Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-25

its value on legislation in which he had taken
part. MIR. Blaine's defense In the case of
this transaction consisted at first of denial
That that he had ever had any transaction
with the road at all, but he aftcrward rested
on the fact that he had no pecuniary interest
in the transfer, and that il was never actually
made; but though this might be defense
to suit against him for conspiracy to de-
fraud purchasers of the stock, it does not
Affect In any way the nature of the offer.
His relations with Warren Fisher were iu
1870, as appeared from the evidence, such
that any favor done the latter, or gift
presented to him, had direct pecuniary
value.
Fourth h-ecausc he obtained certain letters,
which there is every reason TO believe con-
tanned matter gravcly compromising him
from perfectly reputable witness, Mr..
Mulligan. who was the proper and lawful
custodian of them, after having vainly tried
appeals to his pity, by pledgng bis word #
honor to restore them, then broke this
pledge, retained them by force, and subse-
quently read such of them as he pleased to
the House in aid of his vindcaliou; that
this conduct, if not legally criminal, was
such as no man aspiring to be the Chief
Magistrate of great nation ought to be even
suspected OF.
FJM-That both his short service as an
executive officer of the government aud the
various efforts he has made during the past
eight years to keep the public in mind of
him, have been sensational and theatrical,
indicating strong love of notoriety and an
absence OF the settled convictions the sober
judgment and the seadlness of character
which are needed to make him safl
occupant of any high or responsible admin.
istrative office; and that the means by
which his Blooms are started aud pro-
NOTED, of which the manner in which his
'history" has recently been heralded and
produced is good example, bear to close an
approach to the advertising devices of cir
Gus or other public show TO make the
candidacy OF any person rcsorting to them
anything but humiliation for the party pro-
duciug him.
Lastly. it seems to us emphatically the
duty of the independent voter to repress in
some signal way the rapidly growing prac-
tice OF packing convcLtions under the
personal superintendent of candidates for
the Presidency. 1t is of comparatively re-
cent date. 1t is only few years since Nr.
Tilden excited the horror Of the Republican
press by taking charge of his own canvass
and starting a Literary bureau" to supply
puffs of himself to the newspapers. Since
|
no surprise TO hear that any candidate is &C
lively engaged in using all his powers O
intrigue, chicanc and corruption to secure
| the election Of delegates all over the UGi)n
pledged either openly or secretly to act up II
his orders at the convention, and if casting
votes for him will do no good, to cast then
in any such way AS to enable him to carry
ont any bargain or deal" with any othe
candidate which it may hate pleased him Il
make. The nominating convention has al
ready, through its size as well as for oihc
reasons, lost rcarly nll semhlancc Of dc
Lucrative body, hut it has not yet lccom'
wholly the product Of 'subsoilng' carrie
on by the various candidates themselves. 1t
this art OF raCking conventions Nr. Bllin
is now The g'caicsi master in lhr coln'rv
His success would max this arl aimot llu
only one which American sa',sncn w'rI'
hereafter cultivate or would apparently Lrct
to cultivate. Ii is high time, thcref lc, tha
he and his disciples to understand thai ii i
not by such little games that the Prc'iGorc
is to be won.