South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-05-19
BLAINE. BLAIR, AND sHlpHERD.

I
thousand millions OF dollsrs, leaves
chem all ''tarrcd with the same stick
Blair, IS the personal and tho politi-
cal friend OF the Secretary Of State. with
the advantage OF being Senator To- all
the corrupt combination, was the hired
intermediary between Shipherd and the
department, after having introduced the
Secretary and tie claimant 80 each 9TH
or. Blair swo-e that he consulted Blaine
as to The propricty OF acting as counsel
for this huge scheme of plumber. The
latter, with that nice sense of delicacy
which distinguished his &C nduct i'm the
Little Rock and Fort Smith speculation.
aud IN many other disreputabIe Jobs,
found the proposed connection entirely
consistent with Senatorial duty & honor.
The chief business OF Blair was to
lind out The length and BREATH of the
policy intended by Blaine, and to aid
In shaping it in the interest which hs
represented. The extracts from his let.
tiers furnished by Sbipherd. and not die
puted in any authoritative foru, show
not only extraordinary intimacy with
Tie intentions OF tho department, but
his testimony admits that instructions
were prepared outside for Hurlbut and
Fitzpatrick, and submitted to Blaine
The fact that they were modjfet does
not change the relation of the parties.
aud does not weaken tho position OF
Blair.
This colossal scheme to rob a friendly
| republic in tue hour of her deepest dis.
tress, when the name OF q government
hardly existed, and when a conQncror
held possession OF the capital, was Sc
rlousiy entertained and pressed for FIVE
| months. Blair never returned the scrip.
which he held as q retainer, until No
yember On tho eve Of the meeting OF
Congress, when the facts would be in
eyitably disclosed.
And Blaine, who had encouraged the
Iniquity, and who was ready TO strike
for it at any time, never showed his
hand until lie 3td Of ID .uembsr, when
he was ABOUT 10 leave the Cabinet, and
when he found it necessary 10 make M
record for future use, in case al in
vestigation should DO ordered. Hls
convenient wrath exploded ct tho LAST
moment in bomb of manufactured in
dignatlon, which left an unpleas.n. o.
dor TO recall the occasion OF such cheap
fury.
The eyasions, the snbtorfuges, the
lodges, and tue Les of Blair in This bus
mess have made OH iudolihIe Impress
ion on the public mind. lie is ioi.ed
to the immortal Iand Of Christian states
men, of which his predecessor, Pat,cr.
sou, is On illustr;ous member, and hi,
colleague, Rollins, is n shining light.
whose name az Treasurer OF tho Union
Pacific corporation was also associated
with Blaine in Tie Little Rock job.
Blair absolutely declined TO produce
his correspondence with Shipherl, COW
ering himself with privileges Of coun.
sci, and claiming to cOnstrue his own
acts and declarations TO meet the nc
cessiLies OF GiscreGilabie complication. |
AS Senator be might engage in the |
worst form OF iobhery; he might enter
Ring 80 plunder conquered country ; !
he might conspire against the peace OF |
his own country to carry out yenal |
project, and the evidence OF these crimes |
might exist under his own hand. Bat |
lie could plead the protection of coun- |
sci, AMI thus shut the door in the face Of !
an investigation.
\ Senator mag do these things, and !
others equally dishonorable and compro.
missing, and if they are challenge or
criticised Mr.. Bayard takes tie broad |
ground, as he did on the Voorhees, ia
yestigation. that there can To no,hinr |
IN anonymous scribbipgs for newspa-
pers to put momIer Of this Senate I'm. |
on his reply or upon his defence
Sbini,rrI
Company Job as desperate adyenturer,
without means and without standing.
who succeeded in enlistirg the aid and |
the couu,enance of Gen. Grant aud Of |
others Of more influence and of better
repute than himself Hc was impccu-
NOUS, and, dazzled by the prospect Of !
an enormous prize iD The lottery Of spec.
u'ation, lie lcft no stone ulturned 10 |
promote his fortune. Shepherds abound |
in the atmosphere OF Washington.
Blaine and Blair we're never deceived |
10y any thing Shipherd said or did |
They could have easily detected bis i'm |
posture any day, II there hal been tue !
least desire TO uncover The intended |
swindle and cpCliation. A single tee-
gram OF ten words would lave nipped !
the whole scheme IN the bud by drni- |
al from any Of tho weli-knovu bankers !
whose names we're misapPropriated to |
sanction the project.
The Secretary and the Senator went
into the job with their eyes open, and
with foil knowledge or all tho posi-
bic consequences. They retrentCd from
il only when the storm signals had been
hoisied on the Capitol, and when con-
tinued interest would have been danger.
Gus. or this ilIustrious tsio, Shipherd
appears by all odds in the best light
lie had no Official or Senatorial respon-
sibiliiy To Rear or TO operate on bis con-
duct. lie was needy, and he wanted
money. lie hired confederate from
Tie Senate, and he captured tho Score
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