The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1882-05-13
Ca'reaIveqdsTee.
WASHINGTON LETTER
fHFou our rs1ulay opgBoaoooAaae.i
WASHINGTON. Nav eth. ,SS,

If the intention Of those who stand be.
hind the Shipherd investigation was to kin
of Blaine as a Republican leader and
possible Presidential candidate they are not
making extraordinary headwav. Nob<,dv ap.
preciates this better than Mr.. Blaine him.
SELF Nob.dy Is more surprised and amused
at the tactics of his enemies than Mr.. Blaine
II they had conceived the idea Of preserv-
ing the Plumed Knight In the minds of
the people Of the country II would have
been difficult to suggest more successful
method than the one adopted from the
hour OF General Gartield's death. When
Garfield died Blaine felt himself over.
whelmed, crushed by circumstances. To
all appearances his political career ended
in Garfirld'< grave. Undoubtedly Mr..
Blaine really thought 20. A more defect.
ed and broken ,nan--one who gave every
indication Of being heartsick of the world
and it, ruined hopes and disappointmentS
| could scarcely have been found last Oc-
tober. Those who saw him daily and
and nod, always felt like saying, "Poor
Blaine! He's dead and wonders what he is
left on the earth for The Blaine of to.
dav is quite different man. In the Com
mittee room the other day he seemed ten
years Younger Ills blue eyes were full OF
fiery snap, there was healthy glow in his
usually pale cheeks, while his manner was
round and robust as OF old. 1t was an ex.
traordinarv occasion, but It gave him the
opportunity to pose before the country to
his own honor and glory and he knew It, and
he was eager to take advantage Of it-too
eager in the opinion of many.
have seen him on the street often Of
late, and he looks the same old Blaine.
His step seems to have suddenly gained its
elasticity. His eloquent tongue and fore.
finger are ;lttune once more and he uses
both as he talks with the volubiltv as ni
yore. The man who walks with Blaine
never talks. Where Blaine is one OF two
Blaine is doing tie talking, while the other
Is the glad listener. I have seen Blaine
with the late President Garfield often and
cannot now remember ever having seer
them in any other relation. The soulful
magnetism OF Blaine seemed to charm tht
cultured Garfield as it charms and hold,
everybody else His whole body appeared
to possess the secret power Of >ubjcctm
when he wiiled and to hold his victim tl,t
willing slave of a cunning tongue. How
far Garfield might be thus moulded into
Blaine. men may differ in opinion. bu
those who know Blaine and knew Garfield
we'll can have no doubts The enemies o
Blaine, and his Interest enemies are Of hi
own political faith, accepted every act o
the late Presidents which pleased then
as Gartield's own, and every act of his nd
mini>tration which di>pleased them the,
charged to Blaine'> dominion. Witho'
being an especial aei,nirer OF the late Prcsi
, dent, this much have said Of his peculiari
ties and OF the situation concerning hin
from totally tiisinterested standpoint a
to the scene between Blaine and brlmon
in the committee room 1t Is not claimed tina
either did themselves much credit. ie
i Blaine seems most to blame for he is Al
t older and more experienced man an
\ should have had greater dignity and sell
;. control. There is no doubt that he wa
. peculiarly sensitive on the point pressc
bv Mr. Belmont, and there Is some reason
to believe that the latter correctly interpre
!, , ted the dispatch which was the subject
:. . inquiry.
The big whiskev men from every one o
u the large cities have been here to use thel
\ influence with the Senators Of their re
spective States in favor Of the bill to extern
$ definitely the time in which whiskev ca
j. remain in bond. They have made sue
!. the Senate in favor Of passing the bill as
{. came from the House. As has been show
|. very conclusivelv, tine effect of the meas,r
n would he to reduce so much the revenue
of the Government as to produce serio''
embarrassment. The Finance COmmitte
!. will report an amendment extending tn
time in which whi>kev can remain IN bon
t. one year, and perhaps longer. II tn
:: amendment is vetoed down and the bi
q passes as it came from the House, 1t
Z quite sure to be vetoed by the Presidet
n 'fhe letter OF Secretary Foiyer in oppos
+ ton to this extension Of time is conclu>iv
II and ought to settle the matter. The prol
osition to reduce the tax from 90 to 5
G cents per gallon was set down upon earl
;. in the session. 1t would have reduced til
}. revenues about $61ooo,ooo per annui
t without benefting anybody but the distil
n ers, and the present proposition is almo
t as bad as it gives power to accumulate
il unlimited quantities one OF the great staplt
o of the country; IT proposes insufficient st
$ curity for the final payment Of the tax:
e renders uncertain the national revenr
upon distilled spirits, and enables priva
;. citizens to suspend collection OF an impo
i ,ant tax for an indefinite period.
n Dom PEDRO.