Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-08-15

Full Text of the Petition In the Libel
Suit of James C. Blaine vs.. the Indian
RPolis Sentinel
INDIANAPOLIS, August IL. - Harrison,
Miller and Elan, attorneys, this evening
filed the following complaint with the
Clerk Of the United States Circuit Court:
James G. Blaine, plaintiff, VS.. the Indian
apois Sentinel Company and John c.
Shoemaker defendants, for libel.
James G. Blaine, the plaintiff above
named, citizen Of Maine. complains that
the said defendants, the indianapolis SEN
tinel Company, a corporation created by
and under the laws of the State of Indiana,
and citizen of said State and John c.
Shoemaker, who is also citizen Of the said
State of Indiana, says that the defend
ant company is owner and publisher of a
daily newspaper called the daily Sentinel,
which is printed and published and at the
city of indianapolis, in the State of In
diana; that the defendant John c. Shoe
maker, is President and business manager
of said company and as such, directs and
controls the publication of said newspaper;
that on the eighth day Of August, A. D.
1854, said defendants wiekedly, and intend
ing to iniure. defame and scandalize the
plaintiff, did maliciously print and publish
in the regular daily issue of that paper for
that day, and concerning the plaintiff of
certain false, scandalouS and defamatory
article in the words following:
"Can Blaine Afford Its''
The campaign war against Mr.. Cleveland
is, TO say the least an indecent one.
Finding no vulnerable point in his
public record, the enemy have
sssailed supposed irregularity in his private
conduct. They have dressed and redressed
an affair until the naked facts Of it are but
small part OF the furbelowed frilled and
ruifled bizar7e-fgure waltzing in the Blaine
Republican prints. This besmirching of
private character is the stock in trade of
the Blaine folks 1t is all they have to
offer against the Democratic candidate.
But can James G. Blaine, afford this
plan of battle? If his own TANKS
are as unprotected as they are currently
understood TO be, is he not provoking scath-
ing Gre by permitting these assaults on Gro
yer Cleveland?
The Democracy will hardly remain quiet
upon Blaines inner life when his supporters
are resorting to scandal against its candi-
date. The charges Of seduction made upon
NJ. Cleveland-snd which are false upon
their yery face-can. it appears, be turned
ON Blaine and made to stick. There Is
hardly an intelligent man in The country
who has not heard that James G. Blaine
Betrayed n Girl
whom he married and then only married her
at the muzzle Of gun. The Democratic
press has had the magnsnimity not to put
forth these reports which must cause pain
~ the members of Blaine s family. The
Republican papers have long known OF
them and have allowed them to go unde-
MED If Mr.. Blaine was the scoun-
drel to betray an innocent girL, 1t
sfter despoiling her, he was craven to re-
fnse her legal redress and to give legitimacy
TO her child until loaded shotgun shmu'
lated his conscience. Here, then, Is blot
on his private character more foul, II posi-
ble than any Of the countless stains on
his politicsl record. His conduct discloses
moral obGquity rendering him undeserv-
;r, oF social confidence and an unit man
to6a President. A candidate with suoh q
record cannot afford to asssil his opPo-
nepts As between Cleveland and Blaine,
that fair minded voter can hesitate to pro
nounce the former cleaner and PursE
That $ large number Of copies Of said