The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-06-13

recklsssness we're not the conscious
honor which feels no sin, il was at least
the confident bravado which defied all
enmity. Democrats who hate and de-
ride him, aud republicans who detest
and distrust him, all listened enrsp-
tured, enchanted as
THE HOT BURNING HURRICANE
Of angry protest poured out, withering
aud blackening the ar and revealing
the purpose aud planS OF his enemies
and their coadjutors in the committees.
In 20 minutes there was q revulsion OF
feeling as startling as il was sudden.
The man who but yesterday lay prone
and crippled, with his enemies dividing
his political heritage. to-day breathing
down distrust, suspicion, enmity, ABB
horrence, reviving tho lukc-warm sd-
hesion OF his followers and heapipg
the ranks Of the opposition into ire
parable confusion. standing before the
house, thronged as il has rarely been
thropged this session, meeting series
Of accusations moro
AWFUL ~ IMPORT
than those leveled at any other public
man, Blain proved himself as indomita-
ble and rcsourceful as be has before
proven himself capable aud inexpressi.
ble. The events OF those memorable
three hours can hardly be retold. They
were o iseries OF brilliant dissolving
views, some lurid and intensely emo.
tiond and others broadly numerous
aud whimsical. Blaine's initial was
hot fusilade OF charges against his po-
litical opponents He said: Under
proteststions OF investigating Pacific
Railroad iniquities the country has
been raked from one end to the other
to find scandals against me-" Point.
ing both fingers against himself aud
raising his brawney form far above the
heads OF his intensely excited col.
leagues, he exclaimed, "On me y and
he repeated it, his voice rising high
and trumpet.like until
THE VERY oALLKRRs ECHOED
again; ''and to do this congenial work
whom have you appointed Two ex-
rebel generals :" Though thrown in
casually, this was the keynote, the
master-stroke Of the phillippic. This
was the plea TO go forth TO the country.
II was in effect the query: "What shall
I, the servant OF the republican party,
the high priest OF loyalty, bo adjudged
by two unrepcntant rebels whose hands
are irabueJ in tiIoiI SOuntry's bloods"
Ii was just an allusion-not dwelt up
on too long 10 make the object trans
parent, but just long enough to sink
down deeply into the hearts of those
who heard il. He had weighed his
audience we'll, and the republican side
responded at oncs aud heartily TO il.
They would never see their leader be-
sot and
RIDDEN DowS DY THR ENEMY,
under whatever pretense he chose to
come. Henceforth he had plain sail
ing. What was more natural than to
believe that these unwashed rebels
would Indignantly proloug the invest
igation, drag in sxtraneous testimony
listen to irrelevant scandal, adiudicste
adversely, and in all manner Of ways
strive 10 besmirch before and drag
down the loyal leader OF the loyal mil
lions? Plainly. the sympathies Of the
house were his by a tremendous maj Or
ity. He had to stop in the middle Of
DRAMATIC SENTENCE,
dietory airs, and beg his followers to
cease their applause. He felt from
the frst coming triumphs in the air,
boldened by their sympathy and sup
port, and by their applause, he rushed
I TO the utmost limits OF parliamentary
practice and personal consideration.
Those who read his words can form
but faint idea of the masterful scorn
and energetic Indignation which he
threw into his protest against the inva-
sion Of the rights OF the American citi-
zen. His letters have been
PRpDLEp BY PrRLoisER,
and q committee Of this house had held
out inducements TO that purloiner TO
bring these letters before them. he
had taken opportunity to protect his
privacy and he appealed to 40, 0OO, 600
OF air.minded Americans TO justify him
in defending and maintaining his
rights, and hs dehed the committee
and the hoase TO make the question an
issue. At this there was q great sensa-
tion. Leaving his seat, aud walking
out to the front, he repsated--his
voice loud and clear and .ringing-"1
defy the committee, and / defy the
house to bring this TO an issue J!
| There was no response. Then having
/ justified himself, he TUNED to the most
trying ordeal to-day--an ordeal which
some of his enemies claim has
LEFT Ha BURNED AND BLEEDING.
an ordeal which has ruined his polit.
ical hopes, and crushed him before the
people. He appealed TO an ordeal
which exposes in the light OF dishon.
orable legislator, a snifty friend, and
q reckless speculator. He said: Let
ters which no power on earth can CON-
pei me to publish / now, with the
modification which any honest man
must feel, read for the information OF
my countrymen. "Hsre." said he,
taking a package from his side pocket,
and holding il mp within view OF all,
"HERE ARE rHs LETTERS
which took from the man who wrong
fully held them I" The breathless
silence which had rsigned in the hall
was intensified into almost painful
stillncss. The crowd on the outer cir.
Gle surged forward. Never was there
a more melodra matte spectacle present.
ed in such a place. The courage and
resolution which had carried hin
through all preceding utterances di'
minished visibly an he took the elastic'
from the letters and arranged them ts
read. His hands, which had never be.
fore been known to tremble, shool
paleably. His lips, which had nsvel
before been known TO utter an uncer
tain sound, gave forth for few mo
ments inarticulate, dry and husky syl
ables; bnt the man who had
MASTERED HOUSES
mastered himself. The letters beinf
arranged in the order in which h'
wished 10 read them, he proceeded
calmly and ia a clear, ringing voice e
divulge his business transactions OF II
years. IL was a spectacle which in
voked sympathy on every hand, and !
the hall had been the Cincinnati con
vention Blaine would have been nomi
mated by acclamation. The momen
the first letter had passed from his
hand TO his clerks as letter after lette
was read and the points impresse,
themselves upon the hearers,
THE REvULsIoS IN BLArss's FAVOR
was profoundly marked. There
there, said he, "are the fatal letter
that were 10 blast my reputation, 10
J the possession Of which I went dow
} on my knees 10 Muliican and 10