The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-07-08
Blaine and His Substitute.
New York Sun, June 29th.

NcW lOrh Ouut ouiio ~Obus
WASHINGTON, june 26.-During the
recent debate 10 the Senate on The Mexi-
can War Pensions bill, Mr. Morgan
said:
"Take your candidate for the Presi
dencv. He was a valiant ia ker in the
war, hut he n yer went to the war. He
remained at boma and accumulated lis
millions of dollars, and his substitute
went 10 the war.
Mr. Williams-No; the substitute did
not 90.
Mr.. Morgan-Why did he not go3
Mr.. Wiilisms-He got furlouih to
stay at home.
Mr.. Morgan He ought to have gone
At least one Of the mephership Of tina,
combination ought to have gone"
THIS war record of the Republican
candidate is not historically correct in
detail, according to the authority of the
neighbors OF Mr.. Blaine, who are well
informed on that subject. At meet
ing of the Bay State Cub. held in BIS.
ton ON the b OF June, Mr.. E F Pills
bury of Maine, who is not only well
known, but who knows Mr.. Blaine thor
oughlg, said:
sWhat is in his war record that should
entitle him to the confidence of the peo-
ole, although he was for, most in the
proceedings that led to the warp He
was the first to be drafted in this dis
trict But prior to that an organ;z,!ion
had heen effected in Augusta 10 protect
men against the draft, each member paw.
ing S25 to the fuaA to hire a sub titute
il drsf ed.
Mr.. Blaine out OF that fund hired a
substitute named Bradford "A sofl
place was found for the man to remain
at the post in Augusta instead of going
to the front. Alter while he was de-
tec'ed in selling tor money certsin GER.
,ificates, and he was kent in jail until the
close of the war. That constituted Mr.
BIaine's service in the field.
After the war closed the men who had
been drawn claimed that the towns and
cities should pay the expenses they had
been put to, and Augusta generously vo-
ted to paw these men the m ney they
had paid for substitutes. and Mr.. Blaine
got his bond for 5000. But that is not
the end. Afterward a resolution was
put before the Common Council of Au-
gusts to paw Mr., Blaine 5000, the
amount he had paid for q substitute, and
it was v,ted and passed, and he was
pail. That you can rely on as being
the true storv."
This interesting statement contains
several facts worthysof attention.
l. Mr.. Baina was the first person
drafted Tor the war in his di tr;ct,
@. He bired one Bradford as q suhsLi.
tute for s2C0.
3. Bradford never went to the front,
but was imprisoned dur ng the war for 8
criminal offence. oe
4 The C,mmon Council Of Augusta
repaid to Mr.. Blaine the 5000 he had
given to Bradford as a sub-li u'e.
Ii thus appears that Mr.. Bsi ne neither
served in the war, nor was he even rep
resented by a substitute. Ha was thrifty
in his patriotism At that time Mr..
Blaine was 81 years Of age, and in the
full flush of lustv manhood He was
Speaker of the Maine Legislature. Bm
although he did not perform service as q
soldier, Mr. Blaine was vigorous in the
sale of guns for volunteers to fight with.
AS contractor he performed noble
part, and he got well paid for it.
The two Senators from Maine. who
have always been conspicuous in the
political crusade against the South, we're
also on the peace establishment during