Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-13
A scATHING REBUKE.

The ArgoRaM is supporting the Ameri-
can ticket, chimerical venture and one
that was born of no broadly representative
movement. But while that paper OPP
poses Mr.. Swift negatively and Mr.. Bart
lett positively, it will not remain silent in
the face of mendacious and indecent as
saults upon the character of either the
Republican or Democratic candidate. 1t
says Of Mr.. Swift, that no man in Califor
MIA can better endure inquiry into his life's
activities. 1t pronounces him pure man
in private and social life, scrupulously
honest in all transactions with his fellow
men. 1t emphasizes its statement that he
obtained his nomination honorably, and
that he is thoroughly equipped for the
duties Of the office to which he aspires.
After thirty years residence in California,
with his honor and integrity unquestioned,
he has now become the target for unscru-
pulous assaults from the Democratic press.
The charges uttered, the Argonam pro-
nounces, of its own knowledge, to be false,
libelous and made by unprincipled men.
He contracted in writing with San Fran
cisco to do her certain professional service,
and having done it and demanded his pay,
he is now being denounced as a robber of
the treasury. Nearly thirty years ago he
bought him homestead, to a few feet of
which there was some question regarding
the title, viz; whether an alley could be
projected through it. 1t was a fine ques-
ton of law, and Mr. Swift's view of it re-
ceived the sanction of the Courts of law ;
but he is charged with stealing a street"
Lastly, it is charged that he has robbed the
estate Of his father, and pleaded the stat
ute of limitations in bar Of paying money
unjustly held" an accusation absolutely
groundless, and without even shadow of
foundation" The protest Of the ArgOadut
is strongly couched in language that cuts
to the quick, and scari6es the rascals,
whoever they may be, who originated the
Infamous accusations. 1t is to be said, in
justice however to the San Francisco Alta,
that while its news agencies, without the
knowledge of the editor, published the
silly story that Mr. Swift bad dealt dis
honorably with his fathers family, on its
editorial side at the earliest possible mo-
meut, hastened to disavow its disbelief in
it and to express its adherence of that
kind of political tactics that stabs charac-
ter and inyades the sanctity and purity of
private life and to arrest its belief in Mr.
Swift's purity. To that extent, therefore,
the scathing rebube of the Argonaut, in
justice should be modified.
Political chicancery becomes dangerous
to the institutions of free government
when party gives consent to such vicious
assaults as have been made upon the
honesty Of John F. Swift. Whatever
political opponents may chose to say of
his political methods, is permissible, but
there is nothing in the competition of
honorable men for places of distinction and
high trust to warrant the malignant asper-
sioas upon his character that have met
Nr Swift in his candidacy Cicero wrote
that nothing is so swift as calumny
nothing is more easily uttered; nothing
more widely dispersed But it Is also
true that stainless life is proof against
it; that time brings its yiciousness to
light; that men turn upon its authors at
the last and rend them, and the victim of
calumny having the courage and pstience
to endure, can rest content with the truth
uttered 10y the immortal bard:
50 thou be good, SANDER doth but approve
Thy worth the greater.