Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-09-04
THE MADIGAN CIRCULAR.
Ex-Governor Plaisted of Maine Says
That He Saw Blaine Write 1t.

The argus has the word of ex-Gov.
Plaisted of Maine that to his personal
knowledge, James G. Blaine is the au-
thor of the circular inserted within this
article. The circular was employed in
the 1875 political campaign by the Re-
publican State Committee of Maine,
and of that Committee Mr.. Blaine was
then Chairman. 1t was used in the
fourth congressional district of that
State, and thousands on thousands of
and by the hand of James G. Blaine.
This is the circular:
"Do the Protestant Democrats of the
fourth district desire to be represented
in Congress by a Roman Catholic
James c. Madigan, the Democratic
candidate for Congress in the fourth
district is a Jealous Roman Catholic.
1t lis believed by many that he is lay
member of the secret order of Jesuits
Just as the late Senator Casserly of Cal
ifornia was. Casserly was elected to
the Senate by Jesuit money-$lOO, 900
contributed by that order-and the fact
being discovered Casserly at once re-
signed his seat rather than stand an
investigation and thus expose the work.
ings of the order. In Ohio and other
States the Catholics are striving to de-
stroy the only avenue of education left
open to the children of the poor. They
say, we will have church schools in
stead and thus loose the worst theo-
logical quarrels all over the land.
1t is great gain to the Catholics to
get these prominent men in Congress.
They now have four members of the
United States Senate, one each from the
States of New York, Missouri, Virginia,
and Florida. The whole energy of the
Catholic church is now eXerted to in
crease its power in the Congress of the
United States. The papists everywhere
are watching the result of Manigan's IS
campaign in this district, and it will
be hailed everywhere as a great triumph
for the Catholics if New England
Protestant district sends q Roman Cath
olic to represent it in Congress. Are
the Protestant Democrats of the fourth
district willing to aid in building up
the Roman hierarchy? Answer at the
polls on the 18th of September, and if
you do not feel willing to vote for Gen.
Plaisted, at least cut Madigan's name
off your regular Democratic ticket. Re-
member that you owe more to your
religious sentiments than you do to
your party for asking you to vote for a
Roman Catholic is to support Gen.
Connor for Governor and Gen. Plaisted
for Congress.
PROTESTANT DEMOCRAT"
This circular, written by Mr.. Blaine,
and signed in deceiving and untrue
manner, according to ex-Gov. Plaisted,
was issued against Mr. James G. Madi-
gan, the Democratic candidate for
Congress in that district. He was an
American born of Irish parents, a re-
speceted lawyer and citizen. His re-
ligion was catholic. The candidate
him was Hon. Harris M.
Plaisted, already referred to. The ap-
peal made to prejudice in the circular
elected Plaisted and defeated Madigan.
1t will be recalled that Mr.. Plaisted
afterward left the Republican party,
and in 1880 became Governor of Maine
elected on fusion ticket. He every
where bears the reputation of q truth
full man. He says that Blaine wrote
the circular, and that he saw him do it.
Mr.. Blaine has made no denial of the
1t will be impossible for
him to deny that he franked thousands
Of copies of the circulars to voters, for
they received them, and many of his
envelopes are preserved.