The Republican journal., 1876-04-20
The Blaine Matter.

The charge against Blaine in connection
with the Union Pacific Railroad was
whispered around some time before it got
into print TO a friend in Michigan who
wrote concerning the matter, MIR. Blaine
replied
beg YOU will not be disturbed by Washington
ruInors respecting my self. The story of my
having received money or anything else Of value
from the Union Pacific Railroad Company, or ANY Of
its officers or agents. is not only false, but absurd
There is not the remotes foundation for it, and can
scarcely conceive that any one would be credulous
enough TO believe it. 1t has been circulating in
Washington for some weeks past in an indefinite il
responsible and intangible way. Whenever it shall
assume form or shape and publicity, it will receive
conclusive answer MEANWHILE L trust will hold
peaceful mind shall never be injured by stories of
this kind. Sincerely yours, j. u. BLAINE.
The New York Herald has quiet smile
at this letter, in the following paragraph
Since Theodore Tilton got his views before the
public in letter to a complaining friend" nothing
quite neat as Mr.. Blane's letter to a friend in
Michigan" has appeared. The country will admire
the happy fiction by which an obscure person in the
far Northwest is supposed to hear OF charges month
before they published and receive the comforting
of the accused that he may hold peace
ful mind Blaine had to be warned by somebody on
the subject else his anticipation of the charges
would be almost too strange an intuition.
And, to give all the facts and rumors in
this connection, the Washington CORE
spondent of the Boston Post writes
A gentleman who recently arrived here from Lon
don that the subject of eX-Speaker Baine's
influence in procuring important legislation for rail
roads was commonly discussed among Americans in
London and it was understood that the proof against
Blaine was undeniable, and that the matter was
temporarily withheld, but would be divuged at
| opportune moment 10 Kill Blane's political aspira-
lions.
4 LITTLE MORE ABOUT II.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April Is. 1t is quite
/ probable that the time between now and the
assembling of the Cincinnati Convention will
be devoted by Mr.. Blaine largely to the coee-
| ton and preparation of material with which to
meet and repel attacks upon him. He says he
has heard of several to follow the S64, 900 bond
| story. With regard to the latter, he thinks il
| has had its day. If, as has been intimated, Mr..
| Harrison, who has been quoted as authority tor
story, should come out in the public prints over
| this his own signature, Blaine says he has some
! letters, the publication of which will in his judg
| ment, put a quietus upon the whole matter.
! What the nature of these letters are is not
| known: but Blaine does not appear to feel Un-
| easy about what Mr.. Harrison knows. 50 far
| nothing has been done looking to an nTestie.-
| ton by the House.
| MIR. MURAT HALSTEAp,
| tie editor of Cincinnati Commercial, authorizes
| an emphatic denial OF the assertions of Il Chca-
90 correspondent. who printed what he was
|
| $6i.000 transaction was arranged at meeting
| of Bristow's friends in Cincinnati. which Joe
| Mcdill of the Chicago Tribune, Richard Smith
| of the Cincinnati Gazette Hastead CONNER
ca and General Boypton, Washington cores
| pOndent of the Cincinnati Gazette, and others
| were present The supposed facts were there
| put INTO shape to invite credulity. and il was
| resolved to have the story appear Simultaneous
! ly in various newspapers OF the country about
the 1st of June, so that Blaine would have no
| to of nf hp 1ttl
! Hal7tead says in the Commercial: THE story
! has its foundation, probably in the fact that the
editors of the Chicago Tribune and the Cincin-
| natl Gazette have been in possession of pnrtc-
| ulars, believed to be authentic, about
| MR.. BLAINE's RAILWAY BUSINESS
that in the present temper OF the public mind,
| might prejudice his interests us a presidential
| candidate. They have IN a friendly and earnest
| way, sought, and, Sc far as we are advised,
| have not obtained satisfactory explanations. But
| there has been no arrangements for exploding
| this bomOshel on or about the Isl of june. Il
was felt that in the absence eff clear proof Of the
legitimacy Of Mr.. Blane's transactions his nom
nation would not be advisable, as it will not do
for the Republican party to present Il candidate
| TO the people for whom apologize and mysteIi-
| Gus explanations have to be made Mr., Blaine
has been treated with a consideration in this
matter which his jealous friends do not seem to
appreciate. Whatever the motive for the dis
| closure at Indianapolis of Il story that Mr..
| Blaine is very prompt to deny. neither he nor
lis friends can attribute it to those who We're
| privy to it, and quietly seeking for the exact
truth about it, in determining its effect upon his
| candidacy and the chances of his election if
| nominated"
| MIR. MEHRIIL'S STATEMENT.
CHICAGO, April 10. The conference between
| Joseph Merrill, Richard Smith and three others
| At Cincinnati having led to many misstatemcntS
alike unjust to James G. Blaine and the gentle
man named, Mr.. Merrill was interviewed again
| to-day on that subject and made the following
| statement: 1T is true | was invited to Cncin-
| natl about month ago to read some statements
| quietly crculatedin Democratic circles in WASH
| ington in reference to Blaine's alleged cOnuec-
| ton with some Union Pacific Railroad bonds.
1t was said the Democrats We're holding back
this scandal to explode it at the time of the Gin
! ciunati Convention, or after it in case Blaine
was nominated. The whole charge, as far as my
| informant had learned, was related in the pres
ence OF four gentlemen. 1t WAS agreed that
Blaine should be contidentially appraised al
| once of the nature of the scandal. Any other
| course would be wrong. Richard Smith con-
| scented TO lay the whole matter before Mr..
I, Blaine in Il private letter. lie did so nearly a
! month ago. If Mr.. Blaine has answered his
| letter have not heard of it. II any correspond
| ence has passed between Mr.. Blaine and my
| self in regard to the foregoing matter Mr.. Blame
| is at liberty to make it public"
| Mr.. j. NJ. Hager, of Richmond. publishes &
| statement to the effect that in 1869, on Mr.
| Rlaines recommendation. he bought S13 900 of
| Little Rock and Fort Smith railroad securities,
| and that in 1872 Mr.. Blaine voluntarily took the
| investment off his hands. Mr.. Hagar says the
| transaction was purely matter of business.
| ana had no political bearing of any kind,