The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1876-06-15
BIaine Against the Field.

During the past week, the proceedings in Con
gress and in the Sub-Judiciary Committe hav
been rich. Blaine turned the tables upon them
and investigated them most thoroughly. HI
held the whole Confederate House at bay, ani
exposed them in the most shameless deception
and partisanship. After taking possession of the
House. and reading his own letters that he hat
captured from the sneak Mulligan, he asserted
that Committees raised for specific purpose
had left their legitimate duties to investigate hi.
private affairs and personal business transac.
tions, and had delayed and suppressed evidence
for the purpose of keeping him under suspicion
until after the Republican nominating Conveu-
tion. He charged that this was done by Rebel
investigating committee, in revenge for his hsv-
ing met them in debate on the amnesty bill.
This charge brought out the full rebel force, at
the head of whom came ]. Proc Knott Chairman
of the Judiciary Committee, who went on to tell
how fair they had tried to be. Blaine then
charged upon Knott, that he had received cable
despatch five days before, from Josiah Caldwell,
in London, corroborating Tom. Scott's evidence,
and completely exonerating Blaine in the Arkan-
sas bond matter, and that Knott had suppressed the
despatch. Knott equivocated, demanded tn
know how Blaine found it out, and finally con-
fessed that he had received such despatch, but
was holding it to ascertain whether it was genu-
inc. But Blaine did not let up until he had COM
PEELED Knott to acknowledge the receipt of the
telegram, and to read it. He kept half q dozen
Confederates bowling at once, besides ruling
points of order for Sam. Cox, who occupied the
Chair. Subsequently he had q tilt with Knott
in the Committee room, and worsted him again.
A day or two later, three or four other Demo-
Gratis undertook tussel with Blaine, and retired
in pitiable condition. Principal among these
was TarbOx, of Massachusetts,, who felt aggrieved
at something Blaine had said. Before he got
through, Blaine convicted him of stealing or 9TH
erwise surreptitiously obtaining q copy of q
speech which Blaine had printed in advance of
its delivery, and had held for the press, with ex-
plicit directions printed upon it that it was pri
vste property, and not to be used in any way un-
til after its delivery. The delivery was delayed,
but Tarbox got hold of a copy, prepared a speech
in reply, and offered Blaines speech to q news
paper for publication. Tarbox put on the indig-
nation of outraged virtue, but Blaine charged
home upon him, telling him he might as well
have stolen his watch out of his pocket, and
that he had ever since refused to recognize that
individual, except upon the present occasion, to
give him his opinion of him.
Such scenes were never before witnessed in
Congress. Blaine, alone, in a House oyerwhelm-
ingly against him, by his superior pluck and
knowledge of parliamentary tactics, literally |
"ran the machine" and had the whole opposition |
on the defensive Instead of being investigated, |
he investigated and cross-examined them, and |
gained his point. By this brilliant movement, he |
reganed all the ground he had apparently lost |
by the Mulligan conspiracy, and gained addition
al advantages. 1t convinced the country that a |
man who had the nerve and ability to defend his |
own personal rights in the face of such opposi- |
tion from his political opponents and envious |
men of his own political party, would have the
nerve and the ability to defend the rights of |
the United Ststes and all its citizens. His non-
ination would create an enthusiasm never wit
messed since the days of Lincoln. His nonina-
nation can be prevented only by the basest con-
spiracy and dickering. If he is not nominated, /
thousands and thousands of men in the nation
will always think that he ought to have been.