National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-07
Mr.. Uarpcr's Explanation.

Mr.. Hnrpcr's Explanation.
We find in the New York Commercial
Adrertiser of the 5th instant a letter ad-
dressed to tho editor of THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN, by Mr.. Joseph w. Harper,
jr., Of tho firm of Harper & Brothers.
Tho original letter has not yet reached
this Office, and inasmuoh as n portion of
1t is devoted to a matter of personal cour.
tesy, it is somewhat singular that it
should be published in Now York before
it was seen by the gentleman to whom it
is addressed. In his anxiety to get his
reply to the article which appeared in
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN Of Aug. .
before the public, Mr.. Harper may have
forgotten to mail his letter, or he may
have inadvertently addressed it to the
wrong person. However, waving all
questions of courtesy, we shall assume
that the letter published in the Conrmcr-
ciat Advertiser is the one he meant to send
to THE REPUBLICAN,.
Mr.. Harper says that his letter to Hon.
William Walter Phelps ian extract from
which appeared in The REPUBLICAN of
Saturday. was intended to be private
and he berates Mr.. Phelps for permitting
its publication. We shall leave Mr..
Phelps to conduct his own defense as far
as the personal controversy with Mr..
Harper is concerned; but we cannot but
remark that of all tho people in tho
world the republicans who refuse to sup
~. DI... Il L..
complain Of tho publication of private
letters. Thor whole case against Mr..
Blaine rests upon certain letters written
by him to his Boston broker, which fell
into the hands Of the brokers' clerk, who
procured their publication. So gross
breach of business confidence rarely oc-
ours. and there must have been some in
huence operating on Mulligan's mind
beyond mere partisan rancor which in
duced him to commit so dishonorable an
act.
AS to tho explanation which Mr., Har-
per gives Of his letter to Mr.. Phelps we
do not think that it will have much effect
upon the plain people OF the country.
When Mr.. Harper expressed his "admira-
tion and affection for man who has
been absolutely fearless in his patriot
ism," he certainly meant TO indorse him
as statesman of good character and
great ability, worthy OF being placed in
the highest civic station. Surely so coed
a'man as Mr.. Harper could not have "admi'
ration and affection" for dishonest
political trickster, such as the republican
boilers now declare Mr.. Blaine to be. Ii
he really thought that Mr. Blaine was q
bad man when he wrote his letter OF
March 10, 1883, no brands himself US
sniveling hypocritc. Ho was trying to
deceive Mr.. Phelps and Mr.. Blaine with
honoycd words and professions of friend
ship while in his hosrt he believed the OBJ
ject of his adroit tlattery to BIO Of doubtful
integrity. Anybody can see that if Mr.
Harper held tho same opinion of Mr.
Blaine sixteen months ago that he pro
fesses to hold now, he was guilty of solic
iting business under false pretenses
People should be honest in business a
well as In politics.
Mr.. Harper confess es his own duplicity
"There is one omission in my lettorto Mr.
Phelps which seems to have escaped him.
writes Mr.. Harper, "and AZ it was designed
/ beg leave to draw your attention TO it
/ carefully and studiously avoided an,
allusion whatever to Mr.. Blaine's integ
rity." SO all this hypocritical gush wa
about man whom Mr.. Harper knew Il
be rascal, but he wanted TO make som,
money out of his book, and consequent,
ho was willing to credit him with exalted
patriotism and to give him the first plac
in tho affections of his countrymcn. Sucl
dissimulation is not worthy Of the hea,
of great publishing house and 'journa
of civilization" and the excuse whicl
Mr.. Harper sets up, namely, high de
volopment Of the publishers instinct
is no excuse at all. In order that every
body may know what Ar. Harper said Q
Mr.. Blaine sixteen months ago. "
republish an extract from his letter to MI
Phelps, dated March 10, 1853:
With the instinct of n publisher, accustome
to deal with the people rather than with priv
, legged classes, recognize the fact that there
I no man living more closely in sympathy wit
the people than Mr.. Blaine. keep not III
! trained finger on the popular pulse, which, Il
our vigorous American life, is general
healthy, aud am sure that 1t beats slrongl
in admiration aud affection for a man VIII
has been absolutely fearless In his patriotism
Mr. Weeds "reminiscences will be intercstln
as the records Of an accute observer, but
am sure that Mr.. Blaine's narrative wi
, hold the American people, because il will h
humnn-real flesh and blood-the record, NJ
Of II Machlayelllan observer, but of an actiy
partlcipator, brave fighter, and gallar
r lender In the most critical events of our NJ
tion's history. So when it COMES quite col
ycniont 10 you, | wish that you would Civ
Mr.. Blaine 10 understand that while the dool
of Franklin square always stand wide open
"thcm literary follors," such as scholars an
poets, and noyclists, and assayists, and trGVc
2 ers, the proprctOrs generally go down TO III
sidewalk 10 welcome the historian Of his ow
time aud, with uncovered heads reyerGntl
help him to unload tho manuscript from h
trlumphal cur on the elevated railrod Pleas
: intimate all this to Mr., Blainey You kno
J how to do II gracefully and eleotlYel