Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-08-24
Mr., BLAIVE'S VAST WEALTH.

NR. BLAINES FASZ WEALIH'
Every now and then the Democratic
papers in Maine-and in other States copy
ing from those papers in Maine-bring
against Speaker Blaine the charge that he
entered Congress "a poor nam in 1868
and is now a millionaire.
This is one of the stock stories of the
Portland Argus and Bangor Commercial,
repeated very often during the present
campaign. The Argus with that nice APP
probation of details which always distin-
guishes Mr.. Adams, says that when he en-
tered Congress "Mr Blaine lived in a
rented house and was not worth three
thousand dollars" We think the Argus
gives the precise amount of house rent
paid by Mr.. Blaine. The Commercial
with still more intimate knowledge of Mr..
Blaine's private affairs, SO naturally and
cmnently enjoyed by Mr.. Emery, says
that "Mr. Blaine was compelled to borrow
the money with which he travelled to
Washin gton when he entered Congress in
1868" "
From 1854 to 1858 Mr. Blaine was one
OF the proprietors of this paper and for
three years one OF the State printers. For
a long period before he was thought OF
for Congress, Adams and Emery were in
the habit of declaring that "Mr. Blaine as
State Printer had made a fortune out OF
the State Of Maine"
One of the most cynical wits in New
England says that when a man has made
up his mind to deliberately lie, he is EMIT
led to choice of lies; but that he has no
right to swear to two lies on the same sub
ject that contradict each other We com.
mend this heightened maxim to Mr.. Adams
and Mr.. Emery. 1t is higher than they
observe in their editorial statements.
In regard to the "rented house OF which
Mr.. Adams knows so much, it may be
proper to say that when Mr.. Blaine en-
tered Congress and before he entered Con-
gross, he owned and lived in the same
house that he now occupies, as every one
in Augusta we'll knows.
AS very complete answer to all this
silly, groundless, malicious twaddlc of
the papers referred to, we quote the sub
joined paragraph from the Pittsburg Com
mercial one of the most prominent and
trustworthy journals in Pennsylvania. We
quote it because of its authoritative and
conclusive knowledge, both local and per-
sonal, in the premises. The Commercial
says:
"One of the constant charges made by
papers of certain class is that Speaker
Blaine entered Congress a ''poor man in
1868, and is now a millionaire AS to
his being a millionaire, it is to be pre-
sumed the assertion is merely one OF those
extravagant statements which belongs to
the literature of highly-spiced partizan
journals But as to his being ''poor
man in 1868" every one familiar with the
coal trade and the value of coal prop.
critics in our immediate vieinage on the
Monongahela river, knows the assertion
to be completely at variance with the
fact. Long before 1868, indeed, as far
back as the Democratic administration of
President Buchanan, IL tcds sceN knoU,a
that Mr. Blaine 0U'aed one of the finest
coal properties on The Monomgahela, uhich
returned q much larger income than a Con-
gressional salary, many gears before he CO.
er aoas candidate for Congress. This fact
the Allegheny County Registry Of Deeds
establishes in the most ndsputabe man
ner, and we refer to il simply to show
how wild and reckless certain papers
have grown to be in their charges against
conspicuous and influential Republicans
1t should be stated, moreover, that the
business reputation of Mr.. Blaine in trade
circles, where he is well known here,
stands very high Those who are familiar
with his attention to details, his indus.
try. his energy, his enterprise, and his
integrity, find no cause for wonder in
the TACT that he has become, not mil
lionaire, but man of independent for
tune, destined probably, in the develop
ment and advance of his property. ulti-
mately to attain to the possession of large
wealth." J4t