The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-07-21
A SHAMEFUL HISTORY.

A SHAMEFUL HISTORY.
The republican journals may raise an
ou,cry and call 1t "Dorsey's Shame" be-
cause with his own shame and that Of a
number of leading, living republican poll
ticIsns, it brings shame upon the memory
of the dead and "sainted" Garfield; but
the story Is no less true or instructive on
that account, as illustrative Of the degrade.
ton to which politics among the republi-
can leaders has sunk, and the base and
criminal means BY which the election of
Garfield and the defeat Of the democratic
party was comprised IN the contest of
IlsS0.
Mr. Stephen W. Dorsey, late principal
defendant in the famous star.rOute suits at
Washington since his acquittal, has de
cided not to carry out his threat 70 publish
the vouminous documentary proof in his
possession, consisting of correspondence
between himself as Secretary OF the Repub.
Ilicaa National Committee, and Garfield,
Jewett, Morton, and all the leading repub.
lcan managers and bosses Of the country,
showing the treacherous means by which
the nomination of Garfield at Chicago was
accomplished, how Dorsey had been drawn
into and trusted in the management OF the
campaign for his election, how and by
what means that campaign was made sue
cessful and how, at its close, Dorsey was
deserted and betrayed by those whom he
had so faithfully and effectively served.
Instead Of mourning the expense Of print
ing this correspondence Mr.. Dorsey ap-
pears to have turned it over TO the New
York Sun, by an employe of which copi,
GUS synopsis of the whole WAS prepared
and published In that paper on Monday,
filling seven closely printed columns.
The story thus evolved from this volum-
nous documentary proof Is, very briefly
and impe,fectly outlined, about as fol-
lows:
That long lat least six months) before
the Chicago convention of 1880, while
Sherman, Blaine and Grant we're busted
in working up their respective "booms,"
and really killing each other OFT, Garfield,
in consultation with an association of the
"better class" politicians in Philadelphia,
was maturing plan to compass his own
nomination. The kernal of the plan was
that Garfield should head the Ohio delega.
ton for Sherman at Chicago and at the
proper time turn traitor and secure his
own nomination, All the world knows
how the plot succeeded.
II took very little time, however, after
the convention to show that nomination
thus brought about was odious to a very
large wing Of the republican party, and
unless that wing was concliated defeat
was inevitable. Garfield knew Dorsey
well knew his skill and unscrupulousness
rs politician, and rs first step hat HIM
made Secretary Of the Republican Nation
al Committee, and thus virtually placed III
charge Of the campaign Dorsey soon re
allzed the uphill nature OF the work he
had undertaken, and as first step insisted
on Garfield going TO New York in person
and making his peace with Wall street and
the Stalwart politicians. The result was
the famous Fifth Avenue Hotel Confer
ance The names Of those who met Gar.
field and Dorsey at that conference are not
given, but they included representatives
with full powers" Of the New York stall.
warts, OF the Wall street bankers and of
the railroad kings. The conference had
three prime objects /, To secure the sup.
port OF the stslwarts; 3 OF the money
power and railroad kings; 3, Cash The
result was triiorm agreement, drawn upl
in duplicate and as cold and formal us
bIll of sale. lst, Mr.. Garfield agreed, lfI
elected, to appoint l.. Z. Merton, "a stalwart
and tool of Wall street, Secretary of the
Treasury; ID, That the operation Of re
funding the five and six per cent. govern.
ment bonds, which was soon to take place
and involved millions of "peroulsites, 4"
should be given TO such syndicate of
Wall street bankers as should be designat.
cd by the stalwarts; and Sd, to secure the
money and influence of Gould, Vanderbilt
and the other railroad kings, he agreed, if
elected, to appoint Stanley Matthews, a
creature OF the railroads, to the vacant
seat upon the bench of the Supreme Court
Of the United States.
The agreement was ali Dorsey had
hoped for or could ask. 1t placaled the
stalwar;s and money power to the fulles,
extent, and gave hun control OF millions
as campaign fund. There was but one
cloud left in the bright horizon. Conk.
ling, though in New York at the time and
stopping at the Fifth Avenue Hotel had
refused to attend the conference Nor was
any immediate representative of Grant or
Cameron there. This led to the arrange.
ment of the subsequent conference nj