half the time that you occupied with
him st Mentor. know him personally less
than know almost any public man in the
country. l urged his appointment, and /
still urge it, because l think It is the great
thing for you and the party to do. The dis
appointment manifested by the feeling in
Washington on the part of his friends is
the evident outgrowth of a notion that they
expected to control the Cabinet and
especially the Treasury Department.
II Mr.. Blaine did not care to con-
troll the Treasury Department he would not
be dissatisfied or annoyed at the appoint
ment OF Mr.. Folger. warn you, therefore,
that this manifestation of bitterness is a
thing of which you should take heed, and
write what have said to you more than
once, that neither Mr.. Blaine nor any other
ambitious man should have control of the
great places In your Cabinet. II Mr. Blaine
is to be made Secretary of State and a pro-
tege of his Secretary of the Treasury and
another Secretary of the Interior, l have
great fears that the administration would
greatly suffer, with an even chance that dis
aster would follow in the near future. l do
not wish to say an unkind thing of Mr..
Blaine, although he is charged with the re-
sponsibility for the most unkind things said
OF me within the last week. and the most
untruthful and malignant ever uttered by
man. II what General Arthur has heard
is true, 1t is as clear as daylight
to my mind that he exp pacts to have his
friend in the Treasury Department, another
friend either In the Post Office or Interior,
and that through them and by them he in
tends to do one Of two things, either to
make your administration a camping ground
for his own aspirations, or he has some other
object no less dangerous to the party. l
cannot bring myself to believe that Mr..
Blaine is 10 the state of mind he is reported
to be, and l sincerely trust that Gen. Arthur
has been misinformed. In respect to Judge
Folger, have made 1t my business since
saw you tos Republicans as well as Demo
Gratis OF all shades of opinion, and to get
from them an expression as to the capacity,
integrity and fitness of the man. Now, out
side of Mr.. FentOn, do not believe there
are twenty men in the State of New
York but what have the most I'm
FNAfn ~ l. ~
character. Mr.. Fenton has had reason to |
hate Judge Folger, because it was through !
his great power and ability that Fenton was |
destroyed in that State. The allegation that |
Folger was in any way connected with the /
Tweed ring Is too absurd to consider, for he |
was the one particular man in the State who
fought the Tweed ring, and the whole gang
OF thieves In this State, from the beginning
to the end, while at the same time Mr.. Fen
ton was hand in glove with them. believe
Folger's personal character, his great ability
and the perfect purity of his life, would
bear comparison with those of any living man
Folger's appointment simply means what
the large standing armies of Europe mean,
namely, that you are equipped for any
that may offer, so
none will arise. 1 beg of you not
to permit the disappointment and
the bitterness which grows out Of
to influence Won
Il tht- -~e4te~- ssg tOII That IOT your
and the Republican party
and for the country the appointment of
Judge Folger to the Treasury Department
is the most important one you have to deal
with. Your failure to appoint him, It seems
to me, will be the monumental mistake of
your administration.
believe the Republican party of the coun-
try think well of Mr.. Blaine, and think
that his selection as the head of your Cabi-
net is wise one; but Mr.. Blaine is not in a
position to be chief Of Cthe abinet and then |
dictate the other important places in it.
And what is of more importance, you are
not Ia position to allow him to do
It
But Rto return to Judge Folger. leg
again to impress upon you the value of that
grest name and high character to your ad-
minIstration. Sincerely yours.
8. W. DORSEY