The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-26
A Complete VindicatiOn.

Those who have not predetermined that
Mr.. Blaine shall be found guilty of the cal
umnies and ISLANDERS which have been so in
dustriously circulated against him, must
come to the conclusion that his answer in the
House on Monday is All overwhelming refu-
tation of every charge. The argus, as every
one who has read that journal the past ten
years knows. is bound to believe any slender
against Mr.. Blaine. Having devoted itself
almost exclusively to the task of denouncifg
and vilifying that gentleman, nothing can di
vert 1t from its purpose. Its malignant des
sign is evident even in its news columns
Yesterday, instead of publishing Mr. Blaine.
answer as every respectable newspaper did
with appropriate head lines, the Argus in-
serted the statement OF that gentleman in
its House report IN a mutilated condition, en-
tirely emitting the evidence which Mr.. Blaine
produced to refute the charge of selling the
Arkansas railroad bonds to the Pacific Rail-
road Company. The whole of Mr.. Blaine's
statement was received before midnight so
that there can be no possible excuse for lis
course. On the other hand, that journal print
ed as an associated press dispatch, the special
of Boston paper of the day before, giving
some statements about Mr.. Blaine's claim
against the Little Rock and Fort Smith Rail.
road Company which transaction is fully ex-
planned in that gentleman's speech.
Over this old story the argus had
ample opportunity to put display heads,
which n o1,o t..
So far from convincing the argus that Mr..
Blaine is free from the improprieties charged
by the late ISLANDERS, his statement will inspire
it and its filth-finging associates to renewed
efforts in their work of anything to beat
Blaine" Whatever jealousy and malice can
inspire the entirely unscrupulous to do to
injure foe, these Democratic organs of the
Argus species will do to injure Mr.. Blaine,
Mr.. Bristow or any prominent Republican.
The intelligent public fully understand the
malignant and unscrupulous spirit which
charaeterizes the course pursued by the
argus toward Mr.. Blaine so that its base at
tacks disgust all except those partisans who
share the feelings of that journal toward every
leading political opponent. -
There are Democrats, however, who ex-
press themselves entirely satisfied with Mr..
Blaines answer. A Washington special says
that Mr.. Lamar of Mississippi who listened to
every word, said that "Mr. Blaine's reply to
the charges upon him were unanswerabe."
Among the first to congra tulate Mr.. Blaine
at the conclusion of his remarks was Mr..
Willis one of the Democratic members from
New York city. Even the Washington cor
respondent of the Boston Post who is bound
to see the worst phases of any Republicans
case, says: sll I'D .-
AT the conclusion of his remarks he received mapy
nearly congratulations from Democrats as well as
Republicans showing their appreciation by warmly
shakng bis hands and giving other evidences OF sat
siacGon. While his explanation is universally con-
ceded to be Conclusive far dsprovng the allie.
persons who crticse him for having invested or be-
como pecuniary interested in any sort of land grab
enterprise. V0e-,7l
In conclusion, we predict that Mr.. Blaine's
answer to his foes will give the Republican
parliamentary leaders higher place in the
confidence and esteem of the intelligent peo-
pie of the country than he has ever before
enjoyed. Columny has done its worst.
Those whose faith in the man was shaken by-
the columns of mischievous gossip and malig-
nant charges because of his long silence, will
now become his hearty supporters while
those who have been luke-warm in their sup.
port will become champions.