Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-15
From the New York Tribune,
Civil Service Reform.
LETTER FROM GAIL HAMILTON.


THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE AND Mr.. BLAINE-rrs
| CHARGE THAT HE AND HIR FAMILY WERE Ro-
MAN CATHoLIcs-TRUTH OF THE NATTER
MORAL ASPECTS OF SUCH ASSERTIONS.
| To the Editor efhe Ne,g York Tribune.
| SIR The fourth portrait which propose to
hang in my Rogues' Gallery is that of the Chicago
Tribune. ! cannot give the exact date OF tie
photograph, but it was when personal feeling was
at his h. water mark in 1876, and different mem
bers of the same political party were striving to
make each his oxn candidate the nominee OF the
approaching Cincinnati Convention. At that tine
the Chicago Tribune pnblished the subjoined
| sateme nt-pubished it in its editorial columns
as absolute truth. without qualification or ques-
ton, thus putting its distinguished and, perhaps
should add, venerable editor, Mr. Joseph Medill,
member of the late Civil Service Commission, IN
the very foreground the author, or at least the
responsible indorser, of the statement. Here is
what Mr.. Medill published:
Mr. Blaine was born and raised Roman Cath
Ole. His parents were Irish Catholics and de-
cent people. His brothers and sisters are Catho-
| lies now. His excellent and amiable wife is one,
and the children being raised IN that faith.
| Mr.. j. G. Blaine alone of the whole family CON-
necton is not an adherent of the "Mother Church"
, But he belongs TO no CHRISTIAN demon nation
| and while not a Catholic can hardly be called
Protestant. What faith he may finally die in cam
not be predicted, except by analogy, and con-
sideralion of the depth and strength OF mothers
religious incubation on a child's mind and heart.
AT the time Of the Chicago Tribunes publica-
ton of that devout little morsel OF relgi ous biog-
raphy Mr.. Blaine was-EAea! Qaantam matatas
ab lilo "a prominent candidate for the nomina-
ton Of the Cincinnati Convention. How far he
was in advance Of all other candidates may be
judged from the fact that he entered the balloting
with more than one third of all the votes and con-
siderabiy more than twice the number cast for any
other candidate and that during the seven ballots
he received more than the number required for
nomination. How far he was in advance of the
Chicago Tribunes candidate may be judged by
the fact that he entered the first ballot with near
ly three times as many votes, and came out of the
seventh and last ballot with more than sixteen
times as many votes as that candidate.
This was a state of things hard to be borne. 1t
would not only justify but require the most siren
nous excrtions on the part of the Chicago Tribune
to bring the fortunes Of its candidate abreast with
those OF its form liable rival. No one could blame
It for any amount of honorable endeavor There
were immense odds to be overcome and the time
was short. The religious element has already en-
tered, and threatens still further entrance, as a
powerful factor, into our electoral problem
Protestants have a deep distrust of Catholicism in
respect OF its assumed authority over civic affairs
Catholics hold not only their faith, but their polty
with q jealous tenacIty. If Mr.. Blaine were
Catholic, born and bred in that faith, rearing his
children in it, and surrounded by Its adherents
the fact could hardly fail TO create great objec-
ton against him in the minds of Protestants. If
he were a renegade Catholic, it would be serious
objection IN the minds of Catholics. If he were
neither Protestant nor Catholic, lapsing through
indiferentism from the faith in which he was
reared but embracing no other both Catholic and
Protestant would be likely to become dlsaffected
mans fitness for Office is not to be determined
by his creed still less by that of his wife and chill.
dren. In canvassing his claims, then, all discus
sion of his religious relations is impairment Dis
cussng the religious faith of his family is imper-
Thence oil the lowest degree. l will, however
waive this point. even admit that the civil SOW.
ereignty assumed by the Catholic church NAV
give the color Of right to call a mans religion in
question, | will admit further that if even such
intermeddlng with the most secret and sacred re-
lations OF lite be pardonable it is during the heat
OF Presidential campaign. The arena is vast
the prlZe heroic, the contest fierce. In the glow
OF energy and eagerness men may sometimes be
swept past the boundary line of courtesy without
forfeiting their right to be named by the name
which Is above every name. A mans eccle ,iasti-
cal affiliations are not TO be hidden under busbel
and if their promugaton make him odious to a
large portion Of the community, "see thou TO that"
Ii the public refuses to have Catholic or a Prot
estant or an lnhdel, or jew to reign over it. all
the mole has it the right to know whether man
be Catholic, Protestant, Infdel. or jew.
AT any rate the journalists tied out on a
steeple-chase after Mr.. Baine's religion. Up hill
and down, over hedge and ditch, trampling through
giebe and splashing through baptistery in their
headlong dash across country, rode the bold hunts
men, madiy trying to get on the track of that I'M
| lucky faith, and with a uniform want of success
that argues anything but keen scent for religion
on the part of its pursuers. Indeed Mr.. Blaine
himself could hardly fail 10 be surprised at learn
ing what dcvout churchman he had been Anv
modest man who has gone through life quietly
! saying bis prayers and laying no claim to any
more goodness than his neignbors, NAV well be
startled at finding his devotons logged by detec.
tyes and rung out on all the church bells from
Maine to California. If Mr. Blaine had ever
adopted half the creeds attributed to him he must
have been what Kinglake declared Gladstone TO
have been, "a good man 10 the worst sense of the
term
But our Western reformer knew a more excel
lent way. IL did not indeed discountenance the
PuohcAtion OF impairment private matters but il
rose superior to any attempt at ascertaining facts
} IN those matters. While simpler souls were vast
Ing strength in hunting up authorities throughout
the country, the Chicago Tribune calmly sat down
In its office and loved and made a lie. Moreover
the facts when come at were not suited to its pur-
pose, while those which it should manufacture
could be warranted to fit. Accordingly. with nm.
turned eyes OF holy horror at the prisons OF s..
Louis, with such heaven-drected glance over
the dlstlllerles OF Kentucky rs SamiveI bestowed
upon the elder Weller in the court room, and with
| iil-coDcealed disdsin toward those Innocents
Abr Dad who were breaking their necks i !. a hunt
for facts, the angel of the Reform Church in Chi
| cago writes;
| "Mr. Blaine was born and reared a Roman
| Catholic"
| 1t so happens that Mr.. Blaine was not born and
reared Roman Catholic but SO much the worse for
MI Blaine. 1t is necessary for the ysncemen Mt
| OF reform that he should be; accordingly he is.
| His parents were Irish Catholics and decent
people," - e.
His parents were neither Irish nor Catholics, and
before admitting that they were decent people
should like TO know whether the eefntion OF de-
cency includes the Chicago Tribune. Are ye
looking at me now = asked the puzzled but pur-
Joining customer Of the squint ey ed salesman who
had accused him. "Yes, l am" Then We sawt