Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-12
BLAIR.
What LincOln's Postmaster-GeneraI Has
to Say about the Investigation-He
Sees Daylight Approaching.
The Republicans Defend the Fraud, Al.
though they Have Not Benefited by
it to the Extent they Desired.

dS IOiOWS W d reporter the oIuT, VIII
asked him what he thought of the Potter in
vestigatIng committees developments:
Blair-The committee is bringing home
the fraud to the perpetrators of it. 1t is ar
old story. Everybody knew that Louisiana
was carried by Tilden and traudulently
counted for Hayes. This investigation is,
however, bringing those who instigated
abetted and were concerned in the fraud be-
fore the public in their proper light.
"Do you think" asked the reporter. ''that
the testimony 80 far deduced is very damag
ing to those mentioned in FTP"
Blair-It has hit very hard that is evident;
but all is not yet told. Yes, Anderson is O.
course cried down as not to be credited. That
is part of the defense"
Star-You think it will be proved that
Louisiana was carried for the Republican
party by corruption?
Blair-If the truth can be proved, l Ger
tainly do. Florida also can be shown to have
been carried or rather counted in the same
manner.
Star-Do you think there was a bargain
with southern members of congress to carry
out the decisions of the electoral commits.
sionP
Blair-Of course there was.
Star-Was the President cognizant of the
alleged frauds and of the bargains?
Blair-If Hayes was not he is greater
has occupied the Office of President show his
completely in a number of ways. In his deal.
ings with the southern men who were part
ners to the bargains, and by his rewards to
Use who assisted in the frauds. He has
provided for ali the fellows who aided in Sc
curing Florida and Louisiana counted fol
him except Anderson. He did provide for
Anderson, but not long enough.
Star-How do you construe Mr.. Stephens s
c0urca regards this Investigation
Blair-I have the kindest of feelings for
Mr.. Stephens. | think, however, that he is
Tagging on the stage little too far behind.
l suppose he is on very good relations with
the administration, and does not wish to
break them off.
Star-How about Mr.. Postmaster General
Key and Senators Gordon and Lamar?
cles, and, after holding them for some time
at arms length, viewing them critically, re-
piled: "Gordon and Lamar are in with the
administration, more or less. Key represents
the thieves who are combined in the jobs and
jobberies. 1t is true that he made speech
ID the senate denouncing Louisiana frauds,
but it was Pickwickian speech: He would
not agree that Oregon should be counted for
the democracy upon such grounds as Lou
isiana was to be counted for Hayes; even to
Offset that decision"
Il might answer for you myself, Mr.. Blair,
whether you think Secretary Sherman is i'm
plicated?" queried the reporter.
Mr.. Blair laughed and said-Yes, sup
pose you might. He got part of the plumber
and took part in the fraud. He got very
large part of the plumber, and took very
large part in the fraud.
Star-To what do you attribute the mo-
tlves OF the Democrats, who, it is charged,
allowed the President to be counted in by
virtue of an agreement with him?
Blair-To the Tom Scott and Jay Gould
railroad jobs. Hayes was to help these job
bers, and the men owned by them let him be
counted in over Tlden in consideration
thereof. That's all 1t was. Money had
everything to do with it. 1t was money that
put Hayes in, and nothing but money keeps
him in. He would have been out long ago if
it was not for the moneyed peoples operations
in congress. AS soon as we kill Tom Scott 3
and Jay Gould's schemes in congress, which
is being done almost every day, we can soon
turn him out.
the President will be turned out of office?
Blair-Yes, do; l am more certain of it
than ever.
Star-The President says he will resist any
effort In that direction other than that of i'm
parchment.
Blair-He could not do much to resist the
almost united will of the people. to which
III,
Is rapidly approaching.
Star-Would not his moral influence as
President of the United States have great
weight?
Blair-A convicted fraud can have no
moral influence with the people or with pub
lie sentiment. The people will not allow
man to act as their President who was put in
Office by the blacklist of frauds and by Job
berry. They do not want Tom Scott and Jay
Gould or the fraudulent counting of votes to
elect for them a President. Public opinion
will force him out. Louis Philippe and b.
naparte had to abdicate, though they had
armies at their backs.
Star-If he should be turned out would
Tilden be put in?
Blair-I take it for granted that If the
people turn out the man who robbed them of
their rights they will put in the man whom
they elected to protect them.
Star-Other than by joint Impeachment
what plan could be pursued?
Blair do not know what the plans of the
Democrats are. l have nothing whatever to
10 with their plans. If they repudiate the
bill, it will then rest with the
mousse to declare who was elecUed. If not,
The supreme court can be called on to review
he electoral commission. The court can re-
view the case and go behind the electoral re-
urns. For the same reason that the Judge
If that court decided that they had no right
% 90 behind the returns as commission,
hey would decide that as judges of the su-
oreme court of the United States they had
uch power. This point settled and the truth
before the court, it cannot fail to review the
decision of the electoral commission adverse
y to Hayes. | do not know, however, what
my of the plans are.
Star-Do you think this movement against
he administration is calculated to lnjure the
business of the country?
Blair-It is calculated to hurt the business
Vt fraud, that's all. 1t will not injure in the
east any honest business. 1t is killing the
obs. That is why Stanley Mathews stood up
n the senate yesterday.
Star-ls the movement revolutionary?
Blair-The cry of Mexicanizaticn and rev.
'lution does not pass for anything with the
people. When Jackson broke up the bank of
he United States, the jobbers howled that it
vas revolution. Mr.. Webster went over to
Baltimore and made speech on Sunday con-
erning this act of Jackson, saying that he
poke on Sunday because revolutions knew no
sundays. The present movement is no more
evolutionary than that of Jackson. Mr..
Hayes was put In by Jay Gould, Tom Scott
md that class of men to rob the people,
md any upsetting of their schemes is, like
ackson breaking up the bank, called reyolu-
ION. expect that it passes for nothing with
he people.
''Mr. Blair, said the reporter, Sin conclu-
ion would like to ask you how you recon-
lie the well-known animosity of the Repub-
lean party to the President, and the defense
f his title?"
Blair-It is simply this. They see no rea-
on why they should complain of the fraud. |
his they have never complained of and will
Import The trouble with them is that they
10 not get the benefit of the fraud. That is
he only point of difference.
The Cincinnati Commercials Does Not
Consist.
Yesterdays Star published the following |
rom the Cincinnati Commercial, of June I'd, |
bout intimidation in Louisiana. The Com |
nercial says:
Now there is no doubt about it-not the |
east IN the world-that there was an extern |
;,ro nrnanization of armed riff ans in I.nnisi-