The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-28
UNWRITTEN HISTORY
Why Schuyler Colfax Firmly Re-
fused to Re-Enter Public Life.
Correspondence Showing a Demand for
His Services and His Own Views on
the Credit Mobilier Charges.
New Work. Mail and Exnress

lignantly aSSailed and upon whose heads
the foulest calumnies and most vindictive
detraction have been exhausted. the names
which would first suggest themselves to
the student of American history and poll
tics would he George Washington, Schuyler
Colfax and James G. Blaine.
Against the fair reputation of each the
shafts of party rancor, of malignant news
papers, of personal spite and detraction
beat pitiessly. but the test was successfully
withstood. and each. ''mens conscia recti."
died secure in the respect and affection of
the American people.
Washington outlived the vicious charges
which were hurled against him during his
second term, and became the father of his
country. Blaine became the idol of his
party and before his death had secured the
admiration and respect even of his political
foes.
There is a mistaken idea prevalent that
Schuyler Colfax carried to the end the
stigma of the Credit Mobilier charges and
that he never recovered the entire conf
dence of the people. The gist of the charge
was that Colfax had received $1,000
dividend upon the discredited Credit Mo-
biler stock, in the handling of which so
many public officials were more or less
smirched. Colfax met the charges manfully,
and denied at the time of the investigation
and ever after that he had in any way re-
ceiyed money from the Credit Mobilier. The
only evidence on which the charge was
based was q check drawn by Cakes Ames
to IS. C. or bearer" The check however.
was unindorsed. and the Vice President de-
MED any knowledge of its existence, while
his own private books clearly proved that
he never received the money.
For a time the clamorous virulence of his
enemies doubtless produced some effect
it is certain that the iron of popular ingrat-
itude entered his soul. but conscious or his
own rectitude, he calmly awaited the yer
Colfax did not, however, become polit-
ical back number after the Credit Mo-
bieF scandal and mad me 9e eh M ifs me NE
any time up to the close Of his career. But
he persistently declined every office which
was attempted to be thrust upon him. He
was orce offered the portfolio of State. In
1880 his friends promised him the Indiana
senatorship if he would put himself In their
hands. This he declined and urged the
nomination of Benjamin Harrison. who was
elected. After his election Harrison wrote
to Colfax, saying: Your course In this
considerate toward me. and l want you to
know that 1 appreciate it,"
The ex-Vice President was frequently
mentioned as a probable Cabinet minister
of Mr. Garfield. Garfield once said to him:
MY first thought after my nomination at
vi III.
discouraged and deprecated.
URGED TO RE-ENTER PUBLIC LIFE.
Again in 1888 he was besought to accept
the nomination for Congress from the South
Bend district, and the pressure brought to
bear upon him was almost overwhelming.
Mr.. E. W. Halford afterward the private
secretary of President Harrison, wrote to
Colfax:
II spent a week in Washington and while
there heard general and warm desire ex-
pressed that you should come to the House
from your old district. After / came home
started the idea in telegram to the New
and you must be touched by the warm ex-
Dressions and the decided hope that you
will agree to stand. Permit me to say that
my judgment is clear that YOU should. You
owe it to yourself. your future. your
friends. not to say your district and State.
ent life, but ease and comfort are no mans
prerogative in this world. You cannot be
defeated. You will be the leader of your
party in the State by the force of circum-
stances as well as one of the leading figures
in Congress. L want you to pray over this.
| am In dead earnest; Your friends are 1
Editor D. S. Marsh. of the South Bend
Register, wrote:
entreat you, by the regard you have for
your personal and political friends. here
and throughout the Nation; by your love
for the grand old party Of human rights
and good government, sadly In need to-day
of your leadership in the House. and which
in two years more will need a Colfax for
its national candidate to steer it clear of
dissensions and jealousies in its own ranks;
by the demands of your manhood which
cannot be satisfied In the zenith of its pow
er to rest inactive from work ii is so well
qualified to perform-by all these reasons
and and more not to dampSen the ardor of
| your behalf. Don't interfere against the
rising tide. The district will be a unit for
| you. The people, the press and the pol
iticianS aXDrpSS hIlt the
| harmonious and lubilant. All that is asked
| Is that you stand aside and see the saliva
| uprising In the district as you have never
before seen. Stay your voice and hand
from the ungracious task of depriving your
Senator Van Wyck, of Nebraska, sent
Il was just reading this Sunday evening
| an item-that you would probably yield to
the wishes of your friends in the old dis
| tfct and allow them TO return you TO
| the House of Representatives. L earnestly
! hope you may do so. Many, many times
have felt and remarked that you should
have done this very thing years ago If
you conclude to crafty your friends, there
| will go up grateful acclamations from mil
| lions of warm generous, and. / may say
| loving hearts. If it requires some sacrifice
| on your part make it. This much is due
to yourself and the Nation"
y distinguished clergyman who shared
| the intimacy and confidence Of the Indiana
statesman wrote as follows:
II think you make a great mistake by
| p6TSlSlltlS III your TeluStl 10 again enter
| public life. You may not be aware of it,
but 1t has a bad effect not only on the pub
| lie, but on yourself. Letting the former go,
your action has on you the effect Of deep
ening the impression that you wound
ed man with n wounded spirit. 1t helps
| to cloud and sadden your life when, my
dear sir, there is no need of It. / think I
am correct in saying that TO an immense
| majority of your fellow-citiZens you are
| an innocent man, WrOnged; and my criti-
cism on your course is that you have un-
| wisely permitted this wrong to crush, or,
, at least TO keep you down You should
| do so no longer IL shows-pardon me for
! the least, IL is unwise TO exhibit. You
| should show that you are made of 'steriier
4 stuff and IL God offers you the opportunity
| You should once again stand in the sun
| light and not remain In the shadow. Re
| member, My ways are not your ways.
saith the Lord. His way. for you. had in
! it a bitter experience, and He knew what
was best. If now He is willing to set you
on the rock and put the new song in your
! mouth, don't you thwart His purpose.
| Gods ways are past finding out. / don [
| know why He permitted you to have that
sorrow, and 1 don't care. He did and
! that's enough. But one of the most pro-
| found truths in Gods government Is that
while He permits such things He at the
| same time offers opportunities. chances TO
! His afflicted children. And If He in His
| providence is now willing to offer you one
more, don't you let il go by
MIR. COLFAXS REPLY.
1t was in reply TO this letter that Mr..
Colfax wrote the following letter the man.
uscript OF which has come into the posses
sion of the Mail and Express. and has never
before been made public. 1t reveals the