Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-12-19
TAKES WATER.
THE pLUMED-KN1GET NO LON
GER DESIRING TO PROTECT
THE HONOR OF HIS
FAMILY"
Withdraws his Libel Suit Against
the Indianapolis Sentinel.
He was Afraid he Couldn't get a
Fair Trial.

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. l6.-Mr. Blaine
this morning dismissed the libel suit
against the Sentinel in the United
States court. 1t was set for trial on
the % instant. The following is Mr..
Blaine's letter to the attorneys in
structing them to dismiss the case;
WASHINGTON, d. G., Dec. TO- 1881.
Messrs. Harrison, Miller and Elan, Counsel
lors at Law,
GENTLEMEN.-When ] requested
YOU in August last to bring suit
against the publishers of the Indian
apolis Sentinel for libel did so in the
belief that the wrong done me by
that paper, being entirely Of per-
soual and domestic character, could
be fairly tried without undue infiu-
ence from political considerations.
confess | was profoundly amazed to
find the matter at once taken up, and
the libel produced with all possible
exaggeration in every democratic pa
per in Indiana. Except from three
members of the democratic party of
that State never heard that a word
of dissent or disapproval was spoken,
while the great mass of the demo-
cratic speakers repeated the libel from
every stump in Indiana with vitu-
peration and rancor, with gibe and
ribald lest. 1t was thus made, so far
as any matter Of the kind can b.
made, an issue in an exciting political
campaign, and the Democrats of the
State were thoroughly poisoned III
their minds in regard to the question
to be decided at law. Under sucl
conditions It's simply impossible tina
can have fair trial, or that l cal
expect any other result than tina
which formally attends political Ii
bel suit growing ont Of an eXcitin!
campaign in this country. i'll wer
unfair enough to demand jury com
posed of my own partisans | coul'
not have it. A properly constitutes
Jury in Indiana would be compose
of members of both political parti
in about equal prop)ltiors When
visited Indiana in October | was II
> peatedly advised that six democrat
could not be found in the state whit
in a political suit, would give vel
dict against their leading party o
: gan. This did not necessarily conve
y an imputation upon their personal il
% tegrity as citizens, but simply Iii
- the binding of party prejudice wou
. utterly prevent an impartial consi'
i Grafton of the evidence submitted.
, ain perfectly able to fight the Sentin
!, newspaper in an Indiana court, but
!. would stand 10 chance against t
consolidated venom of the DemOcra
.s ic party Of the state in fighting t.
n paper further. Therefore, it is id
Il for me to go through the trouble al
90 annoyance of a trial. The questio
!. propounded by the bill of discove
Ia have already been substantially a
- fully answered by Inc. and lam wi
ing TO leave my written statemC
! and answers under oath to the jud
ment of the public. l do not choC
q to have the case indirectly conclud
+, by technicality or suffered to die
m silence. prefer to make this fra
n. and open statement of the reas
=, which induced Inc to believe that
=, prosecution in that state would
nc utterly fruitless.
w. Very respectfully,
- JAS. G. BLAINE