Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-05-08
BASELESS CALUMNY.

When a vague charge against the per-
sonal and official integrity of James G.
Blaine, cx-Speaker of the House in Con-
gress, and still member of that body,
was set on foot by not very important
Western newspaper, and was flashed into
the other newspaper Offices of the coun-
try by telegraph with suspicious alacrity
near midnight, it was judiciously laid
aside in the Public Ledger office as an
accusation that had better wait for fuller
inquiry by daylight. The charge was
significantly unspeci6c F; its surroundings
and its origin suggested malicious motive
and the necessity for caution and the
object of the aspersion was a conspicuous
public officer whose reputation during
twelve years active service in Congress
had passed unscathed through every
ordeal. Daylight came, and at the very
first test applied to the midnight SIAN
der it became nearly certain that fuller
inquiry would show there was not a
syllable of truth in the story so far as
MIR. Blaine was concerned 1t was clear
enough that the accusation as against
him would shrivel away into nothing
So it has turned out.
In the resolve to vindicate himself
MIR. Blaine was compelled to undertake
that most difficult task, and one which
no man should ever be subjected to, ant
is not subjected to in criminal court
the proving of a negative. Yet he ha
done it as completely as it is within hu
man power to do so. The substance o
the charge against him was that in 1877
he turned over to the Union pacif
Railroad Company certain valueles
bonds issued by the Little Rock an,
Fort Smith Railroad Company, for whic1
he got S64, 900, and that he was enable
to make this lucrative bargain because
being in Congress. and holding the il
fuential office of Speaker of the Hous,
he could and would use his official OF
portunities and powers corruptly,
furthering the private interests of thos
who paid him the money. This was nj
said in SO many words, but what
above expressed presents the false il
| tent and meaning of the accusation
MIR. Blaine meets it, first, by his ow
clear and emphatic declaration that
D never did turn over to the Union Pacif
/ Railroad Company. nor to any persC
fer that company, the bonds in question
: or any other bonds, stocks or other 8
e curaties or obligations of any kind tn
ne never received any money or anythii
- whatever from the Onion Pacific Comp
S ny, and that he never had any transa
# ton with it or with anybody for it, Z
+ rectly or Indirectly, nearly or remotely
e This clear, comprehensive and ell
L phatic declaration, coming from m;
of his character and honorable positio
is of itself more than a sufficient vino
It cation against charge which stands |
5, fore the world without an avowed auth,
?. But Mr.. Blaine did not rest the ca
s, there. He produced in writing the t,
l. timony of the only parties mentioned
r limited at as having a knowledge Of I
D. subject, and they pronounce the story
at fabrication. He went still further. a
ig requested the statement of the prest
ID president of the Union Pacific Compar
ID and that of the president at the time
in the alleged corrupt transaction. a
D. both of these brand the charge agai,
B. Mr.. Blaine as a falsehoOd. saying Il
rs no transaction of any kind ever occur
iy between Mr. Blaine and that compap
IN that the company never purchased or
y. ceived any bonds or other obligati,
an from Mr.. Blaine or from any person
! his behalf; that it never paid him q