Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-10-30
MR.. sEEcHER TO Mr.. JOY.

pIy,nouth,s Pastor Excoriates the michi-
gan Railroad BIagnate-He Defends Him
self From the Charge of Violating the
Laws of Hospitality and Puts Series OF
Questions Hard to Answer.
NEW York, October 29.-Mr. John L.
Joy, Of Michigan, just returned from Europe
is out in a letter to the Tribune, in which
he denies the accuracy of Mr.. BeecheSs s
statements in regard to the conversation
alleged to have taken place at Mr.. Joys
home, the topic Of conversation Icing Mr.
Blaine's alleged corrupt proposal to make
up House committee to suit Mr., Joy if - -
would take some Little Roah and Fort
Smith bonds Of bis ,, iord. Mr. RAacber re-
Plies N 10 doubtful terms in the following
letter, given out for publication:
BROOKLYN, Oct. 29, 1884. e.
Mr.. JoY-Sir: You said at your own ta-
bic before me that Mr.. Blaine offered to
form a committee as you desired it provided
you would take certain bonds of him at par.
You did lean back in your chair, put your
thumbs into your vest shoulders and add
with contempt: That's the man that
Blaine is"
did not violate the laws Of hospitality
in using the incident l never spoke of it
publicly until your injudieiousf friend, Gov.
Alger, made a garbled statement, which
under your denial made me false witness
Then I was justified in self defense. A
member of Plymouth Church, who is
ashamed Of his own name, explains in close
connection with your letter of this morning
that Mr.. Beecher is known to be very forget
ful. Yes, ten thousand things forget and
ten thousand things | remember. | do
both thoroughly, and your statement was
burned into my memory as with fire and
falsehood will, | fear, be burned into your
memory as with fire.
Such effrontery is marvellous even in this
political campaign. Do you dare look ex-
Governor Baldwin, of Michigan, in the face,
who sat next me at your table, and deny
that you made such statements2 What
will he think of you? Do you dare say
that you never made like statements OF
Blaines conduct in the transaction alluded
to 70 Mr.. +. Smith, President of the Oregon
Transcontinental Company? Mr.. Charles
James and Mr.. Kneeland, Of the New York
Elevated Railroad, both say that Mr.. Smith
stated 10 them that Joy had made to him
like statements. Will Mr.. Smith publicly
DENY it2
Will you deny to Mr.. John Harmon, OF
Detroit, who WAS your attorney and was
conversant with the whole matter at the
time of its happening the correctness of the
substance of my statement Allow me to
ask by way of refreshing your memory,
whether the amount which Blaine required
was not nearer $4,000 than $4,000;
whether the intermediary between Blaine
and yourself was not Subsidy" Pomeroy,
and whether proper and honest indignation
on that occasion was not so extreme that
you would have sworn outright had it not
been luckily that you were church mem
beI?
Ny Joy, you have told this story too
many times and to too many people to
have made it prudent to deny it now
The advantage which is expected from
your denial can last now but day or two
but the lie will endure forever. 1t will
with you, follow you home dwell in your
memory, be present in your old age stand
by your coffin and meet you in Gods judg-
ment day. May He who found way to
forgive lying Peter forgive you, and have
mercy on your soulin that awful day.
HENRY WARD BEECHER.