The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-12-24
BLAINE CAN'T AFFORD 1T.
The Plnmed knight Withdraws BIS
Libel Suit Against the Sentinel.
And Makes the Act an Occasion for
INDUCING in a Good Deal or
Rhetoric-His Letter.

which caused such q sensation durine the
campaign was brought to an abrupt termin-
alton yesterday by the plaintiffs attorneys
appearing In court and dismissng the case
The proceedings attending the event we've
very short and simple, the attorneys simply
submitting the following document which
is in the handwriting of Mr. Blaine. and ask.
ING that 1t be spread upon the records:
james g. Blaine VS.. The Indianapolis Sentinel
Company ct al. 1885,
The plaintiff for the reasons stated in the
annexed paper, which is made part hereof,
moves the Court to dismiss this action.
HARRISON, MILES II ELAN
Plaintiffs attorneys
The snnexed paper referred 10 is given be.
Messrs. Harrison, Miller & Elan, Counsel
lors at law:
GEsrLEMEN-When 1 requested Won in
August last to bring suit againt the publish
ers OF the Indianapolis Sentinel for libel |
did so in the belief that the wrong done me
oy tnat paper, being entirely OF a personal
and domestic Character, could be fairly tried
without undue influence from political con.
alterations confess l was profoundly
amazed to find the matter at once
taken up and the libel reproduced with all
possible exaggeration in every Democratic
paper In indiana. Except from three mem
hers OF the Democratic party of that State
never heard that word OF dissent or dj.
approval WAS spoken; while the great mass
OF Democratic speakers repeated the libel
from every stump 10 Indiana with vitupers-
tive Tancor. with g'be and rlbald jest 1t
was thus made, so far anv matter of the
kind can be made, an issue in an exciting
political campaign, and the Democrats Of th,
state were thoroughly poisoned in Their
minds in regard to the question TO be decin-
ed at law. Under such conditions u Is sim
ply impossible that can have fair trial or
mat can expect any other result than
that which uniformly attends q politi
cal libel suit growing out of an exciting
campaign in this country. If l were up fair
enough or foolish enough to desire a Jury
composed OF my own partisans could no
have It. properly constituted Jury in In
diana would be composed of mem bers of
both political parties, in about equal pro-
portions. When | visited Indiana in Octo-
Der was repeatedly advised that six Demo
Gratis could not be found in the State who
in political suit would give q verdict
against their leading party organ. This did
not necessarily convey an impHtation upon
their personal integrity as citizens but sim
ply that the binding OF party prejudice
would utterly prevent an impartial consid-
Grafton OF the evidence submitted. am
perfectly able to fight the Sentinel
newspaper in an Indiana Court
but l would stand no chance
whatever against the CONSOLIDATED venom of
these surroundings aRd with this prospect
1t is idle for me to go through the trouble
and the annoyance of trial. The questions
propounded by the bill of discovery have al
ready been substan TALLY and fully answered
by me, and am willing to leave my written
statement and answers under oath to the
Judgment OF the public l do not choose to
have the case indirectly concluded by
technicality or suffered TO die in silence /
prefer to make this frank and open state
ment of the reason which induced me to be-
lieve the prosecution of the case would be
utterly fruitless. Very respectfully,
JAMES G. BLAINE.
Later In the day the plaintiff. by his attor-
neys, struck out so much of the motion to
dismiss the case as made the copy of Mr..
Blaine's letter part thereof, and the motion
to dismiss was granted.
When the report got abroad that Blaine
had dismissed his buncembe suit against the
Sentinel there was some little talk about
the matter, but the result was not mex.
pected. Generally the idea prevailed that
the suit was ill-timed and unnecessary and
brought only for political effecS. Now that
nothing is to be gained by it. Mr. Blaine
orders II withdrawn, and takes occasion to
slur Indiana justice in 90 doing. FROM the
testimony which has been taken in the case
and published from tiHe to time there was
no doubt IN the minds of any that the Sen.
tinel could fully sustain itself at law, and
none knew this better than Mr.. Blaine His
own evidence shows that there were irregu-
lartties connected with his marriage and no
jury on earth would have given him dam.
ages.
A Disguised Republican thus delivered
himself: 81 have always been a Republi-
can, and have invariably supported the
nominees of the party, but / sincerely re
greet that L voted for Blaine His back down |
from this suit shows that he was afraid to |
meet the issue. 1 hate a coward, and |
Blaine has certainly proved that he Is one" |
A more moderate Republican, and, by the |
way, Federal officer, expressed tho general |
opinion of his party when he said: II do |
not think Blaine should have brought the (
suit unless he intended to prosecute it to |
the end If he thought to make political /
capital out Of it he was mistaken, for 1t had |
no political bearing. Neither the original |
charge or the filing of the suit made a con- |
vert If he was outraged as he protested he |
SHOULD have pushed the suit; II he was Eot |
be should never have brought it. He is left /
in worse shape than before the suit was |
fled"