Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-20
Was Il True /?

The BLAINE organ in New York has at
LASS been forced TO attempt 10 defend Mr.
BLAixk's course IN Congress and elsewhere
~ that conduct Is shown up 10 the Null
rJoAN letters. Up 10 the time Of the APP
pearauce Of the last batch Of these letters
that organ had treated tho discussion Of the
question Of Mr.. BLArNE's coruptness Win
lofty disdain. But Il can stand the pres
sure no longer. II has been compelled, we
repeat, to try TO explain away thc last let
ters brought TO light.
Mr.. BLAINE sent to Mr.. FISHER letter
framed by himself. which he requested
FrsuyR TO copy In his own handwriting and
return 10 BLAINE. This letter was to be
used to vindIcate Mr.. BLAINE from charges
which had been brought against him by
"certain persons and papers" who were
"trying to iniure his candidacy before the
Cincinnati Convention" Of 1880, whose NOM
ination BLAINE was anxious TO secure. To
induce Mr.. FISHER 10 copy this letter and
adopt its language as his own, Mr.. BLAINE
declared In his note enclosing the letter he
desired Mr.. FISHER to father, what here
we quote:
"The letter Is strictly true, Is honorable
10 you and 10 me, and will stop the mouths
OF slanderers ct once"
The Tribune quotes the aboye as proof
positive that the statements OF the letter
BLAIxE tried to get FISHER to father were
true. Little WRTELAw REID is as simple
rs PUscH's little boy, who had told caller
that his father was not in, and who. when
asked how he knew, replied innocently,
because he told me so." Mr.. BLAINE de-
| clared the letter he penned concerning
himself TO be true, and therefore 1t was
| true.
But was il trues This letter penned by
BLAINE for FISHER to sign says:
"You (Blaine) became the purchaser Of
about $50. 900 OF the bonds on precisely the
same terms that every other buyer received.
paying for them in instalments, running
over considerable period. just as Others
did"
And vet Mr.. BLAINE himself IN a letter
written October 4, 1871, says:
~ have your Fisher's) positive written
contract TO deliver me sl2j,0OO land bonds
and $4,000 first mortgage bonds. The
money due you on the contract was all paid
nearly year and a bali ago. OF this whole
amount Of bonds due me 1 hare received
but $500 land grants. leaving $4,000 Of
those and S32 800 first mortgage still due"
Again: Mr.. BLAINE said in speech in
the House Of Representatives in April,
1885,
al never had any transaction of any kind
with Thomas a. Scott concerning the bonds
Of the Little Rock and Fort Smith road, or
the bonds OF any other railroad, or any
business in any way connected WITH rail-
roads, directly or indirectly, Immediately
or remotely"
But Mr.. FISHER writes TO Mr.. BLAINE
November 10, 1871, as follows:
taking into account the 100000 bonds
you sold 10 Tom Scott" de-, dc.
And the same MIR. BLAINE himself wrote
January 20, 1871:
"Ihave this moment written to Mr.. Cald-
well suggesting that in case | can ar
range ameeting in this CITY next week with
Colonel Thomas A. Scott to come on here.
have some reason for believing that very
advantageous arrangement may be made
for taking say 100000. Let me
bave an accurate and reliable statement of
your financial condition, and can do some
thing, feel very sanguine, with Thomas
A. Scott"
But sll the same Mr.. WHITGLAw REID
saws BLANE's draft Of letter for FISHER
to father was true, because BLAINE said it
was true. Let Mr.. REID retire and WILLIAM
WALTER PHELPS "come TO the fore" and
try his hand at indicating the magnetic
statesman from Maine.