Ellsworth American., 1884-08-21
A Vile Slander Promptly Met.

Cleveland, by starting some sianderous sto-
ry about Mr.. Blaine. In pursuance of this
purpose, on Aug. s,the indianapolis Sentinel
published an article headed "Can Blaine
Afford" in which the following words were
used:
There is hardly an intelligent man in the
country who has not heard that james g.
Blaine betrayed the girl whom he married and
then only married her at the muzzlc Of shot
gun. The Democratic press has had the mag
nanimty not TO put forth these reports which
must cause pain TO members Of Mr.. Blaine's
family. The Republican papers have long
known OF them and have allowed them to 20
undened. IL Mr.. Blaine was the seoundrel 10
betray an innocent girl. IL after despoiling her
he was the craven to refuse her legal redress
by given Legitimacy TO her child until loaded
shotgun stimulated his conscience. then there 4
is blot on hi- private character more foul II 1
possible than any OF the countless stains on his |
political record. His conduct discloses a moral I
obliIuity rendering Lin undesersing OF social
confidence aud an unit man TO be President.
A candidate with such record cannot afford 1
10 assail his opponent.
The Indianapolis Times at once forwarded 4
marked copies of The Sentinel 10 several Of
Mr. Blaine's friends and asked that data be .
furnished with which 10 cram the lie down
the living throat of the editor of The Senti-
mel. When papers reached Mr.. Blaine,
Thursday morning. he Immediately tele-
graphed Mr.. Holloway as follows:
BAR HARBoR. Ne. Aug. u.
Coiond II. ". Hoitowdy:-l have this
morning received the atrocous libel OF the
indianapolis Sentiaei. ltis utterly and shom-
inably false in every statement and in every
prAs. Ia ,lar- \ a. 80.
10 notice but this editor a>sails the honor Of
my wife and my children.
| desire YOU. without an hours delay, To en-
ploy the proper attorney and have the re-pon-
sible publisher OF The SsBtiHei sued for libel
in the United States District Court OF lndi-
ana |, is my Only remedy. ! am sure that
honorable Democrats alike with honorable
Re; ublican> will Justify me in defending the
honor OF my family il need he with my life
JAMES G.. BLAINE.
Mr.. Holloway called upon Senator Har-
rison and engaged his firm OF Harrison,
Miller \ Eiam to prosecute the suit where
upon a complaint was prepared and filed in
the United States Circuit Court, charging
John {. Shoemaker. of The Indianapolis
Sentinel, with wickedly and maliciously
printing a libel on James &. Blaine. Of
Maine, and demanding damages IN a sum Of
$4,000. 1t is expected that another suit
will be filed under the criminal law Of the
State a. Indiana has a law on tha, subject
that carries with it j. lrisonment. Nothing
has occurred for yeal, that has created so
much general interest as Mr.. B.alne> te!e-
gram. 1t is universally commended, and It's
manly and plucky tone has inspired Repub-
licans with enthusiasm and determination 10
see the case prosecu ID to the bitter end.
\ dispatch to the = Y TriL,ne from H.
d.anapoiis sa,s:
The Democrats VINO will express an
opinion say that Mr.. Blaine has pursued the
only manly and honorable course left open
10 him and The >enfiHi committed mis-
take tina, cannot but injure the Democrats
in the contest. One prominent Democratic
politician said that Il the SentineTs pubii-
cation had been made against his family he
would have gone cunning for the editor OF
the Sentinel five seconds after he read the
article 1t is said that when copy Of Mr..
Bl4ine's telegram was read TO the editor of
the Sentinel he turned very pale and ex-
NlAllNGA. NItaA opAA blL AdAtl AaS AN4ANlA.
to converse with ali one about the matter.
Senator Harrison las taken hold Of the
case in earnest and proposes 10 prosecute It
with yieor.
The New York Sun ,Deml Of Saturday
ediloriaily says: The prompt action which
Mr.. Blaine has taken TO stamp out a scan
dalous story concerning his early life com
mends itself TO all decent men.
1 = ID ~
saws Mr.. Blaine has received to-day
number of congratulatory dispatches upon
his promptly meeting the slanderous publi-
cation in Indianapolis by inviting the perpe-
tratcr OF the libel on the good name Of his
family 10 meet him in the courts. Mr.
.:s.a.. :: sssAtx n vSitfKg fne honor n fs
family he was resolute to promptly and re-
ienilessi! pursue the instigators of the at
tacks.
The suit was directed to be brough; in the
nlted States Courts for a number of rea-
sons. In the first place a State Court might
have been influenced by local prejudice. par
tlcularly where "a newspaper is involved.
Where suit j. brought BY citizen resid-
Ing outside Of tie State he has the right 10
20 70 a United States Court II il not prob
able that Mr. Blaine. personal presence vii!
be required IN this case, at least during the
preliminary proceedings Hi, testimony
can be taken here a. 1t would be awkward.
considering Ms personal prominence. to be
required at the present time to go TO Indian
apolis. But the case will be as relen;lessly
pushed as 4 the plaintiff went to Indiana in
person.
referring 10 the remark Of prominent
New York Democr /, as reported in the
New York World. TO the effect that Cover
nor Cieveiand's friends DO not propose 10
press or make use of any private scandals
to Mr.. Blaine's disadvantage, the latter will
probably take very early opportunity 10
serve formal notice on the opposition that
declines TO be the beneficiary Of their mag
nanimity in this regard.
lie recognizes the proprety Of the public
demand that the office Of President Shall be
filed by man not only With a clear public
record, but with c.ean private character.
and 10 that end invites the closest scrutiny
Of his life, whether before or behind the
scenes.
\ New York dispatch states that an ef-
fort was made more than a week ago to de-
wise a scandal in Mr. Blaine's early life and
10 use ii simultaneously in a number Of
Democratic papers. Mr.. Watterson saws
that 1t was offered TO the Louisville Courier 4
journal, but he declined even 10 consider /
the proposition Of printing it because he |
knew II to be substantially untrue Light |
years ago he personally investigated Mr.. /
Biaines early life in Kentucky, but found it |
biameless. There was no peg on which |
campaign tale could be hung.
4 Louisville, Ky. dispatch of Aug. Is /
says: "A representative Of the New York
Herald, who has been sent to Scott and
Fayette counties to inquire into the true in
wardness of the scandal, returned to Louis
VILE a day or two ago. In converse alton
with your correspondent, this gentleman de-
clared that the charges were utterly without
foundation, and had been told originally by
few old maids and Village gossips who en-
wed Miss Stanwood and her dashng lover
The depth of the yillainous plot may be
inferred from the following which appeared
IN the Augusta heanebec journal of Mon
day, Aug. Is: Much feeling has been ex-
cited in this community by an event of the
most extraordinary character. In the we'll
known cemetery lot of the S,anwood family.
the infant SON of " n.l NJ