Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-01
FAIR PLAY.

Not only readers of the UNION
AND TINES, but the public at large,
are By this time pretty well aware OF
the fact that we published the denial
of Gov. Cleveland relative to the
charge brought against him anent
the Freedom of Worship bill. This
denial was made personally to us;
and in the interest ofjustice and fair
play we have made it public, in these
columns. Actuated by the same fair,
impartial spirit, we deem it right to
publish Mr.. Blaine's denial too OF
certain charges broughtagainst him
by his political enemies. Fiat Jus
tita--let justice be done-is our
motto. And as we would not have
Cleveland condemned unheard, it
is but fair play to hear what Blaine
has to say to the charge of his hay-
ing been Knownothing. Here it
is. Speaking, last Monday, before
an immense multitude at Flint, In
diana, he said:
IL have received since have been in this
state two or three letters from persons asking
me to state whether had ever been member
Of the Knownothing party. In connection
with these inquiriesfrom persons In Michlgan,I
have received some kilograms from the Pacific
coast. asking whether was not supporter of
Mr.. Fillmore when he ran in 1856, as the native
American candidate for the presidency. Let
me say, in full and explicit terms In reply to
these Inquiries by letter and telegraph, that
never was a member OF the knownothing
order, that never.vOted for man who was
nominated by it, and that, instead Of support
ing Mr.. Fillmore in 1856, had the honor to be
member ofthe national Republican conyen-
ton which nominated Gen. Fremont lcheers)
and, MS the General is now on this platform,
he will be able to bear testimony that, how
ever inefficient my support may have been,
1t was very earnest and very ardent.
" / was then Junior editor of the Rennebec
Journal, and that paper was entirely devoted
to General Fremont's advocacy and aided in
giving him the largest majority ever cast in
Maine for presidential candidate ofany party.
The Knownothing order holds views in regard
to immigration and naturalization with which
never had any sympathy. and from which l
never hesitated to express dissent. But. In
connection with that subject, let me say that
there are at present three wrongs which, In
my Judgment, require correction.
First, think that habit which has grown
up on the part of some European countries OF
sending their paupers to the United states
ought not to be longer tolerated. believe In
the good old American system which requires
that each town or each county shall take
care of its own poor. In European countries
their laws tend to impoverish their working
them when reduced to want, instead OF ship
ping them to us.
Second, and still more Objectionable is the
practice of shipping their criminals to us, as
has been done in many cases, prisoners being
released from punishment on condition that
they shall come to the United States | think u
[Cheers.l
"Third If tariff for protection Is designed
to elevate the laboring man in this country
and secure him good wages, and II IL Is not iior
that Ii is not for anything, then l think the
custom which some men are trying TO intro
duce of importing cheap contract labor nom
foreign countries to compete with home labor
ought to be prohibited. fCheersl tits aspecies
of servitude against the spirit OF our laws and
Injuries all who are in any connection with II.
"These are three evils that think ought TO
be remedied. But as to every honest immi-
grant seeking TO better his condition, whether
he come from the British Isles or from the
great German Empire, from the sunny chimes
of the Latin nations, or from Scandinavia In
the North, We bid him God-speed, and give
him he arty welcome and hospitality, and
when he is admitted to citizenship we assure
him protection at home and abroad. once
among us and of us, his rights are equal be-
fore the law with the native-born citizen. No
distinction can be tolerated among those who
are clothed with the honor of American citi-
zenship. [Cheersl.
Coupled with the charge OF Know
nothingism, or rather apart and par
Gel OF it, is the statement that Blaine
countenanced, if he did not actually
take part in the dastardly outrage
perpetrated on Father Bapts. Now
the voluntary explicit declaration of
the distinguished President of st.
Johns College, Fordham-Father
Dealy-a fellow Jesuit and intimate
friend of Father Bapts, entirely ex,
onorates Mr.. Blaine from any res
possibility in this affair.
Indeed we have heard it stated
on what we regard as excellent au-
thority that Mr.. Blaine was not in
that part of the country at all, until
nine months after the shameful oc-
currence. We speak thus, notln de-
Tense of Mr.. Blaine, or in furtherance
of his political aspirations, but SOLE
ly in the cause of truth. And we
would do the same for any human
being-of whatever color, creed or
polltics-who, IN our opinion, was
being unjustly accused.-Bufato
Union and Times, Catholic.