The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-06-17

What "Hnrper'. Weekly" Thought o
Nr. Blaine In 1870.

Hsrpe's Wusy, Ady Is, 1876.
In speaking Of the railroad bond scandal
about Mr.. Blaine We said that at least it
would be admitted that be had always
shown himself acute enough to escape the
traps into which the homes. but dull often
fall. II high principle should be denied to
him, ard If, IS is sometimes asserted, he is
merely a politician, yet surely be is poll
tician OF sagacity enough TO know that, in
public life, honesty, il nothing more, is
certainly the bes. policy. The substance
OF tae charge against Mr.. Blaine was that
when he wss the speaker Of the House, and
wnen Mr.. Thomss Scott WIS President Of
the Union Pacific Railroad Company, he
caused the company to buy bonds to the
amount Of $4,000, which were almost
worthless, for $4,000, and the irsinua!lon
was that this was bride 10 secure the favor
Of Mr.. Blaine for Alr.Scott's railway projects
before Congress. Plainly atated, this was the
charge. Or course, II believed, it was fatal
to Mr.. Blaine; and at this time, when the
public mind is very suspicious, the mere
accusation wss not unlikely to be OF great
injury to him. The story had been pri.
vately whispered, and there had been
conference Of Republican editors at Gin.
cinnati, which ended by acqRaint!ng him
with the rumor. Suddenly it was made
public in Democratic paper at Indianap.
oils, and in other journals in other paris
81 the country. Then. OF course, it we3
echoed and re.echoed through the whole
press. Mr.. Blaine instantly published an
absolute and complete denial, and having
collected evidence that is apparently Coz.
elusive, he made brief, clear, simple
statement in the House, which YVES as
thorough relutation ss was ever made,
and, in the absence Of other evidence,
leaves him unspo,ted. =55
He showed by the testimony OF the eff.
GERS and bankers, who had been cited az
| agents, that no had never received from
them, directly or indirectly, any money, as
charged. Mr.. Scott, in the most explicit
manner, declared that Mr.. Blaine had
never bad any transaction whatever with
him, directly or indirectly, involving
money OF valuables OF any kind. The
Treasurer OF the road, Mr.. Z. H. Rollins,
was equally precise and unqualified in his
declaration, and Messrs. Morton, Bliss &
Co., who were eaid to have been paid the
money, said: "NothiDg has been paid by
US, in any form or st any time, to any per
son or any corporatio. in which you were
known, believed, or supposed to have any
interest whatever" Mr.. Blaine states
that he bought in 1863 aome
bonds Of the Little Rock &
Fort Smith Rsilroad, which derived
it's franchise and rights entirely from the
State Of Arkansas. I, He paid for his bonds
the price that all buyers paid, and, with
other buyers, he lost by them. His loss
was more than $4,000. All the bonds
that be ever bought be held until the com.
pany WAS reorgsn;zsd in 1874, when he
exchanged them for stocks and bonds in
the new concern, which he Htill holds.
When the Atlantic snd Pacific and the
Missouri, KANSAS and Texas roads bought
some OF the securities OF the Little Rock
road, Mr. Blaine new OF the negotiation.
but none OF the bonds sold to those roads
belonged to him, nor did he have q single
to.lar's pecuniary interest in the transac-
ton. & YEA 49, 3ai,3 h
This is the statement Of Mr.. Blaine, sup
ported by uuquestionable testimony. He
mas not sought investigation because he
knew by experience how long he would
have to visit for q report; and while await
ling the slow action Of a committee, with
the charges still pending, he could not
have published the evidence which he has
now submitted. He knew moreover, al
though he does not say, and everybody
knows, that the Democratic investigating
Committee would have delayed any report
until after the Cincinnati Convention, as q
fatal blow to Mr.. Blaine's pcssible candi.
dacy. But II the House now wishes to
open an inquiry he will gladly give NIL the
assistance be can to make 1t rigorous and
thorough. In Justice to Mr.. Blaine we
present tho concluding summary Of his
speechI ,ssi q MI lel;.a3 \
"Lst me now, Mr.. Speaker, briefly sum.
Marie what presented: 4 Firat, that the
story OF my receiving s64 900, or any other
sum Of money, or anything OF vslue, from
the Union Pacific Rlilroad Company, di.
rec,Iy or indirectly, or In any form, Is alb.
solu,ely disproyed by the most conclusive
testimony. Second, that no bond Of mine
was ever sold to the Atlantic & Pacific, o,
the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad
Company, and not single dollar Of money
from either Of theeo companies ever went
to my profit or benefit. Z, Third, that in
stead Of receiving bonds Of the Little Rock
4 Fort Smith Read as a gratuity, l never
4 bad one e1csps at thu regular market
y price; and, instead Of making a large for
tune of thst company, I have incurred
a severe pecuniary loss from my in
: yestment in. It's securities, which L still
4 retain; and ont Of such sfairs as thes
grows tho popular gossip. Of large fortune
, ans ssed in Congress. can hardly expect
: Mr.. Speaker, that any statement from m
will etop the work Of those who have go In
tlustriously circulated these calumniet
I For months past the effort han been ensl