Year: 1870

DCCn SIdlllItu II Nu6 sStlllC hAONleuBG


could have been impaired to the entire


constituency of that representative.


About year ago, more or less, a


friend who served with General GAR


FIELD in the war, an officer in the


regular army Ia man who was not


and never was a pOlitician) visited
him. He saw as others had seen the
accommodations and mode of life Of
his friend. Rejecting on the matter,


he called again and alluding TO the
subject proposed to furnish General
GARFIELD the money to buy lot and


build a house, so that himself and
family might have a more suitable
home. The friendly offer was accept
ed, lot was bought, house built, at
cost of So, 900 for the whole invest
ment, and the friend who suggested
the plan and furnished the means has
his security in bond and mortgage on
the premises. 1t will occur TO every
sensible person that this was a very
proper operation. The interest on
the investment is actually less than
the amount it is necessary to eXpend
yearly in room rental, so there is a
saving of money, by having a house
and being in debt for it. 1t is very


probable, indeed certain, that at any
time the property can be sold at an
advance over cost so that in every
view of the case it was an economic
and rational thing to do, and as il
was done in this way and Just as
stated, he must indeed possess a black
heart who will insinuate corruption
or dishOnOr in such q connection.


Another feature that is to be regard
ed as of more consequence than the
pecuniary benefit bestowed, is this,
the opportunity afforded to be with
ones family and to participate in the
training and education of ones child
rem. General GARFIELD has an in
teresting young family, and the
dearest wish of his heart is to pro-
mote their happiness and welfare,
and thus by the kindly Office of a
friend who feels the gratitude one
may who has received his life at the
hands of another, he has the oppOr-
tunity to be with his family in his
own house there surrounded with
them with all the sweet associations
of home.


There is nothing in the life Of any
good and pure man that needs con-
cealment, there is only to be chosen
the time to speak. This we imagine
in this case, to be the time and have
so improved it, addressing ourselves
to those who have in a large sense the
right to the information given. In a
general way it might have been said
that very many prudent and reasOna-
bic men whom people see fit to send
to Congress buy and build houses to
live in at Washington. 1t might
have been said that Stephen A. Doug
lass bought, built and sold houses,
but he may have lived in a better
day, for he was not charged with
baseness as are men now. Even Sen
ator Sherman happens to own ahouse
at Washington and we have yet TO
learn that he is any the less worthy
of public and private confidence and
esteem. To some minds there is
nothing but evil. Indeed some peO-
pie indulge the idea that when a man
becomes a member of Congress he can
do nothing honorably but 90 to Wash
ington and sit in his seat like block
and sign recommendations for office
seekers. For instance, if a member
of Congress happens to be lawyer
he is accused of corruption and i'm
proper practice if he tries a lawsuit,
and so these carpers look upon every
act that is not mechanical in the
routine line as something mOnstrous
and suspicious.


There are bad men in Congress and
there are bad men everywhere, but it
won't do to assume that only those
who vote the Democratic ticket or are
in favor of an unlimited supply of
Greenbacks are capable of an honest
act. 1t so happens there are two
sides to analyZe and it would be re-
markable if some rascals could not be
shown among those who conduct and
write letters to Democratic newspa-
pers-and make playthings of the
regulations of good men.


1t may be well to say here, that in
so far as this may be considered a
vindicaton of General GARFIELD
from the attacks of the newspapers
quoted, this article has been prepared
without any sort or shadow of sug-
gestiOn from him, and is prompted by
a high respect for his good name and
an appreciation Of the utter falseness
of the insinuations and statements
quoted. In so far as it contains in
formation pertaining to his personal
affairs that information was acquired !
by the writer by brief residence in |
and by association with !
General GARFIELD elsewhere, as in
cidental to social intercourse, and |
any sort of expectation of
use of such matters in a
article.-Portdge County |
Dec. %.