Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-08-08
Bepcner DiSSPcts Blaine.

| Rev. Henry Ward Beecher sat on
the piazza of his Ptekskill residence,
few days ago, enjoying the beau
tifll landscape and talking politics.
When asked what were the main OBJ
Jections to Blaine Mr.. Beecher said
They are many, and refer both
to his political methods and personal
record. The counts in the indict-
ment cannot be Summarized, but
when we say that Mr.. Blaine is q
politician for revenue only, as some
parasrapher happily phrased it, We
cover the ground pretty we'll. How
ever, there Was more episrammatic
force thai solid fact in that phrase,
and we might say with more Justice
that he is statesman for revenue,
tempered by occasional alterations
of honesty
" MIR. Blaine, in ratification, says
that his fellow statesmen did like
WISE
{" 1t is too late in the dav for q
man of his calibre to Play the baby
act. There are levels in statesman
ship, and those On the higher and
highest planes cannot afford to go
into politics us business. A specific
allegation has been made, and re-
mains to this time unanswered, that
MIR. Blaine used his Office for his
personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Without
going into the case in detail, for it is
nauseous and revolving, a stencil in
the nostrils of all honest men; how
ever, throwing it aside, we will see
the ex-Speaker the companion of
those who have sounded the depths
and shoals of all the vast sea OF po-
litical corruption and official dis
honesty that has swept over the land.
Where the seething waves beat high
est these political wreckers raked in
their golden harvest. The deep stag
nant pool of pocllation knew them
well. And yet from among this
unprincipled gang of marauders who
battered down the treasury and babe
the nation stand and deliver, he has
selected his chief advisers and trust
ed counsellors.
L have not made any arrange
ments yet as to what shall do, but
the cause Of honesty and purity in
the public service will find in me
defender and l hope an aggressive
fighter. When you come to examine
what is var.ously called the indie
pendent or wavering (but what l call
the decisive) vote, you will see
Blaine's weakness and the strength
of his opponent. Contrast alb
solute honesty with personal magne.
tism and modesty Of demeanor with
political somersaulling. They talk
of Cleveland's lack of experience.
In the very vastness OF his rivals
experience we can see Blaine's worst |
failing. If the alternative were
presented to me to take an entirely |
untried man for responsible posi-
ton in my gift of an actually dis
honest one who was known to me as
such, do yon believe l would hest
tate u moment in my choice? You
will, however, understand that do
not charge Mr.. Blaine with the CON-
mission of penite ntialy offenses, but
the depths Of degradation can be
sounded without bringing the diver
within the precinct OF the prison.
1t is truism to say that public men
should be like Casar's wife-above
untemptable and unas.
Who will say this for Mr..
Blaine, and how many thousands
will bear witness to it as regards
MIR. Cleveland ?"
"Do you anticipate hard work by
the Independence"
=" Yes, l believe they will strain
every muscle to beat Blaine, and as
understand it, they see that when
we take arms against sea of trou-
bles We must be equipped with some
thing better than tablespoons"
"What do you think of the Repub-
ican Platform q
" 1t is q lusty shout in the defense
Of beliefs that have not been doubted
Tor quarter of a century, padded
put with a paraphrase OF Que of
Henry Carey Baird's lugubrious SER
mons on protection and an eminently
patriotic quotation from George
Washinston's farewell address. BY
he way, Mr.. Blaine. as might be
forgets to credit the author
ship of this phrase where it is due"
What do you think of Mr.. Lo-
Logan
An eminently fit appendix for
he more complete rounding off of
he tickets. Neither the soldier nor
my other vote is to be captured by
his Bardolph following in the wnka