The Portland daily press., 1876-04-19
Boston Advertiser'l
pauI PRIV In Politics.

Several of the persons who undertook to
make private investigation OF the character
of Mr. Blaine seem to be somewhat surprised
and not little offended that he did not take
their questioning SO submissively as they ex-
pected. These gentlemen heard that there
were dark hints that Mr.. Blaine had done
something wrong in connection with certain
bonds of the Union Pacific Railroad, and, ap-
parently without much knowledge of the ma
ture of the offense alleged, commissioned one
of their nuG Der to write friendly letter to the
person accused to inquire what he had to say
about it. From all we can gather there has
been no answer, to the letter,-unless Mr..
Medill of the Chicago Tribune has one,-and
this inattention is taken as in some sort
proof that there is more in the charges than
Mr.. Blaine cares to have known.
This is in accordance with the new maxim
that every public man, no matter what his
previous reputation for honor, is to be adj
judged guilty as soon as he is accused of any
offence whatever, unless he instantly proves
the falsity of the charge to whomsoever invents
or circulates such stories. 1t is not in accord
ance with justice. The letter OF Mr.. smith
of the Cincinnati Gazette to Mr.. Blaine
must in the very nature of things, have been
what the late Mr.. Robinson would have called
"a piece of cussed impotence" 1t is not pre-.
tended at this day by any person, SO far as we
are able to discover, that there is anywhere q
shred of evidence that duplicates Mr.. Blaine in
this matter N the slightest degree. 1t is all
suspicion and innuendo. The charges are as
vague as it would be possible to make them.
In any form in which they have yet been pre-
scented to the public it is out of the question for
Mr. Blaine to disprovs them, simply because
one cannot prove negative. He denies that
there is anything in the story, and until some
proof in support of them is furnished he can do
no more.
When these gentlemen were summoned to
Cincinnati to sit in Judgment on charges
against Mr. Blaine, it was their first duty, ii
they were at all disturbed by them, to gum
mon the accuser and put him to the proof.
If the proof was not forthcoming. it was their
business 10 deal out to him little of the d.
vine justice which they thought they might be
called on to administer to Mr.. Blaine.
Let us see, too, if Mr.. Blaine did not take a
course, in reference to Mr. Smiths letter,
which these same gentlemen would have ad-
mired in another candidate. Suppose the case
of one whose reputation has never been at
tacked-and we had almost said will never be
assailed, but we cannot answer for the con
duct of the malicious destroyers of public
men,-suppose it should be whispered about
among a certain class of politicians that this
patriot and statesman had been guilty of TAX
ing bride from the British government to in
fuence his action at Geneva. AS one OF the
arbltrators, be voted TO disallow certain classes
of claims Why did he SO? Is it not q sus-
picious circumstance? OF course he did not
take the money in any way so that the crime
could be easily detected, but the British gov
eminent has a secret service fund.- and it is
well known that there have been certain pur-
cbases of real estate in Boston and elsewhere
Where did tie money come from?
On the face of 1t this is quite as reasonable a
story as that which the Cincinnati and Chicago
editors heard Unless there is q difference in
the previous regulations of the two men. there
is none at all. We must beg pardon for sup
posing such case, even to illustrate point;
but it is necessary in order to show the ex-
treme absurdity of the position in which our
Blaine. Suppose, further, that the gentleman
whose relations with the British government are
alphabetically under inquiry was candidate
for the Presidency, that some conventions were
pronouucing in his favor, that this story should
be started, and that four oficious editors op.
posed to him should write to him privately to
ask him whether it was true, and if he could
give any explanation to them. The person so
assailed would hardly content himself with the
answer of coutemptuous silence If he did not
let the political Paul Prys who dared to ques-
ton him know what he thoughG of their i'm
pertinence, his character is muchs misunder-
stoou. ana we may SET IL GOWN as certain tnat
neither of the editors who are so much troubled
because Mr.. Blaine has not responded to their
collective impertinence, would have had W ,rds
strong enough to express their delight that he
had not submitted to their amateur inquiries.
For us it is enough that no dishonor has YET
been fastened upon Mr. Blaine, or imputed by
any one entitled to belief, in the course of q
public life of unusual length for these times,
and that he meets this story as soon as it is
publicly made with an explicit and compre-
hensive denial. He could not with any self
respect do more.