National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-30
A Good Word from nh Unexpected
Source.

Source.
Tho Now York Sun is doing good ser
vico for James G.. Blaine and the republi-
can party. A few more turns and Brother
Dana may land in the republican camp.
IIo should never have wandered from tho
fold. Perhaps we are triho previous in
claiming Mr. Dana and his Sun as repub.
lican. But no matter. Republican or
democrat or Butlerite, he has tho courage
to print what he thinks and to illuminate
tho columns of his valued journal with
many healthful truths these days. We
sincerely trust these gentle and wcll-in-
tended compliments will not provpko the
directing mind of tho leading p3per of
the United States into sn attack on the
grand old party just to show hof indie
pendent and free.spoken he can bGt
In the Sun of yesterday there appeared
u well-writton editorial based on n letter
written by Mr.. James NJ. Hagar, If Rich
mond, Me-, in response to an inquiry from
n friend askingan opinion on Mr.. Rlaine's
honesty. Mr.. Hagar was one of the men
who invested in Fort Smith and Little
Rock securities on Mr.. Blaine's reptesent-
atoms. Mr.. Hagar writes:
year or two aller the failure of the road
the writer accidentally met Mr.. Blaine upon
street In Washington, and at this time called
his attention to this railroad matter. My
opinion was firmly expressed that the securi-
| ties had no value and the road was q fraud.
Mr.. Blaine replied that the securities had a
value, and with time and patience all would
end we'll then recalled the circumstances
under which they were taken, all of which he
frankly admitted, and before we parted he
said: II did urge you TO take the bonds and
stocks, and us you are dissatisfied l will take
them Of you when at home in Augusta in Il
few weeks" Soon after reachdng nome l
made a statement of the tranSdction and sent
it to Washington. Mr.. lBinine promptly ac-
knowledged its ressption and correctness, and
said thai, the ginn claimed would be paid on
hiseTcaching Augusta. Upon his arrival
aofne he wrote me to come TO Augusta and
bring my securities / went and was paid
about sll, 600. Whatever was claimed as owed
was paid think the securities had no mar
ket value at the time, and was pleased to be
rid of them and get SO much money. then
thought and still think his conduct was gener-
Gus aud worthy of praise. ] think not one
man in 900 would have done what he did.
He frankly admitted all. He said he had been
deceived, and without hesitation or delay
said: 81 will not permit you to suffer by any
act OF mine" Other persons who had these
securities were treated in the same manner.
The Sun is good enough to add its voice
to the testimony Of Mr.. Hagar as follows
There Is, indeed in the recently published
letters of the Mulliganteries good deal o.
reinforcement for the theory that Mr.. Blaine
worked hard to protect those friends of his
who had been led into II bad speculation by
his efforts and influence Mr. Hagar does no
give the exact date at which Mr.. Blaine made
good his loss by returning about Sll, 900. Th
date of the Warren Fisher contract was Sept
o, 1869. In December, 1871, the land gran
bonds were worth not more than 10 or 20 cent
on the dollar. Within Il month of that tim
Mr.. Blaine was writing TO Fisher: at Is not
question Of money making with nc. 1t
simply question Of saving my word will
others. / will sacrifice a great deal t
get settlement. Ifyou knew the agonies
have suffered in this matter you wouldpity mt
: | am sure, and make great effort to relieve me
Pray let me k1,oy trbut am TO erpect.' This wa
undoubtedly written long before Mr.. Blaine
, reimbursement of Mr. Hagar and the othe
parties, but we quote II as showing his anxiet
: to keepma straight wit his hMainc friend
Aud 1t is u curious fact that the last phrase c
this quotation, italicised by Mr.. Blaine him
self, Is now wrested from Its context by NJ
Blaine's enemies and paradel as ono of h
0 most audacious and shameless bids for brit
moneysfrom Boston.