The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-14
Dlaine's Turn.

IL does not matter in the least whether
Mr.. MORTON or his friends are responsible
for the statement, which was published in
Indianapolis ON Tuesday, connecting Mr..
BLAINE with a moneyed transaction of n
very suspicious character. Are the facts
substantially true rs reported, or has Nj.
BLAINE been slanderedi That Il the ques-
ton, and an answer that will be salts
factory 10 the country can only be oh
tanned through full and searching in
vestigat on, such as the judiciary Commit
tee of the House is empowered TO make
and which we assume Mr.. BLAINE VIII
Immediately demand.
The published statement does not cover
the case as 1t has long been understood in
political circles; but whether correctly or
Incorrectly, remains to be determined. 1t is
alleged that Mr.. BLAINE became possessed
In 1869 or 1870 Of Little Rock and Fort
Smith Railroad bonds to the amount Of
sl50OOO These bonds deprecated in value
and were comparatively unstable. 1t il
further alleged that $75.OOJ OF them were
deposited with the Union Pacific Railroad
as collateral in 1871, for an advance OF
about $4,000 made by the Company
eft of Mr.. BLAINE, though he may not
have personally appeared in the business.
The minutes of the Executive Committee
OF the Union Pacific road of Dec. l6, 1871,
are said 10 show that SG4 900 of the COM
pany's money was paid out, without an
explanatory voucher. Aud at the regular
meeting OF the Directors IN l5,2, II Is al
legged that Mr.. j. G. HARRISON, n Govern
ment director, proposed an inquiry, which
he subsequently withdrew at the urgent
request of f.. III. ROLLINS, who is reported
10 have SAID, BLAINE got that money"
This is the common version OF the trans
action, for the exactness OF which we do
not vouch. That Mr.. BLAINE knew Of this
story aud prepared for it, Is attested by ms
recent absence from Washington and the
almost simultaneous appearance with its
publication, OF two letters intended to coun-
teract its effect. After reading these letters
OF Mr.. ROLLINS, Treasurer of the Union
Pacific, aud Messrs. MORTON, BLISS & Co.
We are not able TO discover that they
touch the real points at all. They were
prepared before the case was made public,
and upon inquiries" formulated by Mr..
BLAINE himself.
Every word written by these parties may
be technically and even literally true, ant
yet their statements are wholly WORTHLESS
as an explanation of the indianapolis
charge, because they do not cover it
Mr.. BLAINE has not bettered himself 10y
this secret preparation, or by Withholding
the form OF inquiry which he addressed tc
his correspondents. A public man with
good character might at least afford &c
wait for vindication until his conduct oI
his acts were assailed. This haste to fore
stall a possible accusation, which had 10
taken definite or responsible shape, has M
ugly look.
Mr.. BLAINE is one of the fortunate pa
triots who went into Congress poor, anC
will go out rich. lie controlled the legis-
lnton OF the House during the Forty first
Foriy-second, and Forty-thlrd Congresse
a. Speaker, more absolutely than did tn,
majority, who obeyed his orders, submit
ted to his dlctation, and surrendered theil
own judgment to his despotic will. He so
lected all the committees to suit his poll
oy, chose the leaders on both sides, and TO
CURED every bill and resolution outside IN
ordinary routine to bc submitted to his al
provahefor"hew oubl reGog nlze the move,