Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-09-05
HOAR ON BLAINE.


attack on the record of Mr.. Blaine, by
Carl Schurz, goes quite fully into the
accusations against the Republican
siandard-bearer. 1t is addressed to "A
young friend, and in opening the senator
says:
Mr. Blaine was Speaker of the House of
Representatives six years. 1t was not |
pretended that he ever made a dishonest |
ruling or even an erroneous ruling. He
was a member of House and Senate for Is
years. No man brings against him the
charge OF a dishonest vote. was mem |
Der of the Judiciary Committee before
whom the famous investigation was
held in 1876. That testimony was taken
by subcommittee, of which ] was
not one. But questions were several
times brought before the full committee
Dn appeal. | heard Mr.. Baine's explana-
tion in the House and of course was ia
milar with the whole matter. Mr.. Schurz's
adroit and skillful speech has failed to
change the opinion then formed that the
case against Mr.. Blaine wholly fails.
The real and substantial charge is that
he had Il bad motive in two things that he
said in letters One is that when, ON the
18th of June in seeking to purchase an in
terest in II railroad, he said "hc should not
be II deadhead, and saw various ways in
which he could he useful :" he meant cor
rupt ways, and not righteous and honest
ways, and was speaking of his Official and
nOI MS personal action. ne Olncf Is tlldl
when, ON the lth OF Oct. more than three
months aftcrward, in two letters written
on the same day, he reminded his CORES
pOndent that he had without knowing il
by Il perfectly Just and righteous ruling,
saved his road from great injury he did
so in order to suggest that if he were adj
mitted to Il share in the enterprise, he
would use his official power in similar
ways in the future. These two things
were said. They were true. Unless they
were said with the motive which Mr..
SchurZ aScribcs tothcm. they were perfect
iy harmless and proper
Now it seems to me the very essence of
observation-disclosures to attribute to Mr..
Blaines saying that he should not be
deadhcad and say many ways in which he
might be useful any allusion to his of
fetal character Z hatever. He was occupi-
ed at Washington but half the year.
He was one of the ablest and
most influential men in the coun-
try He was largely acquainted
with capitalists. He actually did and Mr..
Fisher in selling the bonds and stock of
the road to his friends in Maine, and re
ceived Il commission for the service. And
il is to be borne in mind that there isn't
the slightest evidence that at that time
any further legislation which would affect
this road was contemplated by anybody {;
still less that the mere chance that Mr.
Blaine might help it was anything for
which anybody would sell him a quantity
of the stock at less than its value.
The natural meaning of this sentence is
the honest meaning. So of his reminding
Fisher and Caldwell that he had done
them favor in his ruling which prevent
ed the coupling with the grant to Arkan-
sas another distinct proposition, which
would have killed it. Everybody agrees
that the ruling was right Everybody
agrees that, when Mr.. Blaine made it, he
had not the slightest connection with the
road, or expectation of any. or the slight
with it. The question is whether, in call
ing the attention of his friend Fisher to
the fact that he had once, by good fortune
saved the bill from destruction, he did ii
for the purpose of Initiating that. if ht
were received into the scheme. he would
do itagan, or whether he did, as most men
whose public action has been beneficial t.
their friends do. like to have the person
benefited know it.
After arguing that there is nothing
has been done him, the senator continues
repeat, it is upon imputing corrupt
motive to this one letter, or these two let
tiers, written in one day. that all there is
left of the case against Mr.. Blaine hangs
Every other charge of official dishonest
against Mr.. Blaine is not only not proved
but disproved disproved by the confession
ofmen who are now his earnest antagonists
1t is upon this one thing, the fact that h,
reminded a man with whom he was nero
tiating for an interest in a railroad tia
his action as Speaker had once saved il
endowment. that this whole charge of cor
ruption rests. To elect a man who di,
this is blood poisoning for the republic
"Better." saws Mr.. Schurz violence in fin
south, another carnival of spoils in th
federal offices, a precipitate disturbance O
our tariff policy" than elect n man presi
dent who has done this.
In other words, better another Copiah
another ColfaX, another Coushatta. an
other Danville better let a minority b.
murder and fraud seat Grover Cleyeian;
in the presidency, better let the hundre,
thousand federal offices be used to brb
and corrupt the whole people better le
disaster overtake our manufactures an,
poverty and distress invade every work
mans home, than elect man to be Presi
dent who said in negotiating for an inter
est in a railway: BY the way, this roa,
which we have been talking about for 81,
months is the very one that "A ruling O
mine, long before you were connected will
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