The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-17
Mr.. Blaine's Mistake.

The following communication from
the pen of one of the old st and ables,
jurists Of Illinois-a gentleman whose
name is known from Cairo to Dunleith
will command the attention of every
voter, no matter what may be his polit-
ical proclivitieS:
Modern political methods are 80 de-
generated as to fairly disgust an right
thinking men who are so welded 10
party influence or so subdued by party
discipline as to blind them to the de-.
cencies and proprieties Of life. The
scandals published by a Buffalo al
vine tY), whose politics are evidently
for sale, against Mr.. Cleveland are tho
excuse, if not the justification. for the
revival of an old scandal sttllmore dis-
| gushing against Blaine, by an Indiana.
polls paper devoted to the interest Of
Mr.. Cleveland. Now. Il every one of
these charges of occurrences more than
a quarter of a century a|r1 were true.
no one would believe tHat they would
make the administrator pf either gen.
h, tleman, ii elected, either better OF
| worse. They were deSSaue to innu.
ence the preiudices, and: nDl the Jude
AAANAALn VA NAAO NONNADs anu "A tEllNAtA AM
unnoticed by the parties accused ana
their friends, would utterly fail of eff
feet.
"The great mistake of Mr.. Blaine was
in bringing action for libel against the
indianapolis paper. BY this he admitted
that the charges, if true, to a certain
extent, at least, disqualiGes him for
the great Office to which he aspires and
this admittance will be accepted bya
vast number Of his friends who would
never have adopted it voluntarily.
But the greatest mistake of all by
Mr.. Blaine was the selection of the tri
bunal in which to bring his action for
the libel.
1.-The law Of Congress gives the privi-
lege TO a nonresident of q State to
Drlng O suit against citizen Of State
IN the United States court instead of in
the state court, if he so chooses. This
law was enacted in view of the possible
prejudice which the courts and pa>n,o
might have against o non-resiA ant so
that he could not get fap and imnar.
tIal trial IN the State cOp~ts Mr. Pidino
awaited himself of the privileges Of tbiS
law, and brought his acticu in the
United states Court and thereby prac.
tlcaily ,aVeITed that the prejudice that
eAIsS IN Indiana which caused the en-.
actmenC of this law. Now, does Mr..
Blame really believe that there is such
q prejudice against him in that State
that he cannot get Justice done him in
her courts? That must be a painful
revelation to his friends in that State
who are very numerous.
But another cause may be assigned
or suspected for his choice of the tribu-
nal in which TO bring this action for IL
bel. The Judge, and every officer.
from the highest to the lowest, has
been appointed by md belongs to the
poutlcal party now supporting Mr.
Blaine for the Presidency, and Mr..
Blalne has always been q strong and
lnnuencial member of that marty,
some may suspect that he did not so
much fear the prejudice Of the courts,
ana the people of Indiana, rs he hoped
Tor special favor in court constituted
entirely Of his political friends, which
mas the absolute and arbitrary sanction
or the jury that is to try the case. In
This hope for favor he win undoubtedly
pc as much mistaken as in his fear OF
state prejudice against him. In either
he would doubtless get simple
and even-handed justice. But it may
Oe that the case may never come to
RAJ, but, like that which he brought
\ Maine twenty years ago, it may be
leld open, and used until after election,
md then dismissed"