New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-25
MR.. BLAINE's CALUMNIATORs ROUTED.
IRN rELEGRArm rO me IRInrNE.l

occurred between MT. Blame ana MI. belmont
MR. BLAINES CALUMNIATORS ROUTED.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRDrSEf
WASHINGTON, April 24.-In the course of state.
mcnt. occupying an hour and half, before the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs this morning
Mr. Blaine tore into shreds Mr. Shepherds clumsy
tissue OF falsehoods which have filed thousands OF
columns in the newspapers of the country during
the past few weeks. Mr.. Blane's statement was
heard with deep interest by the fall committee
and a crowded commttee-room, number
of members of the House being present.
lie was accompanied TO the meeting by his young
SON. who carried his school books on his arm. aud
by Mr. Boutelle, Editor Of The Bangor Uhtg. Mr.
Blaine stood during the whole of his statement
Dressed in a clOse-ttng Prince Albert coat OF dark
blue his figure erect his expression at once grave
and alert he made, with the intellectual paeness OF
his face. his silver-gray hair and beard and his
large brilliant eyes. a handsome picture OF strong
man III the full vgor of body and mind.
The most interesting disclosure of the day bore
upon Shepherds only important statement-that he
told Secretary Blaine the first time they ever met
that he had offered bribc to United States
Minister. Shpherd was shipwrecked here by two
things--the lack of a long memory and the super
abundance of his imagination. He not ONLY testl-
fed that he made this statement In the presence OF
Senator Blair but that all his counsel knew OF the
offer he had made to General Hurlbut. lie even
went so far to say that he took especiai
painsv to inform them, because he thought
il was matter which was likely TO
come out at future time. Mr.. Blaine produced
letters from all of Shepherds alleged counsel except
Mr. Conklng, saying that they knew nothing OF
the offer. Thus included Senator Blair, ex-senator
Boutwell, Judge Robertson, ex-senator Cragin and
G \ Rlairj left ~
herds story that the offer disclosed at the in
terview with Mr. Blaine. II is difficult to conceive
of more crushing array of proof than this Mr..
Blaine also submitted letter from Slr Evarts
showing that the pretended legal opinion by Inn on
the Cochet claim which was quoted 10 Mr.. Blaine
by Shpherd at one of their first interviews, was a
fiction aud that the only connection he had ever
had with Shipherd was that the firm of Eyarts,
Southmayd & Choate had refused to
act as his counsel. Mr.. Blaine also produced a
letter from Mr.. ElmOre. the Peruvian Minister, in
which it was stated that Shepherds account oil q
conversation with him was entirely false ms also
disposed incidentally of the absurd story OF mar
pinal note" Go il Stephen '-on a dispatch adj
dressed by Mr.. Blaine TO General Hurlbut. Ship
herd put this story on William Henry Hurlbert. Mr.
Hurlbert pronounced Shepherds account of the talk
with himself to be absolutely false, but laid the
or,ginal story on Mr. ElmOre. Now Mr.. Elmore
saws the story sfase and there it would seem 10 end
Mr. Blaine rearrangcd the facts of the Peruvian
controversy that have been so much muddled by
the misrepresentations of his enemies. III a clear
and systematic way. He presented to the commit
tee in one large envelope copies OF every letter he
had written as Secretary of state to General Hur-
but while he was Minister and in another envelope
COPIES of every letter lie had received from General
Hurbuf. making the remark that he thought the
committee instead of taking Shepherds statements
as to what his policy ought to have been, or was,
ought to take what had actually been done. lie
explained that all the material letters had been
already published. He read TO the committee. with
n remark here and there, every line that had ever
passed between General Hurlbut and himself re-
garling the COchet claim, and then every line that
they had ever exchanged on the Landreau claim,
the farhighcr status of which he explained. Tho
whole correspondence showed, rs TRIBUNE readers
already know AS wise and clear policy as was
aver pllr,ued by the Government on any question.
4 Adramatic passage related to Shipherds story OF
the interview in New-York, in which General burl-
but. according to Shipherd, said he had been sent
70 tell him that the President" regarded his case
rs strong in law and equity as case coud wei! DO
madev Mr. Blaine declared his belief that the dis
match Shipherd claimed TO have received appoint
ing this interview forgery, ana That the wboie
story of il told by him was ncton In speaking
upon tins matter which Involved the dead Presi-
dent. he became pale with feeling: and his yoco
rang through the commttee-room as in old days
when he was speaking in the House of Representa-
tiyes. lie showed the absurslty of the supposition
that the President would deliver judgment upon
an important question under the jurisdiction OF the
State Department through aMiDister without even
having spoken to the Secretary OF State about IL.
He also drew attention TO the fact that letters
written by Hurbut from his home IN Illinois to
Sbinherl. after the alleged conversation in New
York and alleged message from the President,
dismissed Shipherd with the statement that
he could do nothing for him in the matter
it WAS one which the President must pass
upon. In leaving the subject of Shipherd, Sir.
Blaine expressed the opin on that he was not
in his right mind, which does not seem an un-
reasonable conclusion when il is remembered how
easily and quickly he was found out. Some Of Mr..
Blalnes epigrammatic sentences were received with
delighted laughter, as when he says OF shipherd
that with him falsehood is an employment and
perjury pastme."
But the most amusing episode of the examination
was neat and delicate spanking administered by
- Blaine to Mr.. Perry Belmont. Mr. Belmontis
a youpv man. who has left polo and coaching be-
hind him for season, and gone out into politics in
search of a reputation. Unfortunately his method
WAS less audible than his object. lie Thought he
saw chance to achieve distinction by libeliing
distinguished Republican like Mr.. Blaine. All his
questions during the investigation have been
devoted to casting discredit that gentle