The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-06-15
The Blaine Scandal.


On the 9TH the Blaine scandal was very
lively in the Committee room and on the
floor of the House. Blaine charged Proc
tor Knott, Chairman of the Committee,
with having suppressed a dispatch from
Josiah Caldwell. at London, generating
Blaine from completely in the bond bust
ness Mr.. Knott replied that there had
been no suppression that the dispatch
was in the hands Of the Committee,
where it belonged, and would have due
weight There was a very interesting
scene over the matter.
Next day. Mr.. Tarbox took the floor on
question of privilege. We copy the
Boston Posts report
Mr.. Tarbox took the floor this morning after
the morning hour on a question Of privilege
and for an hour held absolute attention of the
House by what is conceded to be one of the
best speeches of the session. The rumor that
Mr.. TarboX would make such speech and the
belief that Mr.. Blaine would reply, filled both
the House and galleries Immediately on the
opening OF the doors. When Mr.. TarboX
arose, Il murmur of surprise ran through the
galleries that so new Il member should dare eX-
pose himself to the brOWbeating of the bully Of
the House, which was sure to follow. Many
were the expressions of belief that Mr.. Blaine
ould utterly annihilate him, but before Mr.
TarboX had talked five minutes the opinion
changed, and the galleries began to whisper
that the new member from Massachusetts evil
IDENTIFY possessed ability, eloquence and grit.
His refutaton of Mr.. Blane's mean insinuation
that he was insncere i'll stating to Mr.. Frye
that his (TarboX's) resolution was not aimed
at Mr.. Blaine was manly, telling, complete
In opening the telling point was made that Mr.
Blaine while setting himself up as the apostle
especially delegated to eXpound and defend the
doctrine that private letters are the property of
the writer, and sacred as to justify man in
stealing them to protect their sanctlty, should
almost in the same breath go out of his way to
violate the certainly equal sanctlty of private
conversation, for no other purpose than to ln-
dulge in what Mr.. TarboX very appropriately
termed gratuitous not to say vulgar imperti-
hence. 1t was home thrust and it went
home. Mr.. Blaine shifted uneasily in this seat
and affected supreme contempt, favorite role
of his when his opponent cannot be bullied.
The galleries and Democratic side applauded
and the Speakers gavel was called into violent
requisition; but Mr.. TarboX had not set out to
make a sensation and proceeded straight on
with his speech without stopping either to eer
at the galleries or to indulge i'll harlequin gyra-
tons up and down the aisle. lie related the
history of the conversation between himself
and Mr.. Frye, which differed materially from
Mr.. Blaine's description of it. He showed him
that he had yielded to every courteous request
from Messrs Blaine and Frye for postpone
ment; how Frye had objected until he had eX-
amined into the scope of the resolution, and had
then withdrawn his objection. On this point
Mr.. TarboN made very pertinent comment,
that it was difficult to understand why, if Mr..
Blaine is innocent, he and his friends are so
| anxious to restrict the investigation and are
not to have the whole matter of railroads i'll
yestigated thoroughly. lie defended the reso-
luton as a proper one, and claimed that there
was more ground for the investigation than
there was for the Credit Mobier investigation
At the time Mr.. Blaine himself so earnestly de-
manded that. lie also elOquenty defended the
course of the investigation by the Committee.
In conclusion he made a strong point that the
subcommittee could not have been appointed
out Of rebel" malice, for to his know ledge that
Committee was appointed before any one but
himself knew of his resolution, and that what
ever animuS there was in the resolution would
not be credited to Southern malice, for it orig-
mated with one who not only did not light in
the Confederate army, but who did not fight in
the Union army through substitute. 1t was
an auSion to the relative war records of
Messrs. IurbOX and Blaine, not at all favor
able to the latter, and Mr.. Blaine did not dare
to refer to it. To his man, Mr.. Frye. he dele
gated the introductory work Of his irrelevant
defence, which was merely another of his in
situations, to the effect that Mr.. TarboX had
improperly possessed himself of an advanced
copy of MIR. BAine's speech on the currency.
Mr.. TarboX's reply was that that charge was
untrue. Mr.. Frye got his knuckles well rap
ped, and retired to give way to Mr.. Blaine,
whose only reply was the insulting remark
that he still believed Mr. TarboX had obtained
the copy improperly, and his nice sense of
honor was so hurt that he had not since spoken
to Mr.. TarboN, wheretrom it appeared that
Nj. Blaine's honor is Il particularly sensitive
li.;ut md Mr. fE1rhoy is n ha % n
TO the extent that he is ignored by the great
Republican chieftain and railroad bond broker