Ellsworth American., 1876-06-15
The Opposition and Independent Press
on Blaine.

betrayed in the house Of his friends. find
in. the ground ctumblus beneath his feet
under the stern processes of the Hot
>uD-JuOIclIry Committee. driven to ia
wall utterly desperate. alone, to-day. uy i
comp Il ttut worthy OF the First Napoleon,
Wre,ted the Investigation from the hands
or the Judiciary Committee, seized the
floor OF the House, and by the most mag
nilicentlY audacious act of his life and
most brilliant display of lighting ability on
the floor, has forced his party to sustain
him as a man prosecuted in their behalf
by the Southern element in the House.
He began quietly and Tor j half hour was
stupid. ii lie read and reviewed the Luttrell
and TarbuX resolutions to investigate the
railroads. He claimed that they were both
aimed at him and not at the railroads. He
complained that the inyestig ationS had
been prosecutions. He accused Proctor
Knott, Chairman OF the Judiciary Commit
tee, OF having appointed two rebel Gener-
ais and no Northern Democrats on the sub
committee to Investigate him, out OF a sDlr-
ii OF revenge for his amnesty speech during
the early part OF the session. At last he
came 10 the Fisher letters. and both House
and galleries changed in moment from
listlesS inattentiOn TO intense attention.
Blaine =, suddenly grew dramatic. His
dIlcnCe OF his right to the letters and his
announced desire to take issue on the ques-
tlpu created profound sensation aud
ed applause from his side OF the House.
Then lie announced that he was now de-
termincd to read them, and pulling the
bundle from his pocket shock them dra-
malically at the Democratic side. The ef-
feet was electric. The whole Republican
side of the House cheered aud applauded.
The galleries shouted. The Speakers CAV
ell had no effect and order was only partial
y restored when Mr.. Cox, who WAS in the
chair, threatened TO clear the galleries and
the floor Then Blaine began TO read them
in a rapid but clear tone of voice. stopping
occasionally 10 make IA brief explanation.
AS each letter was read and made light OF
| by Blaine, the Republicans seemed tS
| breathe easier and cheered repeatedly.
| When the last one was read aud The dread
| ful suspicious which Blaine's ineXplicable
action in regard TO these letters has Great
| ed were dispelled, it seemed as though his
| party friends were beside themselves.
| His claquers upon the floors and in the
| galleries gave the signal and floor aud gal
| leries cheered Blaine vociferously tor pre-
| suming To take the Investigation out of the
| hands of the Committee and attempting to
| bully the House
For some minutes after Blaine conclud-
ed confusion reigned supreme again. The
Speaker ordered strict enforcement OF
the rule excluding all but privileged per-
| sons, ard ordered the police to assist the
| doorkeepers. But the climax after that
came suddenly. When Blaine wheeled to-
ward the Democratic side and charged
Proctor Knott with having suppressed evil
dence favorable to HIM, the House became
silent in an instant. Knott denied tbt
charge. Blaine demanded to know wheth
er Kuott knew Caldwelfs address, Knott
trapped for the minute, made the evasivt
answer that he had been trying to get Cald
wells address for some time, but had thu