Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-29
Mime rs. Massachusetts.

Maine as. MASSACHUSETTS.
Senator Blaine rarely speaks in the Sem
ate without causing a genuine sensation ;,
and those who suppose that he has lost
any of his old dash and vigor, as result of
his severe illness in 1876, and his impair
ed health at different times since, would
have changed their minds had they seen
him to-day. A more brilliant and exeit-
ING exhibition has not been witnessed in
that body for many day.
In his speech to-day, however, Mr..
Blaine went outside Of the beaten track
and made some striking comments on the
history of the times in which his hero had
lived. In alluding to the relations which
existed between Maine and Massachusetts,
in their early days, Mr.. Blaine called in
question the loyalty and patriotism Of the
older State in certain trying times and re-
ferred to the facts Of history to sustain him
in his criticisms. His sketch Of Governor
King was of itself peculiarly interesting,
but when be proceeded to dethrOne the i'd
OILS of old Massachusetts, his auditors list
ened with anxious interest.
The galleries were filed and Senator
never spoke who received from his asso-
ciates more marked or respectful attention.
Among those that looked down upon the
Senator from the galleries were Mrs. and
Miss Blaine and Gail Hamilton, SIR Ed
ward Thornton, the Earl Of Dufferin, and
other distinguished visitors.
As the Senator referred again and again
10 the questionable attitude of Massachu-
sets during the war Of 1912. there was
GOOD deal Of suppressed merriment, par
ticularly among the Democratic Senator'S
from the South, who seemed to enjoy the
spectacle presented when Republican
Senator questioned the loyalty of New
England State. Mr.. Blaine not only sue
cseded in making a conspicuous character
10 the worlds history out OF a man OF
whom the majority Of his auditors had
never heard, but also in stirring up feel
ins on the part Of the Massachusetts, Sena-
tors which made it impossible for men to
keep their seats.
Mr.. Dawes was the first to make reply.
He began in a very quiet manner, but as
ne went on bScame more and more e1clt'
ed, and before he closed was extremely
earnest in his manner.
Mr.. HoaT followed and succeeded in
,ivin. Mr.. Blaine some hard hits. The
weakness of his position consisted in his
unfamiliarity with the facts. While he
remembered much Of the history Of the
times of which Mr.. Blaine had spoken, his
knowledge was not sufficiently minute to
enable him TO cope with the Senator from
Maine. He also made mistake when
he attacked Mr.. Blaines motives aud al
trlbuied his sighting illusions to the his
tory of Massachusetts to his pique al
failing to receive the vote Of Massachus-
cts at the CINCINNATI Convention.
The discussion al this point was getting
really exciting. Mr.. Blaine and Mr.
| Dawes rose at the same time, the latter
injecting a remark that ne questioned the
facts. Mr.. Blaine said that be had OBJ
tanned all MS facts from Massachusett:
authority, and disclaimed any intention tc
attack the old Bay State. In giving q
faithful sketch Of William King, he wa:
forced to tell the truth, he said, about
Massachusetts, which was the scene Of
| its fame and glory. II would be as easy
he said, to write the life Of Abraham
Lincoln and leave out all mention Of the
civil war, as to speak of King without
referring to the dark spots in MasSachu
sets history.
This portion of Mr.. Blaine's speech
was frequently applauded, but 1t was not
until Senator Dawes had demanded cir
cumstantial statements that the Senator
from Maine showed the old fire, so vel
remembered by those who heard him IL
the zen. Hill aud Proctor Knott contro
versies. tie gave fac, after fact in such
rapid succession, and with such dramatic
effect, that the galleries and floors applaud
ed again and again with renewed enthu
,iasm, and his opponents retired ignomin
oiusly beaten. His position was greatly
strengthened by his final statement thar
he had given both Senator's from Massa
chusetts notice Of his intention to make
references to their State which would be
distasteful 70 them.
The battle was short one but it wa: