Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-01-26

"
few had any coherent ideas of the
situation, and this was especially
the case with the State Governors. /
Two of these and two only saw
clearly what was required of them
and did it; one for the North, the
other for the South and the names
of these two were Oliver p. Morton,
of Indiana, and Isham G. Harris,
of Tennessee. The speakers were
Messrs. Hanna, of Indiana; Wilson,
of West Virginia; Brown, of Iowa
Hardenbergh, of New Jersey; Hun
ter, Of Iowa Garfield, of Ohio, ETC.,
etc. The gentlemen quoted good
deal of poetry, which is always a
sign that an orator is ''gravelled for
lack of matter"
The other ritual occasion was the
presentation from the State Of Maine
of statue of Governor King, the
founder of that State, to be set up in
the statue gallery of the capitol.
One would have anticipated this as
an occasion for historical reminis-
cence and decorous commonplace,
through which the House might
have respectfully slumbered for an
hour or two, and that then the coun-
terfeit presentment in marble of
Gov. Kings bag wig and breeches
would be set up in their resting
place and never be thought of after
wards. But he who arrived at such
conclusions would have to forget
that Jas. G. Blaine was to be the
spokesman. He who remembered
that and was acquainted with the
ways of'that politician would be
prepared to expect something in the
way of racy and vigorous self-asser-
ton, though the subject might be a
eulogy of Queen Elizabeth or Scion
of Athens; and so it turned out.
Mr.. Blaine. of Maine, has only one
subject on which he can descant
/ with real JUNCTION, and that is Blaine,
/ of Maine; though how he was going
to bring that pet subject into an en-
cOmium of old Gov. King did not
seem easy to imagine, but he was
equal to the occasion. The, politi-
clans of Massachusetts had res0lutely
opposed his nomination to the Pres
idency, and his subject gave him an
opportunity of attacking the histOr-
ical record of that State. He began
with the differences between the
Maine people and the Massachusetts
! State Government which led to the
separation Of Maine and its erection
into a State; then he brought up the
! seditiOus and unpatriOtic action of
Massachusetts, during the war of
1912, contrasting the highly patriotic
course of his own State Herewith.
In short, he forgot altogether that
he was there to eulogize Gov. King
and appropriated the whole occasion
to a virulent attack on Massachu-
sets and Boston. Messrs. Dawes
and Hoar, the Senators from the
State attacked, saw that work was
cut out for them and as soon Mr..
Blaine sat down, like gallant knights
they placed lance III rest as champi-
ons for Massachusetts. Their war
steeds rather stumbled in their gait
Mr.. Blaine had this advantage over
them that he had posted himself up
in the history, while they, not ex-
pecting t. be called upon to speak
at all, had made no preparation.
Mr.. Dawes flOundered terribly in
his history and never spoke to less
/ advantage. 1t may be said, how
ever, in his Vindication that, if he
/ had given days and weeks to the
study of the matter, he could not
have made out much OF Il case for
the credit of his State, for the more
| thoroughly the subject is inVesti-
gated the more thoroughly does it
appear that the action of Massachu-
sets in 1912 was not only unpatri-
otto but reasonable, and, if not 50,
/ then the course of South Carolina i'll
! the days of Jackson and in those of
/ Abraham Lincoln was perfectly JUS
tifable and truly loyal. 1t would
not do, however, for a Southern
/ Senator to say so, and Mr.. Blaine,
/ for once in his career, has our thanks
/ for ventilating the truth in that mat
! ter.
/ Mr.. HOar did not attempt much
history in the matter, but gave blow
/ for blow by assigning the personal
motives of the Maine politician as
1 originating neither in the days of
/ Gov. King nor in those Of the war
of 1872, but in the events of the Gin
cinnati Convention of 1875, affecting
/ Mr.. Blaine's candidacy for the Pres
! idency.
/ Southern men and Democrats of
I course took no part in this fray, but
looked on as spectators, some sur
prised, some amused, and a good
/ many disguised.
/ LATEsT-The silver debate con-
tinues. Senator C0ckrell finished Il
powerful argument for renOnetiza-
ton on Wednesday. Mr.. Randolph
followed. He contended that bonds
Issued before 1873 We're payable in
gold or silver, but those after that
date in gold only. (But the face Of
the bonds says distinctly that they
are payable in legal coin of 1919
Mr., Conkling made a motion to
cut off further debate and take
vote on the 24th, Thursday. Itwas
not carried, and Mr.. Thurman at
last broke silence and laid down his
judgment that it was both just and
expedient to remOnetize silver. He
also protested against COnkling's at
tempt to gag the debate.
Senator Blaine has given notice
Of N ciIx,o,. hill Of biS oyKrv If IL q