The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-12-21
THE LETTERS.

Z
gives him the appearance of being sacred.
a sentimental people have enshrined
him in their hearts and reverenced him
to a degree bordering on worship. Ii
has been, and is now, considered Sill
too grevious TO be forgiven to intimate
that Garfield had any fraiIties. The In.
terest manifested by Unbalanced persons
in Guiteau found parallel in those
whose emotions overlooked In contem-
plating the loss the country sustained in
Garfeld's death. The intrepid and rug
ged honesty of Lincoln, the representa-
tive of the best quality of people indie,
pendent, vigorous aud practical, paled
before the new candidate for public wor-
ship whose reputation rested largely on
pretty phrases and the enunciation OF
| lofty principles. There was no deed to
which his admirers could point as proof
of the sincerity of utterances which
bristIed with grand conceptions of politi-
cal virtue. But the people were satisfied
with lip loyalty to principle and every
heart was shrine which bore the offer
ings of devotion to the martyr president.
1t was treason to say aught against
that colossal figure of virtue, reared by
the credulous. impulsive obstinacy of
people extravagant in the national char
acte1istic of hero worship. Phldlas
never chiseled physical perfection from
cold marble to such q degree, as were
political virtue, morality and every quail
ity of craftsmanship, manhood and patri-
otism incarnated in this splendid speci-
men of one of the people. The devotion
of the ancients to a hero which found
expression in raising him 10 the dignity
of god, was hardly more extravagant IN
it's manifestation than that which was
felt for Garfield. While ne was the en-
bodiment of every thing noble, he was
singularly free from every weakness with
which good in most people is SO much
diluted as to make them human. This
paragon of excellence, this Chief M an
in nations life, this man crowned by viz
tues and unstained by vice was the Cheva-
her Bayard of American integrity the
Messiah of political reform.
Dorsey's disclosures do not make Gar
field, by any means, bad man. He was
far from being such. But he was NOR
tai, and he was weak IL many things.
Had great powers of mind, his convictions
were invariably right but always neutral
lied by his infrmity Of purpose. He
was honest in inclination but never
struggled against temptation. The force
of his intellect made him famous but had
he lived long enough his practice oil
abandoning principle at the dictates OF
ezpediency or the suggestions OF possible
personal advantage would deprive him Of
his reputation.
When Dorsey was bitterly assailed by
Garfelds friends, not because of his
dishonesty, but because of his 2oreSunap
ton in advising Garfield as to the correct
planner of proceeding, gratitude ano
| truth as well made it incumbent on the
president to do justice to the man on
whom he had devolved the principal
labor of the campaign. 1t was said thai
Dorsey's advice was unsought and thai
with characteristic impudence he had
thrust it upon the president. This was
allowed to 60 uncontradicted, and tc
Dorsey's credit, thief though he is, be-
it said that be did not then use the pres
ident's letters to contradict the false
statements.
Garfield made use Of means to secure
the vote in Indiana of the church te
which he belonged, half of whom were
democrats. He urged the plentiful use
of money in Indiana. He asked Dor
seys advice in every move, personal al
we'll as political. He lavished words O.
praise upon him, expressed the hlghes
approval of his aotives; encouraged the
collection of money from the millionaire
and monopolists of New York; entreatet
Dorsey to keep him informed both as Il
movements and his expectations of sue
cess: When he was elected he invited
Dorsey's opinion as to the formation 0
his cabinet; expressed approval of Dor
sey's views even when bitterly assailins
men who afterward were offered port
folios; and went so far as to offer tn
arch thief place in the cabinet as Sec
rotary of the Interior. Dorsey's charac
ter was known to him. He had known hin
twenty years, had lived in terms OF th
closest intimacy with him for six years
Still he was the principal manager of tn
campaign, the confidential adviser OF th
president elect aud had the refusal Of
place in his cabinet.
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