Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-04
BLAINE A VILE TRAITOR.
His Effort to DepOse Garfield BefOr
His Death Made Public.

His Effort to DepOse Garfield Before
His Death Made Public.
WASHINGTON, Sept 3.-The following
story of President Garfeld's sickness,
which can be readily established by sew
eral who were parties to it, shows what
some of Mr.. Garfeld's most intimate ac-
quaintance have long known, that Mr.,
Blaine's claims to having been one of the
murdered Presidents sincerest friends
are a pretence, and that in most trying
moment he proved altogether unfaithful.
Mr.. Blaine, as is known to all who were
about President Garfield after he was
shot, was one of the first to make up his
mind that he would not live. While vet
most of the Cabinet and of the attending
friends believed he might recover, AIr.
Blaine began to look out for his own
future. Accordingly in August, while Gar
field was still lying at the White House.
Blaine one day asked the different men,
bers of the Cabinet to meet him for con-
sultation at his house on an important
matter. When they were assembled he
stated to them his opinion that q case of
Presidential inability had ariaen under
the constitution and that the President
was seriously disabled and was not likely
to recover for long time, If ever.
HIS PROPOSITION.
He proposed and urged, therefore. that
the Cabinet should agree with him to
summon Vice President Arthur 70 Wash
ington to administer the oath of office TO
him and install him as President de facto,
or acting President. This astounding
proposition two members of the Cabinet
vigorously opposed. They declared that
nothing i'll the circumstances Of the coun-
try, as in the condition of President Gar
field, called for such action. They urged
that the mere knowledge that the
question of deposlng him had
been even considered, would, if
1t should come to Garfeld's ears, do
more to dIshearten and kill him than the
shot of Guiteau. In spite of these and
other considerations Mr.. Blaine persisted
in advocating his scheme. Some strong
language was used by those who to ok the
lead in the opposition to BlaInes proposal.
1t was even suggested that it would be no
better than an act OF treachery 20 the
wounded President. Secretary Blaine
soon found that he stood alone and was
reluctantly obliged to drop his scheme.
TRYING TO FEATHER HIS OWN NEST,
There is excellent authority for the
statement that he took measures to in
form Vice President Arthur that he had
wished ana proposed to have him installed
% Al NSANCAJb Jul udu D6eU prevented DIV
the opposition Of the rest of the Cabinet.
1t is also known that at no moment did
Mr.. Arthur give the slightest favorable
response to any feature OF such pror0-
sition. This was the first move in
Blalna's game to make a friend of Arthur
and secure himself place in Arthur's
Caolnat by Offering his support
and services while Garfield
was still living and had hopes of recovery.
1t is also true that for weeks after Mr..
Arthur succeeded to the Presidency
Blaine exhausted all means in his power
to retain his position of Secretary of State.
More than one plain hint was required to
make him understand that he could not
remain. He was ready to make any prom
ises OF fidelity to the new chief, but Mr..
Arthur would not trust him, even going
SO iar as 10 offer him foreign mission,
he insisted on his resignation from the
Cabinet