The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-29

Brother BLA1NE's story regarding the
Northern Pacific Railroad job in which he
was engaged, and which we exposed on
Saturday, reads smoothly, as do all his ex-
plantations Of his railway speculations
while he was Speaker of the House Of Rep
resentatives. But, like the others, 1t is
tricky and utterly unsatisfactory.
BLAINE's Boston friends, so he says, de-
sired to make small investment in
Northern Pacific, and to obliGe them and
the Hon. H. ID. RICE, his Augusta neighbor,
who was Nicc-President of the road, he uu-
dertook TO play the part of broker has
much as the road was one chartered by Con-
gress and living on its bounty. the virtu-
Gus Brother BLAINE would not for a
moment have thought OF investing
In II himself. That would have looked bad.
But fond OF his Boston friends, he used his
information concerning n definite interest
which was for sale, and which had been
brought to his attention, with very glow
ing and extravagant accounts of it's pros
pective profits" So he was obliging
enough TO tell these friends of his of so fine
chance TO put their money where il
would earn them splendid - returns. lie
was careful to do this confidentially aud
trusting in his word, and OF course under
standing his unexampled opportunities
TO know all about n road chartered by
Congress, they did not hesitate 10 put s25,-
900 in his hands lin trust" to buy into so
tempting a speculation. BLAINE took the
money, but the glowing accounts of the
prospective profits proving delusory, he
was obliged to return it with interest.
The bargain was not what BLAINE had
represented II TO be. Though rs Speaker
he had a first-rnte chance to find out all
about the road, and was in q position TO
get favors from its managers, yet they,
perhaps unintentionnlly, misled the simple
BLAINE that time. They could not transfer
the property rs they had proposed TO do.
Now, BLAINE says his connection with
the AFFAIR was "of a purely friendly charac-
ter Undoubtedly It was. He always works
his speculations of this sort through friends
who would be surly and selfish indeed il
they did not make their benefactor some
sort of return for his kindness in bringing
TO them such real or supposed chances Of
making money.
But why was the Speaker Of the House
of Representatives. at time when tins
Nor hern Pacific Railroad was in the way
of asking favors from Congress which
Brother BLAINE could do SO much 10
enable them TO secure, operating as q
broker in Its stock -? How came he to have
so supposedly fat chance offered him
Why was he chosen to negotiate an i'm
portant sale If he was jealous of his in
teGrity as the head Of the House and
legislator on matters touching the vital
Interests Of this road, why did he consent
10 act as II negotiator of "a definite inter-
est they had for sale
The answer to these questions which
every man of sound sense and knowledge
of affairs will give is this: Brother BLAINE
was trying TO make u little money out Of
his power ana influence as Speaker of the
House OF Representatives.. He did not
dare to appear US personally interested in
the Northern Pacific road, but he work ed
through his friends.
The transaction should speedily send
JAMES G. BLAINE to join that company Of
Congressional martyrs Of which SCHUYLER
CoLFAX is the head centre. 1t is altogether
disgraceful 10 a legislator, and stain on
the man, which units him for the nominal
ton at Cincinnati for which he is so rest
lessly working.