St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-08-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
AUGUST 18th, 1884.

AUGUST 10th, 1884.
But little is being done in the way OF
campaign work in Washington. The
Republicans are making desperate Ell
forts to raise campaign funds in the
usual way, but so far, have met with
ooor success. The Democrats seem to
be waiting for Governor Cleveland's
letter of acceptance, when, it is expect
ed, they will open fire all along the line
Meanwhile political gossips are reve-
ling in the filth furnished by certain
stories about the private life OF the
candidates, or deploring the low state
as political morals that will permit the
abscuration of grave national issues by
nriyate scandals. The stories may be
true or false, they are not matters for
D1tblic discussion. Mr.. Blaine no doubt
now deplores most bitterly the zeal OF
his desperate supporters in trying, to
make political capital out Of distorted
episode in the private life of his oppo-
pent. When the story first came out
here. many remarked that Mr.. Blaine
would be worsted in that species OF
warfare. The charges upon which
he has now brought suit, whether true
Ar false have been the gossip here for
years. Your correspondent heard the
story at d date which lie cannot fix, but
Il was before the year of 1878, and may
have been as long go as 1875. Verify
Doliticians who live in glass houses
ahould not throw stones or mud.
And now comes the story that the
date Of birth and death OF Mr.. Blaine's
infant son, who died in 1854 has been
erased from the headstone over its
grave. will quote the article as it ap-
pears in the "National Republican"
paper that has been gloating over the
alleged scandal
THE DATE OF BIRTH ERASED FROM
rKyF. HEADsTONE OF Mr.. BLAINE's DEAD
SON Augusta, Me-, Aug. IT, The
Kennebec journal o-morr0W, Will say
Much feeling has been excited in TINS
community by an extraordinary characr
ter. In the well-known cemetery OF
the Stanwood family, an infant son OF
Nr. and Mrs. Blaine lies buried. Ihe
child died in 1854, and its resting place
is marked by beautiful memorial OF
marble, erected in 1850, on Whicn tne
dates Of death and birth were plainly
inscribed in raised letters. About two
weeks ago it was discovered that the
date of tile childs birth had been care
fully chiseled away. 1t was quickly
s9iscnvered and an intimate friend OF
the Blaine family placed detective on
She track of the perpetrator who has
not been discovered, but it is believed
q cJew has been found, in the fact that
directly after the mutilation OF the
aIenorial a person whose name is
known had copies of the alleged record
sent to newspapers in various parts OF
the country antagonistic to Blame.
The motive for the act of vandalism
is scarcely apparent. There is great
indignation among all classes of people
over the act.'
Now the question is !; has an enemy
done this, or friend 2"
The Republican office-holders here,
as have said, are contributing stingily
TO the campaign fund. 1t is believed
they are utterly without pressure from
the executive, and on the other hand
they are very closely watched by the
civil service detectives. 1t would be
curious and grotesque epitaph OF the
grand old party of moral ideas
DIED FROM WANT OF SoAP," but 1T
would be true in more senses than one.