Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-18
Who is to Blame?

MacVeigh having pronounced the Cabi-
net ''scene'' story fabrication, it would
be very interesting to know who origi-
mated the narrative. 1t is hard to believe
that Blaine would devise story of that
description to have revenge on Mac
Weigh, but the following remarks of the
Springfield Republicans Washington cor
respondent furnish big pointer:
eff there was a scene at the Cabinet
meeting, or if the President by implica-
tion censured Mac Veagh, somebody must
have had an object IN telling it. Now,
the fact is, the article was written by a
gentleT an of character, of considerable
prominence, and specially warm friend
of the Secretary of State. He is not in
any way connected with the Star, where
it appeared. He gave the news to the
Star, however, although he knew every
correspondent in Washington would
gladly have had it coming from
him-because he knew that the
public understood that the Star
was very careful about printing
such matters, it would, therefore, be
very much more likely to be accepted as
genuine. The conclusion cannot be
avoided then that the article was pub.
lished to hurt MacVeagh. 1t is, there
fore, important simply as proving that
there is to be fight between Mr.. Blaine's
friends and those of Mr.. MacVeagh, and,
like Sir Francis O'Trigger's, it promises
to be very pretty quarrel. We shall
see by and by what Mr. MacVeagh has
to say about MIR. Blaine's right to claim
to be the heir of Garfeld's political in
fluence. Mr.. Blaine must not look into
the army of so-ealled stalwarts for his
fiercest foe. He is going to find that foe
in the ranks of the Garfield Republicans,
which his name is MacVeagh.
Suppose the Attorney General tears
aside the vail. / knew that MacVeagh
very early in Garfield's administration
suspected Blaine. The Secretary of
State, however, while he did not like
MacVeagh, did not bother himself very
much about him until he woke up one
morning and found that the Attorney
General had humiliated Blaine's Lieu.
tenant, William e. Chandler, by pre-.
venting his confirmation for Solicitor
General. Blaine does not forget any
more than MacVeagh. From that time
on these two men understood each other.
For Garfeld's sake, however, there was
no open rupture, and while Garfield was
sick there could not be. When General
Arthur became President, however, Mr..
MacVeagh spoke right out. He accused
Blaine of intriguing to stay in the Cabi-
net, and said that it was an indecent
thing to do. He said more than once
that man who once sets his heart on
the Presidency never ceases to do so,
and MacVeagh's friends think that
the Attorney General believed that
Blaine could be treacherous enough
to Garfield to make bis re-
an impossibility. All of
these utterances were of course peddled
to Blaine, and hear that the Secretary
of State did not himself preserve dis
Greet silence. However that may be,
there is no doubt now that he is directly
or indirectly responsible for the article |
in the Star. 1t was severe. 1t hit Mac
Veagh in a very sensitive spot. Perhaps
the knowledge that it would hurt Mac |
Veagh where he is easiest wounded, in |
sured its publication. The time will |
come when we shall hear the return |
blow. AIr. MacVeagh has several mis-
sions, and one of them is to dispel what |
he believes to be an illusion regarding
James G. Blaine. "