The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-06-18
BLAINE OF MAINE.
HIS ONSLAUGHT ON THE OLD BAY
STATE IN THE SENATE.
Playing Hoar and Dawes Over the statue Of
william King.


who accompanied the Maine delegation
to their homes. were, the dispatches say,
"treated ooldly in Boston," There was
no reception-no demonstration. They
were simply allowed to go from one
depot TO another with no more fuss
than would be shown over so many
New York drummers. The dispatches
further say that the neglected delegates
felt sore over this. and when they passed
into the borders of Maine began TO
speak disrespectfully of Massachusetts
"dudes."
This little episode may not have
meant much, but yet one cannot help
recall the old feud between Maine and
Massachusetts,, and the part Mr.. Blaine
has before now taken In keeping the
luminosity alive. When the Boston Incl
dent occurred the Herald was at once
reminded of the occasion when Mr..
Blaine so grievously insulted the Com
monwealth of Massachusetts in the Sen
ate in 1873, and wondered II the menu
DRY Of that did not still rankle In the
souls of the Bostonians. Remembering
the incident well, the Herald has looked
up the facts of 1t, and the real wonder is,
considering Mr.. Blalne's onense. that
the Congratulate committee ever got
across Massachusetts, territory alive.
The episode referred to was the famous
onslaught of Blaine upon Massachusetts
in January, 1873, the occasion being a
resolution authorizing Congress to accept
from the State of Maine a statue of Gov
ernor William King, Names first execu-
tive, to be placed in the House of Repre-
sentatlves. Old Hannibal Hamlin intro
duced the resolution. 1t was supposed
to be merely prefunoiory, though II was
known that Blaine meant to ''say few
words" Mr.. Blaine did say few
words. 1t had leaked out somehow that
there was going to be some fun, or rather
that Blaine was going TO make n speech.
The galleries were crowded. 1t so hap
pened, too, that Sir Edward Thornton
and the Earl of Dullerin were in the
diplomatic gallery. II was gala oooa-
sion and everybody was out. Old Mr..
MIR. Blaine rose TO pronounce his eulogy
on the life and services of Mr.
King. Almost the first utteranoe
was that the Senate was glad to honor
the memory of the man who had been
chiefly instrumental in separating the
territory of Maine from the ''tyrannical
domination of Massachusetts" This
was starter. Senator Dawes and Hoar
began to squirm in their seats, for they
saw that the Maine man had an audi
ence, and when did Blaine ever have an
audience that he did not try to instruct
and entertain 1t in his own way? 1t was
evident that that day he meant to have
some fun with Massachusetts. And he
had 1t.
Mr.. Blaine spoke eloquently of Will
liam King. He recounted his great SER
vices in and subsequent to the war of
1872. lie spoke Of him as patriot who
had never ceased to love his country.
Though at that time citizen of Massa-
chusetts, he had struggled bravely
against the cowardly stand taken by
Massachusetts, in the war of 1912, and
had never ceased in his efforts to free
Maine from the disgraceful domination
of that State. He spoke of King pre-
siding over the first Constitutional Con-
vention of Maine, and the gratitude and
never ending thanks felt by the people
of Maine for his efforts in securing them
Independence and freedom from the in
tolerable and insullerable bondage of
Massachusetts, The feeling of rancor
and hatred which had existed between
the two sections had been heightened
Shy the patriotism of one in the war of
l II and the cowardice OF the other"
Much more was said in similar strain,
and when Mr.. Blaine had finished Mr..
Dawes rose to reply. The galleries by
this time were packed, for the report
had gone out that Blaine was in an old
fashioned, single-handed fight. Mr..
Dawes deplored the fact that at such n
time and on such an occasion the gentle
man from Maine should go out of his way
to insult the Commonwealth OF Massu-
chusetts. So far as the war of1Si2 went,
he could assure the Senator that, how
ever unpopular that war may have
been with the people, Massachusetts
did her whole duty. The only naval
fight of that war on the Maine coast was
won by Boston ship.
"1 es, said MIR. Blaine, sarcastically,
land she was manned by Portland
crew. Great laughter.
This brought MIR. Hoar to his feet, and
he at once charged Blaine with making
an effort at buncombe. Said Hoar: "The
Senator from Maine is only speaking in
spirit OF vindictiyeness because the
vote Of Massachusetts, was not recorded
for his nomination for the Presidency in
the late Cincinnati convention"
This made Blaine furious. He stalked
out in the aisle; he paced the floor; he
shook his fist deiiantly at Hoar,an then,
with almost dramatic effort, exclaimed
that that was another instance of Mas
sachusetts' cowardioe. II would ask :"
he hundred out in that dramatic way Of
his, "if the Senator from Massachusetts,
dared to stand there and deny that their
State had not bristled with treason dur
Ing the war of 1872. Why, sir, they even
mobbed William Wedgely, Names first
Member Of Congress, when he passed
through Massachusetts on his way home,
because he voted to pay the expenses Of
that warl"
This in turn called out Hoar, who ex-
cidedly said: 81 ask for particulars.
When and where did Massachusetts,
ever make an unpatriotic record In
that WARP"
Quick as n flash Blaine responded:
"Tll tell you right here. She refused to
pass resolution thanking one of her
own naval officers for victory. because
1t was won in what she termed an unjust
war. She refused to thank the COM
mander Of the Hornet for the capture of
the British vessel Peacock. 1t stands on
your own legislative records; 20 there
and read"