Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-09-12
DID BLAINE DO IT.

CLEVELAND SCANDAL-THE BLAINE
LIBEL SUIT.
An Augusta, Me-, special to the New
York Herald, is as follows:
Governor Cleveland was nominated at
Chicago on July 10th. The alleged facts
of the Maria Halpin case was used there
against him by John Kelly and others,
and were alluded to in many of the news
paper dispatches from Chicago. They had,
therefore. unquestionably been made
known to Mr.. Blaine and the Repub
lican managers at the date of the nOmi-
nation.
On July 18th Col. Zimro A. Smith, for
years secretary of the Republican State
committee of Maine, when Mr.. Blaine
was its chairman, but now editor of the
Boston Journal, came to Augusta, and
was in close consultation with Mr.. Blaine
during the most of that day. He Is known
to be one of Mr.. Blaine's most intimate
and trusted friends. He returned to
Boston July 18th, reaching there late that
afternoon. The first detailed publication
of the alleged facts was made in power
ty-stricken and obscure Buffalo newspa-
per on July Goth. The publication was
not copied into any prominent OR respec-
table newspaper in the East. Obviously
the proof was too flmsy, the authority too
obvious, the animus too clearly defined.
But on July Both the Boston Journal,
noted heretofore as the most conservative
newspaper in New England in admitting
to its columns any thing of scandalous
character, published two columns on it's
first page, with faring head lines, respect
log all che disgusting details as they first
appeared in the Buffalo newspaper.
Most of these details have since been
proved in the published testimony of an
investigating committee of independent
Republicans (all well-known and highly
respected citizens of Buffalol to be abso
lutely and maliclously false. The Boston
Journals publication was admitted in
the article to be based upon the investi
cation of corresp ondent sent from Bos-
ton to Buffalo. In his report he says that
be arrived in Buffalo, days journey
from Boston, on July 10th. This six days
view with Mr.. Blaine and prior to any
publication of the scandal in detailed
form. He gives in bis report detailed
statement, signed by the Rev. Mr.. Ball,
on July Goth. On the afternoon of the
same day the Buffalo evening newspaper
printed the infamous story in much the
same fashion, with the same details, as
they afterward appeared in the Boston
Journal when the story had apparently
fallen still-born so far as its effects in the
Eastern States was concerned. The
paper in Boston which supports Mr..
Blaine. With the Portland Press it is the
only prominent newspaper in New En-
gland which supports Mr.. Blaine.
AS said, its editor is Mr.. Blaine's conf
Dental friend and associate in New En-
gland political affairs. He was in consul
tation with Mr. Blaine only seven days
before the Journals investigation, as far
as the Journal admits, was begun.
1t is notorious that Mr.. Blaine is mana
ging the details of his canvass from his
home here in Augusta. 1t is notorious
that he is, and has always been particu-
Iarly intolerant of any Independent action
on the part of his political agents or asso-
ciates. The Journals publication could
have had but one intent, and that politi-
Cal. 1t was a most daring innovation
upon previous methods, and was conspic-
uously intended to have potent bearing
upon the campaign. 1t certainly seemS
preposterous that Col. Smith would take
such an important political step without
counsel or advice, and his just preceding
conference with Mr.. Blaine would have
given him the opportunity to seek both
1t may be said with regret as concern
ing the chosen representative of great
party, that Mr.. Blaine's methods in past
campaigns in Maine have been such as to
accord exactly with the employment of
such means as the Boston Journals pub
LEGATION to defeat an opponent.
The estimate 10 which his private char
acter is held here at his home was sufflc-
iently indicated in the statement of Sena-
tor Morrill's widow, telegraphed you yes
terday, and which are uuquestionably the
reflection of the knowledge and experience
IF LOT % hno of rocfo nd
most upright as he was one of the most
distinguished men New England has ever
given to the country. If Ex-Governor
Chamberlain were to speak for publica-
ton his opinion of Mr.. Blaine as public
man and as private citizen would be
given to the country in even more scaJh-
ing terms than those of Senator Morrill,.
Governor Chamberlain is to-day the most
revered and loved man in Maine. He has
neither social nor political fellowship with
Mr.. Blaine. 1t is, perhaps, unnecessary
to add that the man who disseminates
scandalous lies to serve his own purposes
is infamous.
Gov. Plaisted says in the NeW Age
That Mr.. Blaine is directly and solely re-
spOnsible for the scan dalous publications
against Mr.. Cleveland in both the Boston
Journal and Buffalo Telegraph no intelli-
gent person can have reasonable doubt.
What could be more incredible than
that such an attack should be made
upon presidential candidate without
consultation with and the consent of the
opposing candidate or his responsible
managers The Infamous course of the
Boston Journal, which was followed by
all the Republican organs in Maine, ex-
cept the Press, stirred up Gov. Cleve-
lands friends and he was consulted and
inquired OF whether he would consent to a
retaliatory attack on Mr.. Blaine's private
character. Gov. Cleveland replied to the
suggestion, Indignantly, NO" Such
was the conduct of James G. Blaine; such
was the conduct of Grover Cleveland -
What contrast
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 4.-The answer of
the Sentinel Company in the Blaine libel
suit was fled in the United States Court
this morning. The defence admits prlnt-
ing and publishing the article complained
of in a issue of August s, 1884, and denies
that it was false in any particular. 1t sets
forth that James e.. Blaine was married
to Harriet Stanwood at Pittsburgh on or
about March rs, 1861; that prior to that
time and during the courtship Blaine Sc
duced Miss Stanwood; that he at first re-
fused reparation for the wrong done, but
being afterwa strongly urged thereto
and violently threatened with chastise-
ment and punishment for his said wrong.
doing, and, perchance repenting him of
the evil, married her as stated; that in
June following child was born, known as
Stanwood Blaine, which lived two or three
years, and was always acknowledged by
the plaintiff and his wife as their son; by
reason whereof The defendants say the
matters and things set forth in the article
reclted are true, and the same being true.
they were published of and concerning
said plaintiff by the defendants, as the7
justly and lawfully might do.
The defendants file with their answers
number of Undergraduates, and require
that the same be answered by the plaintiff
| under oath, positively and without eva
sion, within such time as may be set by