The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-11
THE RINc aND rnE HLlIRs.
4 Reply to the Recent DeninI of Mr.. Mcnt-
gomcry Blair.

WAsuINGToN, Jan. 10.-The letter in THE
srN dated On the ist inst, giving the names and
history Of the various RIM Democratic candi-
dates for membership In Lamars Democratic
Executive Committee produced profound sem
sation here. II killed at once the stars eau
didacy for Democratic organ even driving II to
dcnj the efforts made among members on its
behalf, and the Stars secret candidate for Pres
ideut Of the Washington and Georgetown Rail-
road, MIR. William II. Cloge,t who was much
excited over the letter; aud in tcstifying since
to the good character OF his nephew, Guy II.
Thompson, indicted for forgery OF claims against
the District Governm, mt, told the Court mourn
fully that a mans good character does not go
for much in Washington" The whole town
laughed with the exception Of the parties de-
scribcd aud their friends, among whom wrath
and confusion were freely expressed. private
caucus Is understood to have been held, at
which it was agreed that Montgomery Blair, as
an ex-mcnber Of the Cabinet and tue man most
widely known of the exposed individuals,
should make public denial. in the hope that
Blairs name would make the public, and par
ticularly Mr. Lamar, disbelieye the ontire letter.
Unfortunately for the success of this pro-
grtmme, your correspondent's state ments con-
corning Mr.. Hair were based ON facts. The cvi-
dent intention was to apply the rule false in
false IN all to the letter. and II Is now pro
plicatiou, and # the letters statements about
the Blair family can Oe proved, the rest Of it's
statements shall be held true also.
Duriug the Starkweather Investigation Of 1872,
the Ring were very anxious To- bring witnesses
who had reputation for eentility to testify In
their favor. facile adhcrent Of eir~.,hearing
the BOss feryently express this desire. Voun-
teered 10 set Francis 4. Blair, senior lie We
to silver Spring and brought the venerable poll
tcian-ahout eighty wears OF age-in the Boss
carriage. on appearine before the Starkwcather
Committee Mr.. Blair testified strunsl, in favor
OF the Ring. STARK weather Report. page $50
lie endorsed the filing M of tine Washington
Canal, n fat jou, aud blow at the heath aud
commerce Of the city; he approved the aiding
Il streets, enormous In extent and cost; he cN-
tolled the taste and genus Of the District
Rings plans for Improvement" and gave
poetical description II the effect Of their opera
tions IN the city that reads Ii <e an auctioueer's
work on the seventh stltst TO al continuation,
and spoke well Of the establishment Of Wood
land PARK, STYLING the road the most valuable
Improvement made; ne strongly sustained the
paving jobs, particularly the wood ones; he ad-
Nocaied the District rhhnlnt IN dcpt u make
improvements, claiming lhat the value OF prop
erty would rise Ia proportion 70 the debt thus
created. aLd with precision which Indicates
knowledge 81 tho King plans estima. Ell thdt
the cost woul Toe at least thirty millions. an esti-
mate now fully borne out; he said ", are
employing LABOR ON our HIGHWAYS and "OW
taxation is not as hlgh as ia Philadelphia, 30
tuus fully Identifying himself win the District
and with HE Rings enterpri.es. The modesiy
aud prpprietS OF this course are peculiarly plain
from the facts. which incidentally appeared IN
the same TESTIMONY, that Mr.. Blair lives OUTSIDE
the ruiuOus Ring taxa ion to pay, ana that the
Improvement wnch he espec aly prased-the
seventh street CoutiuuatiJn is road leading
stra-nt To ms residence where the improve
ment" stops, and relieving INN of expense In
that regard lie also maint ined that the nm
provenents' should be paid for out Of tue ma
tional Treasury, which further shows now COM
pete was his understanding with the kins.
lis mention Of my son Montgomery" in the
course Of his evidence, uICw out no sign OF dli-
ference Of opinion from tnat lentlemln.
Ga the Investigation Oi le,f Mr.. Blair again an-
a
WI ~ this time so dccrepit that he had TO Toe
brought W to the committee room IN the ele-
tor, ana when ne cane IN, assisted by Ring
Treasurer haeru er, commonly known as
"Stuhs," prominent lawyer exclaimed, III
Gen. jack on could see his old friend come IN
on the arm Of old Stubs, Il would make him
turn over IN his grave lie was 50 feeble that
the counsel Tor the mcmoualists consented to
his simply swearing that the contents of the
1 q Ird ui his former testimony were true and
lei MN 90 without ulrect or clo eAhlninatohi
nut he could not get away without again swear
ing stron-l ~ III favor OF the Rings improvement
To the ROAD to ms own hOuts AZ olhcr people
cost. (Ailisnn lscport page l.1siD lite was 10y ths
time 80 innrm tnat 1t seems almost Impossible
tnat he should have appeared without tuc
knowledge and consent of his son.
These Facts arc perhaps enough to DISPOSE OF
Montgomery Ili.lir's statement that mo meme
her OF tue lilalr family has ever aided the Dis
trct King IA any way and that the family
"haye oeen the uncomnrumising opponents Of
thrown on Tho value of this last sertiou 10y the
fact that among the contractors, whose attorney
ne ACKNOWLEDGES llldl ne II, are lut NNli- KNOWN
firm OF q tnti Appleudn, VINO bullt % uuWbcT
of sewers, and used salmon BRICKS" "a poor,
crumblng material and that MI Bars "a-scr-
ton ot their legal nights consisted, so lar as
known, Ia securing l,r them by some kiud of
| Influence from the pistuc Commi-ei ncrs large
| suus, whose Iaymcut WIS resisted on the
| ground Of the badness OF their wutk, and to
secuTe Tor this H. N who's JUNIOR partner IL de-
scTincd ds a creature OF iildil' lruu Marsland-
| extensions Of their contracts, 10 which tney
were not properly entitled.
There /, much Indignation among the honest
| m II both parties at the revelation OF Mont
geometry Bl.iI's Candidacy toT the Democratic
| Executive Committee Both sides remember
| Ia, punucal tergiNrr-dtiOus, the Temdrk at LIN
| coin that "cVery BlMr wls "a BLAIR man. the
proyerD about the family that "few die and
| none resign" the disposition of all 81 them to
| mrddle la every Administration of Whatever
politics, and the honest democrats SAY with en-
phltio unaulmlty, Don't want any Blairs ia
ours; the cOun' ~ Ia bau enough"
| II Montgomery iilalr or any OF mis- family has
ever gwen SIN Of dis. approval of or opaositiln
| b. ring misrule, those WAC h.ye borne the our
| den of the struggle against II are not aware OF
the TACT
Business First, Politics Ancrwnrd.