The Portland daily press., 1876-05-29
Mr.. Blaine and the North
ern Pacific.
Another Unsuccessful Attempt to
Smirch His Character.
A Prompt and Satisfactory ExpIa-
nation.

New York, May PA letter is printed
here from j. G. Blaine, dated Augusta, Me-,
Nov. 25th, 1870, informing Warren Fisher.
Jr., how the latter could purchase an interest
in the Northern Pacific Railroad. AS Mr..
Blaine could not purchase any himself, Fisher
with others bought $25 900 worth of stock. for
which Blaine, in trust, gave him receipt Dec.
1, 1871.
A year afterward, Fisher informs Elisha At
kins, who went into the speculation with him,
how to address Blaine to get the money return.
ed. The information is furnished BY Auuila
Adams, under the date of Boston, Massachu-
sets. May 18th, 1876, who says he also invest
ed $4,000, but received his money back from
Blaine.
WASHINGTON. May 27.-Ex Speaker Blaine
in reply to inquiries today said:
Some six or seven years ago some friends of
mine ID Boston desired to make small invest
ment IN the North ern Pacific enterprise and as
the vice president of the road, Hon. r. d.
Rice, was near neighbor of mine in Augusta,
it was thought might find out how and where
the purchase could be made. In one or two
instances heardsof interests being for sale, but
nothing was done. Finally in the autumn of
1870 definite interest was for sale, and it was
brought to my attention with glowing and
extravagant accounts of its prospective prof
its.
As it was a road chartered by & Congress, de-
irving its franchise and grants directly from
Congress for future favors, did not myself en-
terrain for moment the idea of becoming in
terested in it, but as these friends had been
wishing such an investment and they had the
right as any other private citizen to own in the
enterprise / communicated the facts to them
precisely as they had been given to me- A
few days after | was notified that they would
be glad to purchase, and a certificate of deposit
or cashiers check for $25, 600 was placed in my
hands, in trust, as the receipts show, to hand
over to person proposing to sell, who in due
time, Will doubtless speak for himself. The
certificate was to be taken in the name of Eli.
sha Atkins, one of the most prominent and
honorable merchants in Boston.
1t was soon found, however, that the North
ern Pacific interest was in some way pledged or
hypothecated or embarrassed as to title, and
matter ran along for over year, and finally
came to nothing. The money in full, with in
terest, was returned to Mr.. Warren Fisher with
whom negotiations was had, and the holder OF
the Northern Pacific interest retained it, or
possibly, found another purchaser, of which |
know nothing.
This is simply the whole of transaction out
of which sensation is attempted. NV con-
nection with it was purely of friendly oharac-
ter. had not the remotest interest in it in
any shape or form, and no intention or under.
standing that should become interested in it.
The transaction was, of course, regarded BY
me as in every way proper; otherwise should
most certainly never have received and receipt
ed for the money to hold in trust until the
transaction should be consumated between the
parties.
81 am very glad'', contnuedIMr, Blaine,
'that my letter, which the Sun publishes,
proves on its face that l would not myself
touch the investment. l could easily have pur-
chased 1T had 1 been willing, but did not deem
such investment advisable for me to make
From first to last, in all the legislation touch
ing Pacific railroads, never had an Interest
of a penny in one of them, nor in any of their
branches directly or indirectly. In a private
letter, if anywhere, a man will speak unregard-
eddy, and this letter, written with no expecta-
ton of its ever being published, proves conclu-
sively that when a Pacific railroad was offered
me with brilliant promises of great profits, 1
declared that could not touch it. think the
Sun, in publishing this private letter. has sup
piled valuable proof of my official integrity in
the matter"
".All these attacks" resumed Mr. Blaine af-
ter slight pause, ''are intended to impress
the people with the belief that have large
wealth, and that it has been acquired since /
entered Congress-"
The moderate property which L own wassal-
most wholly derived from fortunate investment
in coal lands in my native Monongahela valley
in Pennsylvania, made some years before
first ran for Congress. L notice many papers
whose editors never saw me, and know nothing
of my affairs. gibly put my property down at a
round million. The utmost my property would
bring today would not amount to fifth part of
that sum. / can say with the strictest truth
that all things considered, am not today as
we'll off pecunarily as was the day entered
Congress, i'll December, 1868. Had 1 not re.
manned in Congress would today, in my ju dg-
ment have had large fortune, as business en-
terprises which were at my command, if L
could5have attended to them have resulted
most favorably. But every friend who knows
me knows that neither my ucome nor my
expenditures nor my habits of lie imply or
suggest the possession of a fortune, or of
anything indeed beyond moderate competen-
CIV,