The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-03
MIR. PHILLIPS IN INDIANA.
He Explains What That "Side Arrange
ment" Was-The Work of Campbell
lite CIergymen.
Interview in Pittsburg Dispatch

Interview in Pittsburg Dispatch.
II am an ardent Republican, and was
personal friend of Garfield. Consequently, L
was deeply interested, not only in the sue
cess of the party, but also in the election OF
General Garfield to the presidency. visited
Indiana in the first days of July, 1880, before
the campaign had really opened. 1 was ac-
quainted with some influential men there,
with whom | wished to advise and counsel
in regard to the campaign in that State.
While there l met by appointment num-
Der of citizens of Indiana from various parts
of the State. The side arrangement which
we then organized, and which is spoken of
in the letters to which you allude, had no
reference to any railroad scheme for coloniz-
ing the State with repeaters, as might be in
ferred from the Suns statement, nor to any
thing of corrupt nature whatever.
at was simply for the purpose of enlight-
ening and persuading a certain class of citi-
zens of Indiana to support General Garfield
on account of his high aCtainments, his moral
and Christian character and his eminent fit
ness for the position OF chief magistrate OF
the nation. The men associated with me i'll
this work were not active politicians, but
men who believed in his moral and religious
worth, and sought by honorable means alone
him, chiefly on this ground, early in the
campaign, before political passion was
aroused by the heat of controversy. This
was sought to be accomplished by personal
appeal and by the publication and distribu-
ton of pamphlet giving sketch of his
career and embodying clippings from nom
partisan papers, religious and secular, in
which his personal integrity was Endorsed
and his eminent qualifications for the position
set forth. My recollection is that about one
hundred thousand copies of these docu-
ments were circulated by this side-ssue,
chiefly before the State election in October
and about the same number in the general
election, together with a considerable num-
Der of copies of the campaign textbook, en-
bodying the public life of Garfield written
by President Hinsdale of Hiram College.
when [ returned | set before General
Garfield the nature of the work sought to be
carried forward in Indiana, which he in
dorsed, and which accounts for these letters
addressed to the Republican committee in
New York, in which reference is made to
me. And in this connection 7 would re-
mark that there was not word passed be-
tween General Garfield and myself which
even limited in the most remote degree at
gaining single vote by any corrupt method
whatever Furthermore, when speaking to
me at another time in regard to political par
ties, he said: The saddest thing of all is the
large amount of money that is going into
this campaign, and remarked, If this con-
tinues, it is only question of time with
this nation
For my own part am utterly opposed to
the corrupt methods which have so largely
obtained in our politics for some years past.
If this nation is to survive, if it is to escape
the rock on which many of the most liberal
governments of the old world have found
cred, corruption as now practiced must cease.
In whatever political work 1 have been en-
gagged, whether in State or national cam
paigns, l can say that 1 never used a
dollar of corruption fund in my life, to the
best of my knowledge and belief. And now,
after three years have elapsed, looking back
over the whole field see nothing to regret
in regard to the nature or character of the
work done by me in Indiana, and no reason
why, under the same circumstances should
not again endeavor to accomplish the same
ends by the use of the same means.
LAS politician, | believe Garfield was
pure, as a statesman he was great, as a man
he was true. To know him was to love him.
His memory is justly embalmed in the
hearts of the people. He was one of the
wisest, greatest and best of his race. The
light shed in dark places by him will grow
brighter as the years advance"