Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-06
THE BLAINE INVESTIGATION.

We find in our San Francisco ex-
changes the evidencelof Mulligan, be-
fore the judiciary Committee of the
House, bearing upon the charges
against Blaine; which evidence was
made the basis Of the editorial re-
marks of the New York press tele.
graphed to our Sundays issue, but the
nature of which We we're uniformed.
Mulligan's testimony is to the effect
that after his arrival in Washington
and after his first appearance before
the committe he was approached by
Blaine who begged for certain letters
of Blaine to Fisher which were in
possession Of witness. Blaine almost
got on his knees, implored mercy for
his wife and six children, declared that
the publication of the letters would
ruin him, and even threatened suicide.
Blaine finally got the letters on the
promise of returning them at once.
This promise Blaine failed to comply
with, and still holds the letters. Blaine
also offered Mulligan a c~onsulship and
other political positions. Such is Mul.
ligan's story. On the other hand,
Blaine admits obtaining these letters
at the time stated, but denied that he
had offered any bride to Mulligan or
that he had made any such abject
petition for them as Mulligan had
charged. He however refused to give
the letters to the committee even for
private examination. declaring that
they had no bearing on this case; and
furnished the committee with a joint
opinion of Matt. Carpenter and Jere
Black to the same effect. Thus the
matter-as far as we are informed
now stands. The comments of the
entire New York press are ~unfavorable
to Blaine in this matter. The WorlG
(Democatic) is charitably dis
posed than the Independent and Re-
publican journals. The San is bitterly
hostile. 1t says, in conclusion:
There is no doubt expressed here as
to what determine ton the full corn-
inittee will come to. 1t will report the
facts to the House and recommend
that Blaine be expelled for tanpering
with a witness who was protected by
the privileges of the House itself.
But the ground taken by tie Times
(Republican) which has ever been
willing 10 support Blaine or anybody
to beat Conkling is most significant.
1t says:
The extraordinary proceedings of
yesterday before the House Committee
reveal Blaine in a light which is fatal
to his availability as a presidential
candidate, and that fact will be a
serious objection to him in the eyes of
practical politicians. Popular judg-
ment and political e xpediency combine
to reject Blaine, and between them he
has gone over to the majority of dead
candidates.
Such expressions from his party
friends would appear to bo fatal to his
presid sntial aspirations. For u part,
we incline to the opinion that whether
Blaine be guilty or innocent, his most
ill.advised action in seeking an inter-
view with a hostile witness pending
examination establishes such a strong
presumption of guilt, at least betrays
such a consciousness of fear, as to de
stroy absolutely his chances at Gin
cinnati, and-if he succeed there-his
prospects at the November elections.
P. S.-Since the above was ia type
we have received a later Geographic re-
port, stating that Blaine yesterday read
On the floor of the House the letters
above referred to; and, although not
even a synopsis of their contents is
given, we infer from the manner in
which they were received that they
contained nothing which implicated
him in any dishonorable act. The
whole affair looks very much as
though there might be considerable
truth in the theory alluded to in the
first dispatch, viz: that, knowing their
harmless character, Blaine had raised
all the hullabaloo himself for the pur-
pose of creating a healthy sympathetic
reaction in his favor on the eve Of the
Cincinnati Convention.