The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-03
POOR BLAINE.

The testimony of Jacob r. Shipherd be-
fore the Foreign Affairs Committee has re-
suited in bringing Mr.. James G. Blaine be
fore that Committee also. Those of our
readers who have felt sufficiently interested
in Mr.. Blaine's guano and saltpeter South
American diplomacy to keep the run OF
events will not be amazed at his style of
swearing 1t brings his Mulligan achieve
ments again before the American people.
Unfortunately for Blaine he is known to
be corrupt. He is not a man with
clean hands. His record is against him.
He is known to be spproachable. He has
been engaged in jobs. He is believed to
have sold his votes and influence while a
member of Congress for money. To such a
degree has his transactions Smirched his
reputation that, Notwithstanding his mas
terly abilities, his paziy could never be in
duced to nominate him for President. And
now having been caught in one of the
dirtiest jobs that ever disgraced the Ameri-
can name, he swears with the emphasis Of
thunder and with the hot breath
of a Sahara simeon that he is limo
Republican statesman who has sought to es-
cape detestation by toploftical swearing. We
ould name a number of them, and Blaine's
fate will be no improvement upon theirs.
Blaine's denunciation of Shipnerd does not
help his own case; on the contrary, the
more he stigmatizes Skipherd. the more de-
testable he makes his own record. Shipherd
was introduced to Blaine by Republican
United States Senator, and the scoundrelism
which loaded down Snipherd's scheme TO
rob Peru was Endorsed by this Senator, who
was on the most intimate terms
with Blaine. This United States Senator
had evidently interested Blaine in the
scheme, and Garfields Secretary of State
Was using it with oonsummate adroitness.
The death of Garfield brought matters to a
sudden standstill, and exposure followed.
Blaine's friend Blair promptly surrendered
his fee; the Peruvian Minister, not less
virtuous than the United States Senator. as
sumed an attitude of honest indignation.
Important documents disappeared from
State Department files, and preparations
were made for inquiries and investigations
should such Inconvenience ever arise.
Congress became satisfied that the State
Department under Blaine's administration
had become rotten to the core. Shepherds
testimony, supported by documents, con-
firmed the belief, and now Blaine, as last
resort, is trying to swear himself innocent by
swearing Shipherd Infamous. Blaine wants
to have Shipherd indicted for perjury, and
it is quite likely that Shipherd is anxious
to have similar decoration prepared for
Blaine Atany rate, the investigation.show
that Shipherd, who. according to Blaines
testimony, is a villain, had several inter
views with Blaine, was on intimate terms
with number of distinguished Republicans,
had his nefarious schemes well perfected,
and but for the capture of Calderon, the
mushroom President of Peru by the Chill
ian Army, would now be in possession of
guano and saltpeter territory worth 81 $50,
600 900 and ready to divide with the share
holders. That Blaine would have permit
ted such job to succeed without enjoying
any of its benefits, is to suppose him to be
a purer man than Schuyler Colfax. Poor
Blaine is a doomed man, and no amount of
swearing on his part will rescue him from
the inexoriable grasp of Shepherds testi-
mony.