New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-16
fools and soreheads. Neither they nor lie
would survive the fray.
JUSTICE FOR THE PEAD.


Do tle creatures who are trying to defile the
grave of President Garfield fancy that they
will help themselves in public estimation by
that course 7 lie cannot answer. His lips
have been silenced forever by an assassin,
whose black deed was not baser, but far less
cowardly than the conduct of those who strive
10 dishOnor the memory of the martyr let al
though lie can make no reply to the slanderS
which towards did not dare to utter while lie
lived. he will not be defenceess. The hearts
of the people will speak for him. Before nc
died the world had come to know him, ana 10
love him infinitely better than any OF his Toes
Abuse of the dead lion will scarcely make the
living jackal hOnored or dear.
1t has been the disposition of true Republicans
to drop out of sight, ~ Tar as they could, the
controversy between different clements OF
the party. They have tried to give to Stall
wart haters of the dead President all possible
charity and patience. in about two years a
verdict of the people will end their brief day.
Power that the people did not give to them, and
honor which they have not deserved, will be
transferred by the people to others of different
mould. and until then the country can wait.
In this spirit many of the spiteful filings at the
memory of the dead have been passed in con-
temptuous silence. But forbearance has its
limits. 1t will not do to insult the memory of
the dead, day after day, and yet to expect mercy
and patience for the living who seek to rise by
dish0n0rng him. If there is to be this hendlSh
malignity shown toward the late President ana
toward those who were his friends, those who
were his foes must expect to hear very PLAIN
talk about themselves and their conduct
The President it has been said, wishes to
unite and harmonic the Republican party. IL
so. he will muZzle without delay the ours who
call themselves his friends, and who are dong
what little they can to blackcn the memory OF
his predecessor The country, he must he
aware. will deem him largely responsible If
this conduct continues, for the creatures who
are sandering the dead President are begging
Office from the living. Not one word OF abuse
would be heard from them, if it were known that
he would neither approve nor reward IL. III he
chooses he can put an end in one day to the Hing
inc of mud at his predecessor. He has only to say,
i'm public wav to any one of an hundred Dcggars
for office, that he does not intend to honor Re
publicans who try to dishOnOr Il Republican
President, nor to reward men who seek to per-
petuate strife III the party. ORe remark OF that
kind from him would change the tone of the
svmpathizcrs with Guitcau. If he has no such
thing to say, the country will know equally
well what he DESIRES He has more power, us
to this matter, than everybody else, and there
fore is more responsible if he permits things
which decency, justice and patriotism should
forbid.
The military record of General Garfield was
closed with high honor long ago. In bret
service, he gained more enviable reputation
than many Others who held higher rank. when
he left the army it was at the public call to
serve in different station. Many years OF
sharp political campaigning followed, III when
ne was more than once pursued with intense
bitterness. All that it was possible to say with
success, TO the disparagement of his military
record, while he and others who knew the facts
were living, was said long ago, and said III vain.
President Lincoln, Secretary Chase, and other
members of the Cabinet, knew perfectly what
the course of General Garfield had been, and
the stories that are now told were never thought
worth uttcring while they were alive, or even
while General Garfield was here to confront them.
It's many years too late to assal his character rs
a soldier, now that his tongue Is silent. Touch
ing the latter part OF his political career, differ
cnces Of opinion are not unnatural. Events
were then regarded with very different eyes, 10y
men whose strong feeling influenced their Judg-
menus. In time, calm history will make up Its
verdict as to that part of the late Presidents
career. and it will not be one to pain his
friends. But it will prove a sheer waste OF
time, nineteen years after the military record OF
General Garfield was closed to manufacture
SANDERS respecting that part of his life. Nor
will it prove helpful to anybody to circulate
SANDERS of any kind respec ting one whom the
people hav not yet ceased to love.