Daily Kennebec journal., 1876-06-13
From the Daily State lN. j. Gazette

The striking and dramatic scene in the House
of Representatives on Monday, in which Mr..
Blaine completely vndicated his assailed reputa-
tion and covered his enemies with confusion, has
more eifectually opened the eyes OF the country to
the spirit and methods OF that Confederate assem-
bage than anything that has occurred during the
session. The spirit that inspires its action IS the
the malignant and ievensetul ghost OF the Lost
Cause" and its methods are those of unscrupulous
political scoundrelism. Utterly neglecting the i'm
potant work of the session, it has devoted ITSELF
with fierce and absorbing energy, to an attempt to
blacken the character of the men who were con-
spicuous for their zeal in behalf Of Liberty and
Union. A short time ago one OF their scandal
bureaus thought they had discovered wit
ness who would explode the republican party
by the dreadful secrets which he would dis
close. But after laborng for hours with this
mysterious witness, and working themselves up
into fever of expectancy. they suddenly discov-
cred that he was crazy man. For SIX months
another scandal bureau has ransacked the private
life and history of Secretary Robson, at cost to
the taxpayers of over hundred thousand dollars,
and discovered nothing which he does not dissolve
into nothingness in an hours hearing. Last week
they got hold of dshonorable scoundrel named
Mulligan who went on to Washington from Boston,
with the cool, deliberate purpose of running a
great public man by an act of unspeakable treach-
cry. They eagerly seized upon him. There was
no doubt as to the purpose and deliberate dshonor
of this man. He declared, with insOlent bravado,
that he had package of Blaines private letters,
which he would publish if Blane's friends dis
credited his testimony. 1t is clear that he expect
ed to be discredited. and that he took the letters
with him a weapon of defense. Some people
affect to question the honor Of Mr.. Blaines course
in securing and retaining these letters. We hold
that, in vind;caton Of the sacred right of every
American citizen to his own private correspond
ence. and in view of the threats which this scoun-
drel had made to publish that correspondence to
the world Mr.. Blaine was perfectly justlfiable in
securing his letters in the way he did. man
would be a pusillanmous fool to accord to con-
fessed and bcastful scoundrel, the nice and pune
tillious consideration which might be due to an
honorable man. Mr.. Blaine believes in fighting
the devil with fire. Imagine yourself in his place
for moment: Hunted by pack OF remorseless
political foes, your reputation and your life work
at stake, and your private and confidential letters
in the hands of an INSCRIPTIONS enemy, who de-
clares his purpose to lay them before curious
and gliding world. Almost any man OF honorable
and manly impulse would knock the villain down
to obtain them if necessary.
The Confederate scandal mongers seized eager
ly upon this man, as witness after their own
hearts. lie was unscrupulous and full OF malice
And so they exultan,ly listened to and published
to the world his testimony that these letters con-
tanned revelations ruinous to Mr.. Blaine, and that
he man fested such desperate determination TO
secure them because he knew they involved rolti-
cal ruin, and that he threatened and caJoled and
attempted to brbe him in order to obtain possess
sion OF them. After securing this the committee
decided to POSTPONE the inve stgation until alter
the Cincinnati Convention, confident that the re-
pubcans would not dare to nominate Mr.. Blaine
for the Presidency with the uncertainty of these
mysterious letters hanging over his head
meaner and more unjust proceeding was never
heard of in Congress. 1t was the Inspiration of
their desperate fear of Mr.. Blaine as candidate.
The republicans of the whole country contemplate
ed the situation with mingled feelings of mortifi-
cation, anger and hope. They could see no very
clear way out of the dilemma created by these un-
fair democrats, but they had almost boundless
confidence in the courage ard fertility of resource
of Mr.. Blaine.
And he has not disappointed them. He did just
what every friend wished and yet scarcely dared
that he would do--read all those mysterious letters
that the lying Mulligan had declared and SANDER
ous press had surmised, were full of damaging and
ruinous evidence, openly to the world. Ihe
triumph over partisan malice and talsehood was
complete. The country acknowledges and rejoices
init by universal and unprecedented shout Of
applause. No public man was ever before greeted
with such universal and enthusiastic cOngra,ula-
tions as Mr.. Blaine is to-day by the American peo-
pie. The is that he was the object of such
a mean and viDdictve warfaro-a partisan crusade
conducted without the slightest pretense Of re-
gard for honor or far play, IN which the determin
alton to crush him by iair means or foul, was ap
parent to the whole country. The American
sense of fair play sympathzes with thus
pursued by vindictve SANDER dogs, and rejoices |
when he gets the better Of his remorse less enc |
mics. The loyal and honest heart of the country |
especially reolces that a man who has been fore /
most among the Jealous defenders of Liberty and |
Union and is pursued by rebel malice, turns upon |
and canfounds his pursuers
Mr. Blaine did this in the most astonishing and
brilliant and overwhelming manner. lie not
only showed that Augan and his supporters
were slanderers and liars, but proved in IA climax
of triumph that was never before cqualed in Con-