The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-24
Riddle on Blaine,

Riddle on Blaine,
From the N, Y. Sun
The clear and caustic review Of MIR, |
Blaine's last personal explanation con- |
corning the fifteen Kansas Pacific bonds. |
by Mr.. A. u. Riddle, Of Washington, for |
snerly Republican member of congress
from Ohio, cannot fail to attract public |
attention, and will probably call out an
other statement from the ex-speaker He
distinctly charges that Blaine caused
the insertion of the article in the Herald
for the purpose of making his denial and
offering his evidence in the house"
Mr.. Riddle proves that the case as thus
presented was gotten up for effect and
was radically different from the facts as
actually stated by the late Mr.. Knowlton,
who was made to appear, by an ingenious
Justification, as having retracted what he
had never really alleged. The difference
between the truth and the misrepresenta-
ton is easily discovered, and becomes
broad when examined with can6or. While
Knowlton was law student in the Office
of Stewart Il Riddle, in Washington, at
the time Of these railroad transactions,
Blaine came there one night and passed
into the private room Of Stewart, who
was the agent of the company for procur-
ing certain legislation in its interest, and
through whose hands the bonds passed
that we're required to conquer prejudices
in congress. After an hour Stewart came
out and requested Knowlton to toitness
the transfer of twenty-five one thousand
dollar construction bonds of the Union
Pacific Railroad, eastern division, This is
the substance of the statement made by
responsible witnesses, to whom Knowl-
ton related the facts at the time in strict
confidence. According to Blaine's story,
knowlton is made to appear as having
seen these bonds delivered to him BIZ Stew
art, and this Mr.. Blaine denied and pro-
ceeded to disprove in his own way. The
distinction between the two statements is
quite important, and the first was meyer
referred to by Blaine, for the simple rea-
son that it would have left the second
without q leg to stand on,
Now, Knowlton was friend of
Blaine, and when the imperfect version
was published, during the Credit Mobilier
investigation, he did all he could to sup
press it and to give Blaine the benefit of
a technical contradiction. More than that,
he made preparations to leave Washing
ton, in order to avoid being SUNNI )ned as
q witness before the committee. He had
a conference with Blaine on the subject
who endeavored to persuade him that il
was case OF mistaken Identity" and
that Gen. Tom Ewing was the man who
visited Stewards Office, and they had Otter
been mistaken for each other. To those
who know both parties, it is not necessary
to say, there is no resemblance whateve
between them, in face, form, or figure
What is quite remarkable in this matte
is the fact that while Blaine was the
stocking his armory with certificates O
character, he did not obtain one iron
Kuowlton, who is now held up as the au
thor of a scandal upon him, and who wa
the only person that could relieve him en-
tirely. Did he seek to procure such
statement and fail or did he not ask for i
knowing that it would be qualified to d
him more harm than good.
The point which Mr. Riddle make
stand out most effectively is the repeate
effort to screen Blaine as the holder {
the beneficiary of fifteen bonds charged {
his name. He says that Stewart got int
controversy with the Union Pacific com
pany about number of the bonds in ques
ton, and in August, 1868, commenced SUI
in the United States district court of KaI
sas to enforce his claim. In lS75.Stewal
sent him a printed transcript of the ev
dence. Among the papers was lette
from j. b. Stewart to John ID. Perry
then president of the Union Pacific com
pany,in which the name of James Blaine
appears with others as one of the claim
ants for fifteen construction bonds.
Being friend of Blaine, who was JUS
coming forward as q candidate for pres
dent, he consulted with several intimat
associates about the propriety of laying thi
information before him, in order that h
might meet it before the case could b
called in the supreme court, when all tn
testimony would appear in the recorC
After this conference he gave Blaine til
pamphlet in the presence of Gen. Garfield
but was surprised to see that he took n
notice Of this compromising fact in his re
cent explanation, although he had fou
months to prepare for it. Now, the varit
tons on the name of Blaine are quite cur
Gus, and exhibit remarkable versatility {
talent in the attempt to throw dust in tn
eyes of the public. First in order is Stew
arts letter, as follows:
New York April o. 1863
John ID. Ferry, President U. z. X. X. Company:
DEAR SiR-ln compliance with your request
will state that the total claims on me for any no
ton Of the Union Pacific Railroad, L, D. constru
ton bonds, are as follows:
Thomas Ewing Jr......t 10 j. p. Usher.
gdn 2, balns. ..........l5 W. j. Keeler......
q. y. Sherman....... 30 =
ant -. '.......9 TOtal.....
VI have settled with all the other parties.
Jos. b. STEWART"
IL became necessary to furnish COPY
this letter, before the production of tn
original was compelled, and it appears i
the following form, with n suspicious omi
sion OF the Christian name of Blaine:
Thomas Ewing, Jr......10 j. p. Usher
Btdtne............15 w. j. Keller........
G. 7. Sherman.
H. G.. Fant.............. Total. .....
The commission is made more strikin,
because Stewart, in deposition relatiu
to the case referred 10, which was tried