The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-08

which Mr.. Blaine himself is playing in the
drama of politics of 1876 will go into the polit-
ical history of the country as something entire
ly unique. If Mr.. Blaine bad stood today in
the defence of some grand principle the effect
of his courage and bearing would have been
sublime; as he stood, however, in the attitude
of one executing brilliant flank movement
upon political enemies. the display may be
properly characterized as one of suda ,ity rath
er than of sublime courage There has never
been before in American politics man capa-
BILE under similar circumstances of corceiving
and executing SO brilliant and dashing COUP
The scene was worthy of extended description
but it is likely the average American citizen
would prefer to read the substance of his speech
and the remarkable correspondence which he
read, and the replies made in debate, rather
tnan the Impressions anG feelings of the spec
tators, and there is scant room for both. The
dramatic character of the exhibition, the ner-
vous, defiant manner of MIR. Blaine, as he -four
ished the package of letters before the House,
the eager expectation of large number of his
friends who we're present on the floor and in
the galleries, the boldnesS of the movement all
combined to kindle enthusiasm, and the House
rung with cheers and shouts. The intensity of
the interest swas appropriately concentrated in
the last act in which the receipt of CaldwelPs
telegram by Knott, and the concealnent of it
were charged upon the chairman of the Judi
ciary Committee, who seemed both bereft of
courage and wit. Blaines friends had during
his speech revived from the depression of last
week, and shouted and appauded with such
zeal that Speaker Cox waited nearly fifteen
minutes to have the floor cleared of all unpiiv-
ieged persons, threatening to call the police to
assist.
No unwary army ever advanced into an am
buscade or formed in line before masked bat
terry with more celebrity than did the Judiciary
Committee, with the Democratic papty at their
back, submit themselves to the tremendous
flank fire OF the gentleman from Maine. He
had taken from hostile committee its subject
of investigation, brought the testimony before
the House, and submitted his own report upon
it. There was seemingly nothing left for the
committee to do, and when it turned out that
voluntary telegram from Caldwell had not been
promptly submitted to the committee by the
chairman, as it ought to have been, and that
Mr.. Blaine had adroitly based thereon charge
of suppressions to his injury, the whole Demo-
cratic force was put to flight. The specific
question as to whether such telegram had been
received at particular time mentioned, and if
its contents were not SO and so, failed to elicit a
direct answer. Mr. Hunton made rather thin
speech. evidently talking against time, in order
that Proctor Knott might pace up and down the
floor and steady his nerves. somewhat unduly
excited by recent potations, and collect his scat
tered ideas to defend as best he could his action
with respect to the telegram. This part of the
display has pleased all Republicans, no matter
what they may think of Mr.. Blaine.