Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-10-08
NET AND ANSWERED.
Gov. Robinson, Of Massachu-
sets, on the Baseless Charges
Against Blaine.
The New Evidence in That Last
Batch of Letters Thoroughly Sifted
and Controverted.
Sharp Contrasts Between Blaine and Oleve-
land, Logan and Hendricks
pendent Inconsistency.
springfield (Mass.) special to the Boston Jour

AAAOOAAo1oOOASJb
springfield (Mass) special to the Boston Jour-
nal
BY the Republicans and others of this city the
campaign was commenced tonight with pro-
cess1on through the principal streets, a display
OF fireworks and Nominations, and a crowded
ana Qemonstrative meeting in the City Hall.
GOV. Robinson, who came UP from Boston on an
afternoon train to participate, was escorted to
the hall by torch-bearers and Others. Mayor
Ph1lhps, who presided at the meeting, which
was called to order by the Hon. William Ell.
Halle, spoke briefly of the certainty of the
success of the Republican ticket, both national
ana state, and introduced to the audience his
Excellency Gov. Robinson, who was greeted
with long continued applause and cheers. The
Governor said:
THE ISSUE.
IL is indeed a pleasant privilege to be per-
united tonight to come to your presence and to
JOIN with you In the consideration and discus
sion OF topics that concern not only the we'll
belng OF every man, but welfare of the country.
line scenes of tonight remind one of those of
The years that have gone from 1860 down to the
present hour, when the Republican party, meet
ing the issue of the hour, has gone into the field
ables firm in principle, fearless in carriage, and
marched straight on to that victory that the
American people welcomed [Applausel We
come now to see whether we shall proceed as be-
fore, or II perchance it may be that there is a
better way in 1884. Let us tonight like men
be free as possible from prejudice. Let US dis
cuss openly and fearleSsly. In political dis
cuss1on Of che character that we have now be-
fore US we must, of course, consider candidates
SnQ principles. we have various candidates be-
fore the people, but the election lies between the
candidates of Democratic and Republican
Parties as it has since 1860.
BLAINE AND CLEYELAND-THE LATTER PLEADS
GUILTY.
Now, gentlemen, I shall spend but little time
in talking about candidates, because they are
supposed by the people to represent the parties
that put them in nomination. If they do, then
we pass at once beyond the threshold and Crap
pie with the questions that the parties inaugur-
ate and indorse Mark you one thing very sig
0lllCant this nOlitio1l ~
nents started at the outset with attack upon
both the candidates placed in the field by the
National Republican party. They made serious
charges against MIR. Blaine; they made similar
ones OF the same character, but equally serious,
against Mr.. Logan, and then because some one
who believed that these charges were unfounded
and baseless then because some one replied to
those charges, it was said the Republicans are
all the time on their defense Have you any
principles? Do you believe in the candidates?
1t you have, and you have the courage of cat,
you will stand up and reply when that party
and those candidates are attacked. [Applause.]
Standing up, however, and meeting an accuSat-
ton does not necessarily mean that YOU are to
resort to mean things either side That is
not argument. That is not worthy of the
test and 1t Is not a subject of consideration be-
fore an intelligent people. Mark you, there
is one thing very peculiar about this
discussion OF the characters of the
didates this fall. The reply comes to any crit
tcism on the part of the Republicans against the
Democrats candidate that it is unbecoming to
discuss these charges from public platform
audience and discuss the character of the Demo-
Gratis candidate. Well why not? Who is to
blame? The audience or the candidate? I will
agree at the outset that it is not pleasant in any
company to treat of the otfenses committed by
the Democratic candidate for the Presidency,
and L do not propose to enlarge upon them.
They understood by the American people,
and unless mistake the judgment of this great
people of the United States they will never ele-
"ate to the office of their highest gift man who
pleads guilty to those charges have no pa
thence at all with the doctrine that it is no con-
Germ of the public what the private life of
public officer is. and | known that the clean
enough in the light to put their unqualified
condemnation upon the doctrine that asserts
that. leave the further discussion of that can
didate: word or two about Mr.. Hendricks, the
possible President in case the other man should
be elected, which is not probability.
INDEPENDENTS ON HENDRICKS.
1t has been said that the attacks upon Mr.
Hendricks unjustifed. Well, all l have to
say is, look back over the files of the newspapers
to the time OF his former candidacy in 1876
Now they say the Republicans then, Of course.
condemned him. Certainly they did. The
Democratic press defended him; that you ex-
pected, certainly. But we will take those that
stand between the twO-the Independents. I
wish you would look at the remarks of their
newspapers in 1876 about Thomas a. Hendricks
and his fitness for the candidacy for the Vice
Presidency, and when you look them up you
will discover that generally those men who say
he is good enough now condemned him. and
yet not one hour since that time with the same
character in their recollection has he served the
public in any capacity. 1 leave him without
further discussion.
THE NEW EVIDENCE"
want to say something about James G.. Blaine
and John A. Logan. It is the business Of every
man in dealing with public questions, whether
he be one that speaks from public platform or
simply one who is busy with his own con-
Germs, in dealing with every problem of citi-
Zenship-it is his business to keep abreast of the
times, to know what is going on; and now,
within the last two days, we have had spread
before the people of the COmmonwealth-ye
before the eyes and ears of the people of the
country-what is said to bedresh and new evil
denCe bearing against the character of Mr..
Blaine. I do not allude to the famous publica-
tons that have been discussed and discussed
opinions about them. I will not attempt to state
them or their substance. To compare these
long statements with each other, point by
point, would take more time now than we have
at our command: but we are bound tonight,
here and now, I by myself and you each one
by yourselves, to find out whether there is
anything new and damaging in what recently
came out because my vote rests upon my own
Judgment, that is all, and yours has as good a
and honesty Let us look into those letters that
have been published within day or two to
see what there is new in them.
THAT NATIONAL BANK.
One thing is entirely new; now let as look at
1t. There are three letters that refer to the es-
adjustment of a national bank in Little Rock,
ARK. Now, it is not charge against man that
ne has some concern with a national bank By
no means. 1t is of no consequence in this dis
cuSS1On, unless 1t be made to appear that Mr.. !
Blaine was in some way improperly connected
with that enterprise. 1t would not hold if he
held stock in that bank; it would not hold if he
were an officer in that institution. The only
question you want to know is, Did he do any
thing wrong about that bank? And now, what
do the letters show? Read them for your
selves; don't take my word for anything; take
your own eyesight and sense. The first one,
written in 1869, during the vacation Of Con-
gress. from Augusta, Ne, states what? That
there was likely to be an increase Of bank
Ing capital allowed at the next session OF Con-
gress, and that it would probably be distributed
IL the Southwest. In it the suggestion was
made to Mr. Fisher, the gentleman to whom it
was written: Possibly you and your friends
might like to establish a bank there" They
were connected with railroad enterprises then.
Here may be an opportunity, and Mr.. Blaine
Orers his assistance to aid in getting the estab-
ushment of a bank out there Now what is there
about it besides that? Nothing whatever.
There is another letter which treats of the same
subject, but only briefly, and there is another
which describes the character Of the bonds that
must be used as a basis of their circulation
w hat Is there in the letters that is specious as
IL Is said. The expression is used, These mat
tiers are decided by favoritism," and then he
says: l may be able to aid YOU" These are the
two expressions. Take them for what they are
worth.
A MATTER TOR THE COMPTROLLER, NOT CON-