Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-06
THE FAvoRITE SON OF THE REPUBLI
CAN PARTY.

THE FAv0RITE SON OF THE RKPUBLl
CAN PARTY.
The investigation of Mr.. Blain,
reached a point yesterday which
was marked by a high dramati,
effect. Mr.. Blaine, driven to DIES
peration by the accumulated evi
dence and various suspicious cir
cumstances brought to light against
him, took his case into his own
hands and turned like a tiger upon
his tormentors. 1t was the frantic
effort of a man run mad by the
d~issections of a cool, firm and Just
committee. He has all along
shown a restlessness and a chatting
impotence not consistent with the
supposition of pure innocence.
The first charges made against him
came from Republican sources, and
most of the witnesses against him
have been men Of his own party.
The committee has treated him
fairly, and no cause has been given
him to justify the cry of persecu-
ton. A few days ago by most ex-
traordinary means he obtained
possession of a package OF
eighteen letters which he
had written years ago to a
man named Fisher. The letters
were obtained by a trick from an
important witness named Mulligan,
and were supposed to have a bear
ing on the case in question. Mr..
Blaine gave color to this suspicion
by refusing to give up the letters
surreptitiously obtained, though it
is barely possible that he did this
as a ruse to divert the committee
from the main line of investigation
and to provide an opportunity fol
the dramatic capering of yesterday.
The ex-Speaker's great forte lies in
low cunning and a ready ability to
appeal to partisan prejudices, and
turn circumstances to his own ad.
vantage. He is quick witted, subtle
and unscrupulOus. So yesterday.
while proceedings were yet pending,
he rose in the House to a personal
explanation, and began reading the
letters, or what purported to be the
letters. While refusing to exhibit
what he calls private correspon-
dence to half a dozen men
in a committed room he under
takes to read and explain them
away in the House. The insincer-
ity and hollow, pretensious charac-
acter of the man could not be bet
ter illustrated. Five Of the letters
were thus read, and those were all
he alleges that relate to the case
pending. The Republicans were
delighted and the galleries over
ioyed at the audacity of the defend
ant turning prosecutor. He para
ded up and down the aisles, wildly
gesticulating and denouncing the
chairman Of the Judiciary Com
mittee. There is perhaps 40 pre-.
cedent in the history of legislation
for such a procedure. AS vel
might Dick Harrington, the alleged
safe burglar conspirator, if he hap.
pened or could happen to be {
member of the House Of Repre-
sentatives, take advantage of hi
privilege and become an accuser o
the court sitting at his trial. Lon,
continued abuse of power has mad.
the Republican party reckless, an,
as defiant Of law and right as i
is regardless of the common rule
Of decency and propriety. Blain.
is the natural o%utcropping of SucI
a school of politics and morals
Blaine was as much an impossibility
without the ascendency of the Re
publican party, which always has
higher law for every emergency, a
a Robespierre, a Murat Or
Duke De Alva would hay
been amid the cantons G
Switzerland. The fruit ripen
hastily in its native tree. We Sc
in Mr.. Blaine an exponent of hi
party, a concentration Of its az
gressive ideas. He has dabbled i
every scheme whereby money ha
been dishOnOrably made. Gui
has not been absolutely fastene
on him, but his tricks are see
wherever sneculators have sun