The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-05-11
BLAINE A COWARD.
So Stigmatized by a Conspicuous
Republican.
Mr.. Belmont Calls Blaine a Bully and a
Coward Which Naturally Made
Him Mad.
IN. Y. SUM-


WASHINGTON, May 9th.-Mr. Belmont
was not the first member of Congress to
call James G. Blaine bully and cow
ard. Mr.. Blaine was so termed to his
face some years ago by Congressman,
afterWard Ostmaster-General, Tyner.
The outburst in which Mr.. Tyner in
dulged was characterized by more of
vigOr than of pOliteness, and in telling
Mr.. Blaine that he was bully and
coward Mr., Tyner went much further
than Mr.. Belmont did, and added ad-
jectives which it would hardly do to put
in cold type. Mr.. Tyner's interview
with Blaine in the light of subsequent
events seem almost prophetic. At the
time it occurred, hints of it crept out
but the true story has never appeared
in print. 1t was obtained to-day from
gentleman who held the closest person
al and political relations with Tyner,
and was told simply to show how ac-
curately Mr.. Tyner then gauged Blaine,
and how we'll his prophecies have been
fulfilled. 1t appears that MIR. Tyner was
a candidate for reelection to the Forty
third Congress, and while conducting
his canvass he received letter from
Mr.. Blaine. In that letter Mr.. Blaine
enclosed slips from a Western newspa-
per, in which in the most flatteTing
terms the reelection of Blaine as Speak
er was dwelt upon. There was no doubt
about Mr.. Blaine's reelection to Con-
gress, but even before the election
efforts were being made to create a
public sentiment favorable to. his re-
election for Speaker. Mr.. Blaine sug-
gested that Mr.. Tyner should see the
editors of newspapers in Indiana and
Ohio, and urge them to copy the en-
closed slip and make such favorable
comment thereon as seemed good to
them. 1t appeared from the letter that
Mr.. Blaine had taken this method of
working up what in later years came to
be known as boom.
In the same, or possibly an immediate
subsequent letter, Mr.. Blaine suggested
to Mr.. Tyner that he (Tyner) should ad-
wise with him respecting the makeup
of some of the more important COM
mittees. Mr.. Blaine said that Mr.. Ty-
ner's Congressional experience was
sufficient to make his judgment respect
ing these matters well worthy of heed,
and he asked Mr.. Tyner especially to
let him know, as soon as 1t was learned
who would compose the New House,
who in his Judgment ought to head the
| Committees on Ways and Means, Ap-
preparations, Post Offices, and others.
| Other correspondence followed. Mr..
| Tyner did what Mr. Blaine requested re-
| specting the newspaper slip, and the re-
suit was that a number of Republican
newspapers in Ohio and Indiana copied
the slip and made such editorial refer
ence thereon as must have TejOiced
Blaine. Mr.. Tyner also, with the can
dor of a politician making bargains,
asserted that he desired to be made
Chairman of the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads, and he gave
what seemed to him to be sufficient rea-
sons for making such request. He re-
ceived replies from Blaine, in which he
not only promised to make the appoint
ment Tyner desired, but also added that
it was Just the appointment which
ought to be made, and that Tyner need
not have made the suggestion.
Before Congress met, and during the
canvass for Speaker, Tyner received
other verbal and written communica-
tiOns from Blaine, in which he made
the definite promise to appoint Tyner
Chairman of the Committee he desired
to head. Tyner therefore threw himself
earnestly into Blaine's canvass and,
after Blaine was elected Speaker, had
no doubt that Blaine's part of the bar
gain would be kept. Preliminary an
nOuncements of Blaine's committee
lists were made in the newspapers, all
of them putting Tyner at the head of
the Post Office Committee. Tyner called
dI Ollb VI bWO OlnCbO anu " dS
told that Mr.. Blaine had himself in
formed the reporters that he should ap-
point TyneT Chairman of that commit
tee. On the very day the committee
were announced, Tyner's name appear
ed in one of the papers as Chairman of
that committee. When the list was
read, however, not Tyner, but Packer of
Pennsylvania, was announced at the
head of the committee.
NOVn OF an
ragged at first. He could hardly believe
that Blaine would deliberately violate
his promises without word Of explana-
tion. He at once entered warily into
correspondence with Blaine, ostensibly
to get an explanation, really to get in
Blaine's handwriting the evidence of
his duplieity. 1t required long and
patient work, but at length Mr.. Tyner
had, in Blaine's handwriting, as he be-
lieVed, the evidence Of Blaine's treach-
| cry. Then one day he sought the
no longer mild, he was stern. He said,
as reported:
"There is no longer any need of con-
| cealment. l have come in to say that /
regard you as one of the most con-
temptible of political hypOcrites. You
are capable of any meanness, any
treachery, and deceit. have here the
proof of your character in your own
handwriting"
Mr.. Blaine at first attempted the
clustering dodge, but he dropped it
when he felt the steel blue eyes of
Tyner cutting him through and through
and he heard Tyner say that he could
not play the belly with him. Next
Blaine tried cajolery. He asked to see
the letters. Tyner's friend says that
Tyner told him that he would not
trust him, with the letters a minute,
and added that he (Blaine) would not
hesitate, if he dared, to keep or alter
the letters if he had a chance. This
statement of Tyner, year or more be-
fore the scene with Mulligan, is re-
| garded as remarkable. Then Blaine
said to him:
Are you afraid to show me the let
| ters?p
Throwing the package on the table
Tyner said +" you alter jot or little of
them will treat you so you will re-
| quire surgeons care"
Blaine cowed right down. He told
| Tyner that he was surprised that he
should feel so greatly offended, because
II 4. n - l. a.