The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-28
BLAINE AND BELMONT.
THE Ex.sEcRETARY ON THE STAND.

rAbiu.hIng lmpudenes Of the Youug Arlitoerat
IL calls Mr. blaine ~ Bully and > Coward"
| The Latter Dsnounees the IntolsraLls
lnsolsnrs OF the Iounystsr.
| WASHINGTON, April 27.-Anotl,er larg
crowd oiauditors and spectators gathered
today, in the room Of the House Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs, to hear md to SCI
the contest that seemed, somehow, to be ex
pected between cx.Sccretary Blaine IN,
Congressman Belmont. Both gentlemen
rs they entered the room, gave evidence
in expression Of countenance, that ever
they expected and were prepared for ar
encounter.
Mr.. Blaine as usual was accompanied by
his youngson, who stood by his fathers chail
Throughout the session OF the committee
The cx-Secretary himself quietly took his
seat ut the committee table and inter
changed salutations with the members o
the committee, newspaper correspondents
and others. ..n
Mr.. Belmont wheeled his chair around
so rs TO face Mr.. Blaine more directly, con.
suited his notebook ind opened the OK
animation.
Mr.. Belmont.-"I SEQ TINT, in reply 10
questions yesterday asked you us to the
word unofficial, you stated TINT Mr.. Evarts,
with the letter OF Mr.. Fish before him,
made careful report to Congress und
omitted the word unofficial | only wish
to CALI your attention to the iact that Mr..
Evarts did not omit the word" Mr.. Bel.
mont here handed to Mr.. Blaine printed
document with tho phrase marked.
Mr.. Blaine.-"lf YOU have copy OF this
printed volume, which is M official publ
cation OF the State department, you will
find that Mr.. Evarts does omit the word
unofficial"
Mr.. Belmont.-"That is the same letter
to which ! refer, and find the word 'un-
official in it."
Mr.. Blaine.-"I will read from Mr.. Ev-
arts letter. Here the ex.Secretary proceed
cd to read the letter.
Mr.. Belmont.-"You are reading one
part Of Mr.. Evarts' letter and was read.
ing from another part"
Mr.. Blainc.-"fes. In one place Mr..
Evnrts uses the word. and in another place
he omits it, showing the utter inconsequen.
tiality OF the word"
Mr. Belmont.-"But what say to-day is
correct. Mr.. Evarts used the word"
Mr.. Blaine.-"Ycs and hat l said yes.
terday is also correct. Mr.. Evarts did not
use the word"
Mr.. Belmont.-"rhcn We will call it a
matter OF quits"
Mr.. Rlaine.-"Ycs, and that is in accord.
ance with what stated yesterday, that the
word was inconsequential, that in one part
OF the letter it was used and in another
part it was not used"
Then addressing the committee Mr.,
Blaine said: "Mr. Belmont exhausted two
hours OF the time OF the committee, yester.
day, in travelling in circle. He repeated
his questions six or eight or ten times over.
OF course he has the right, but it is all
based on the fact that he made two mis-.
quotations-absolute, palpablc misquota-
tions-and this course OF his is to estab.
lish his justification in doing that. lie has
not yet touched upon it. While have the
largest possible stock Of patience, would
rather that he come directly to- the point.
There are many important points would
like to be heard upon, but iteration and
rciteration OF the same questions, in order
to vindicatc Mr.. Belmont for having made
the blundcr to misquote me in two par.
ticulars, is little too exhausting. lie
has made two palpable misquotations, and
made no explanation OF them, when, as q
gentleman, rs understand him to be, he
ough. to state frankly that he did"
At the close OF Mr.. Belmont's cross
examination OF Mr.. Blaine, n most exciting
and unusual scene occurred in the COM
mittee room. Mr.. Blaine stated that us
Mr.. Belmont, after being warned on Mon.
day, had persisted in entirely misquoting
his dispatches and putting upon them Il
construction utterly foreign, he was com.
PEELED to change his opinion Of him
which had heretofore been that he was Il
gentleman
An exciting colloquy ensucd, which tho
committee were unable to interrupt.
Mr.. Belmont intimated that he would
deal with Mr.. Blaine in private, and
followed it up with the words, II believe
you are Il bully and n coward"
Mr.. Blaine, addressing the comlnitte and
ignoring Mr.. Belmont, replied: "Mr.
Chairman, this young man has disgraced
himself. He has been put forward by
those who are behind him to insult me,
but he is incapable OF doing So"
| The scene wns most remarkable one,
and Notwithstanding the efforts OF the
chairman to smooth the troubled waters
and obyiate the necessity for any misun.
derstanding, the impression prevailed at
| the adjournment OF the meeting that the
dispute had by no means ended. 1t is the
subject OF comment upon all sides this
afternoon.
Mr.. Blaine, who had been standing and
speaking with good deal Of excitement,
here took his seat, and Mr.. Belmont
jumped from his chair md said: "Oi
course Mr.. Blaine's object is plain enough,
that is to avoid direct issue"
Mr.. Blaine (rising and striking the table
aneri:y with his clenched hand)-"What
issue?" ,...E 5.
Mr.. Belmont-''The issue which must be
met"
Mr.. Blainc.-"What issue ?"
Mr.. Belmont.-(also rising angrily and
striking the table)-"I will not answer Il
single question that you ask from this time
to the end OF the examination. You have
stated what l deem to be entirely incor.
rect. You have attempted to place me in
IL false position. In this you will not sue.
ceed. said that the quotation marks were
the mistake Of the printer, and your Ian.
guage bears the construction put upon it.
A careful reader will agree with me, and Il
careless reader may be influenced by your
speech. The commencement Of this ex.
animation this morning relieves me Of MI
the consideration" mentioned yesterday
which intended 10 observe to a man whc
had held the office Of Secretary Of the Suite
You have placed yourself on level with
any other witness, and will examine you
as SUCH"
Mr.. Blaine, (angrily).-"What do you
mean ?" go ....5 5-aa
Mr.. Belmont-"I mean this-that yor
have been before committees before this
that you have cndcavorcd to threaten"
Chairman Wilson, interrupting-"I sub
nit this is not in order"
Mr.. Blaine.-"This is intolerable. The