Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-07-17
Down With SANDER!
From the Albany Evening Journal.

To all who are anxious to learn the
truth about the character of James g.
Blaine, we commend careful perusaL
of the article upon that subject which
we print to-day. Wehave not offered
one syllable of the documentary evi-
dence, we there present, that does not
come from a responsible source.
There exists a great mass of further
evidence, more or less definite, which
bears out our conclusion, but which
the limits of time and space exclude.
The question we consider is this: Are
certain expressions contained In the
so-called ''Mulligan letters" consistent
with the theory that Mr.. Blaine is an
honest man
The letters can not properly be con-
sidered-as they usually are-apart
from the facts to watch they refer In
the light of such an examination, they
contain no evidence that Mr.. Blaine
ever made an improper use of his
power, as speaker, to promote the in
terests of private corporation, with
a view to his own pecHniary advan-
tage. uThey fail to show that he ever
intlmated his willingness to perform
such service in the future, in RETURN
for benefits received. There is no ev-l
idence in these letters to sustain the
charge that he ever sold railroad bonds
either directly or indirectly to any
railroad corporation, or at any profit
whatever to himself. In cur opinion.
there is not a line In these letters
which might not have been written
by an honest man.
We find that III the letters where he
refers to his favorable ruling there Is
absolutely no evidence of a corrupt
motive. Candor, however, requires
us to state that in our opinion the al.
lusion to his ruling was a violation of
correct taste. 1t betrayed anxiety on
the part of Mr.. Blaine to strengthen
friendly relations with another,
through references to this con-
fessedly accidental circumstance
But that is the worst that can be
said. We ask honorable business
men-we ask conscientious accusers
of Mr.. Blaine who have been in bust
ness or public life, to read these two
letters of October candidly and with
care, and then say whether in the
long course of their experience they
have not been guilty Of acts or words
which are equally open to criticism2
Collect your private correspondence
and see if there are not many things
in it which you should be sorry to see
in print over your own name. The
very fact that Blaine used these ex-
pressions, so liable to misconstruction,
indicates that he is not one who feels
it necessary to exercise the caution
which rascal with evil intentions
always does when he writes.
That mere doubts and insinuations
should ever be allowed to destroy the
reputation of an honorable public
servant is monstrous possibility to
which no fair-minded man should al
low himself to contribute. If the
character of public men is to be at
the mercy of baseless accusations,
men who value their personal reputa
ton and comfort will shrink frona
encountering the perils OF public
career. This is precisely what suits
dishonest men. If merciless critics
make politics so dangerous that men.
to whom the respect of others is dear
dare not venture ia it, rascals will
have the field to themselves.