The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-08
Asn Should Be.

control, and they seized the gage thrown
down by the Republicans with great
eagerness, and in their impotence some
times threw the gage themselves. Mis-
sissippi furnished some of these Demo
cratic tariff knights, but as compared
with the number furnished by other
States, they were not numerous. The
great bulk of the Democratic party,
however, insisted that while the tariff
was an important question, most i'm
portant question, the position of the
party with reference to it was too well
known and understood to require that it
should be given that peculiar promi-
hence which would subordinate all other
issues to it. There we're other matters
to be considered, and chief among them
was the fitness Of the candidates of the
respective parties; and as there was no
chance that any other than the Re
publican or Democratic candidates
could be elected, this issue was
narrowed down to the discussion of
the fitness of the Democratic and Re
publican candidates. But the Republi-
cans started out with the declaration
that the tariff, and not the fitness of the
candidates, was the only question to be
decided in the election and they have
adhered to that declaration with won
derful Obstinacy until recently. 1t was
8 matter of policy with them and their
conduct was governed by strictly bust
ness principles. 1t was the only ground
on which they could fight with any hope
of its success. Why should they be
led to fight ON other ground 2 With
the Democrats it was different. They
had some hope that the country might
be carried ON the tariff question, though
| the issue was doubtful; but they had a
certainty of success if they could induce
the voters to consider the fitness of the
candidates. Up to this time it has been
uphill work for the Democrats to get
the Republicans to meet them in their
stronghold, but it is gratifying to notice
that that result is about to be accom-
plished.
The publication of the last budget of
Mulligan letters has aroused the nom
partisan voter from one end Of the land
to the other, and the Republicans have
learned that the disclosures of official
corruption with which they abound,
have forced the tariff aside. They real
ize keenly the popular demand that I'M
less some explanations be made of their
contents, which will make these letters
consist with honesty and integrity, the
author of them, who is the Republican
nominee for President, will bring de-
feat on his party. To the task of show
ing that they are honorable to the writer
the Republicans are now addressing
themselves. Will they succeed?
The letter of Mr.. BLAINE to Mr.. |
FISHER under date of October 4, 1869,
as we view it, conyicts Mr.. BLAINE of
woeful lack of integrity in Official life.
In previous letter he had accepted
an offer from Mr.. FISHER of an in
terest in the Fort Smith and Little
Rock Railroad, and had mentioned |
the fact that Mr.. FISHER had told him
that one CALDWELL, who was partner
of FISHER would dispose of share of
his interest to him (BERINE). and he
had expressed the wish that CALDWELL
would make the proposition definite.
This was the letter in which Mr.. BLAINE
said, 81 do'not feel that / shall prove a
dead-head in the enterprise if once l
embark in it. / see various channels in
which / know / can be useful" In
the letter of October 4, 1869, he dis
closes what he meant by this language.
In that letter he advises Mr.. FISHER
that as Speaker he had suggested to
Gen. LOGAN a point of order, which,
being sustained by him (BLAINE), had
saved the bill renewing the land grant
Of the Little Rock road, and he sug-
gests that Mr.. CALDWELL be informed
of the facts. That Mr. BLAINE intended
by showing CALDWELL how useful" he
could be to get from him the interest in
the Little Rock road about which he had
written to Mr.. FISHER, there can be no
doubt. But it is said by Mr.. BLAINE's
apologists that the bill about which he
wrote was a just bill that it passed both
Houses of Congress; that the point of
order was correctly sustained, and that
the enterprise proved disastrous. Is this
a good defence2 1t was not so consid-
cred in England when the House of
Lords held that Lord FRANCIS BACON,
the Lord Chancellor, was guilty of cor !
ruption in accepting favors from those
in whose favor ne had made decisions, !,
and it is not so considered in this coun-
try as viii be seen when the verdict has
been rendered.
We would be willing to risk the cleo
lion on the issue of BLAINE's corrup-
lion and unftness as disclosed by this :
etter if the voters felt free to act as ..
Jurors in the great trial which is now ,
progressing. That "shs bloody shirt, : :
AN aggressive American policy" pri-
rate scandals and the tariff, have given E
,laee to consideration of Mr.. BLAINE's
'ficial integrity, is as it should be, and :
ve have faith that the verdict viii be Z
gainst him. L