West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-09-05
Blaine in His Own state.

Is much more significant than the iact
that Mr. Andrew ID. White. Pres dent
of Cornell University. will vote tor tho
candidate NJ man knows MIR Blaine
aud his WAYS better than General Cham
berlain. Chamberlain was one ol the
braVest of Soldcr i'm the war While
Blaine was cnrchi6g himself through
Government contracts obtained i'm the
names of others bN the favor of Gem
eroh and Tom scott, chamberlain was
At the front whore hc received wounds
which imperil his life TO this daN He
was a man of iirst-claSs ability, the
best cdu alton, and of patriotism and
intcgrltN,that NJ one ever questioned.
After the war Inc had a natural nmhi.
tiou to go into public life. and he is
perhaps tn only man i'm Ma ne upon
whom Blaine looked as danlcru
rival lie had the confidence and ad-
miration of the people, aud would have
had their support but FOR the power o.
Blaine over the political machine. He
was permitted to become Governor of
the state, as Blainc's personal activity
and aspirations were in the National
field, but every avenue to prcfcrmcnt
in National puliti was closed to him.
Mr.. Blaine for years controlled the
Federal patronage of the State. aud di-
rcctcd the action of the Republican or
ganilution at the same time. lie used
his power rclentleSsly to reward his
friends and promote his own plans. and
60 crush into submission any one who
opposed him. He was always free with
promises, hundreds of which were new
cr fulfilled, and in scores ui instances
he promised the same ol.icc to moro
than one man His duplicitv iupolitics
and in financial affairs made him many
enemies, but he contrivcd to maintain
his hold. When ne got his friends
and ncighbors' to invest Sl3O,OOO i'm
the securities of the Font Smith a.
Little Rock Railroad he told them that
he had put in his own money, and that
they were getting them on the same
terms as himself As was alterward
proved he had not put dollar into
them, but received Sl30, 600 of land
grant bonds aud SO. 800 of first mort
gage bond for placing them for War
rem Fisher. The worst of 10 was that
in case of other purchasers the land
grant bonds went with the other sccuri-
ties as part consideration for the money
invested When the failure of the en-
tcrprise came Blaine was smart enough
by taking back the securities and re-
storing their money, getting Tom Scott
to take the bonds on hi- hands, il is
charged. at the expense OF the Unon Pa
c.lic Railroad Company.
Blaine's true character became pretty
well known TO the people Of Maine, but
he was strong polit ally, at Washing
ton, and had such hold upon thcparty
in the State that there was little chance
Of success for a revolt against him. An
attempt was made at an independent
movement, and General Chamberlain
was the leading adviser i'm regard to it,.
He sympathized with the object but did
not see the way clear TO sue css. The
disailcction was, nevertheless. so strong
that thousands upon thousands of Re
publicans went off into the Grcenback
diversion, without having any interest
in its ostensiblo object. They tried TO
have Chamberlain lead that movement,
but he declined. Their object was in
direct revolt AGAINST Blaine. The result
was that the Grcenback vote went up TO
1000 in 1873 and ~, 500 in 1879; the
Republicans were in the minority, aud
the Governor was elected by the Lcgis-
laturc. Out of this came the fu ion OF
Democrats and Grcenbackprs by which
the Republican party WIS defeated at
the state election of 1880, when IL was
led by Blaine i'm person.
All this Greenback and fusion com
motion in Maine was in reality "a revolt
against Blaine His character was
known in his own State then, and IL i,
equally well known now, but State pride
Is enlisted i'm his chalf For the first
time the people Of the Pine Tree State
think they have chance for the dis
tinctiOn Of furnishing an occupant OF
the Presidential chair II NAV never
come again. Most OF those who are
/ Republicans are ready TO forget their
auimosity Of the past and shut their
I eyes TO tho known character and the
/ unCOncealable record of the candidate
/ and support him J ccause he is q Maine
man. But General Chamberlain has "a
/ cons 'ience too pure and exacting tu
| make it possible for him to share i'm
/ this enthusiasm. He knows Blaine too
I well, and aIhOr- the qualities that make
mp his public character too earnestly. Ia
shut his eyes tJ the past and smother
his convict Ou4 on n count Of State
pride. lie would yield 10 importantly
sufficiently 10 invite the candidate tO
the BOwdOin College Commencement
and make no demonstration OF hostility
against him, but his vote is his own.
Perhaps there are other honest, think
inc Republicans in Maine who. with
out incurrug the discomfort Of trying
TO resist tine tide of local feeling. sym
pathizc with the soldier scholar Oi Bow.
dOin College and viii not vote for q
man they know to bc unworthy Of con.
fence. ~ j. 1imes CHpJ