The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-24
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Fair-Minded Democrats Estimate Of the


Fair-Minded Democrats Estimate Of the
Sentinel.
nc the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal
In an interview yesterday with an intelligent
and leading Democrat of this city, elected
some views concerning the Blaine Sentinel
affair that consider worthy of attention and
consideration He of course. declined to allow
the use Of his name. but did not withhold full
expression Of his sentiments and convictions
even after becoming aware ofmy intention to
give them to the public. He said:
Granting that the Sentinel hasa sort of case
against Blaine, it is impossible not to see the
deepest malice and malevolence in its persistent
refusal, at all times, to give HIM the
benefit of the slightest doubt. The
Sentinels clustering offer to submit the
ease to jury without further argument pro-
vided Blaine would answer its sinterrogatOries
directfully and truthfully,' was trick so trans
parent in form and so malicious in intention that
it cannot be regarded in any other light than a
coarse and brutal insult wantony added to the
original injury. The bdrefaced audacity of in
vIting the plaintiff in a libel suit to rest his
yeraety upon the pse dixit of the alleged libeler
has no parallel
When Blaine finally did answer the interrog-
atories, directly and with apparent truthful
ness and eandor, this miserable quibbler, who
had all along been loaded to the nluzzle with
deliberately coined epithets and premeditated
vituperaton, discharged the whole mess upon
the public with readiness and eagerness that
emphatieally behed his pretended anxiety to
submit the case to a jury of his countrymen
without argument 1t is quite evident to
the dullest ass who has nourished himself, of
late upon the Sentinels drivel that that
papers intention from the start has been
to try the case, not in the courts, but
in its own columns. observed that as soon as
the matter went into legal hands the Republican
papers Of indianapolis seemed willing and anx
ious to rest it there; and, to that end, scarcely
mentioned it for weeks together But, mean
while, the Sentinel, with the fendish restless
ness of Guiteau in sight of the gallows, kept
bowling, reiterating, protesting and railing in
cessantiy bedeviling its intended victim, and
shrieking against its metropolitan rivals aecusa
lions OF cowardce, in order to break the omni-
Gus silence and renew the controversy.
The Sentinel's attempt to construe Blaines
letter to Phelps into a confession-thereby rem
dering false his telegraphed denial and denuncf
ation-is another piece of mendacity, SO brazen
and so utterly heartess that no fair minded
Democrat can hereafter look to that paper at
any time, for justice towards the victims of it's
hate The dispatch to Holloway, of course, de
MED, in strong language, the spirit of the
vile innuendoes as they appeared first led
torially in the Sentinel. The spirit or
intent of this publication was as suggested by
Blaine in his letter to Phelps, to conceal the
Simple thread of truth in an endless tissue of
falsehood; and Blaine's letter was solely de-
signed to bring to view this concealed thread
His first Characterization was, therefore, per-
fectly consistent with his subsequent explana-
ton, since it extracted every atom of poison
from the wound, as inflicted; and, moreover,
proved the Sentinel venomous lara proof
dOubly confirmed by It's own course since the
antidotes were applied.
1t is now plain that the Sentinels demand
for replies to its interrogatories was only the
Introductory act of a premedtated scheme,
amounting, at best, to a legal farce and subject
to conditions, under which the Sentinel in due
season. was to give the cue to its clacquers
throughout the State 1t was 50 arranged that
whatever was developed in the premises
must apparently end in Blaines discom-
future. Having sprung the preliminary
test the Sentinel was prepared, in case of
Blaine's refusal to answer, to proclaim his 81
lence presumptve evidence of guilt; and in case
he answered, he was to be denounced as dis
sembler and liar-the Sentinel serving through
out as self-constituted Judge Of his veracity.
"The action Of that paper, since Blaines COM
pliance with its insolent demands, exposes its
infamous Vaccinations, and confirms the Justice
of Henry Wattersons summary of the whole
case. which clipped from paper the other day
and have here in my pocket
My Democratic friend Herewith produced the
clipping and-though the Journal has already
published il once or twice--I beg leave to close
my letter it:
If all be true that is charged that which
remains Is the least diSereditabe act laid against
him But it is not true 1t is vile falsehood,
and its real object is Mrs not Mr. Blaine
Mrs Blaine is noble, high-minded woman,
has made her husband good wife through more
than thirty year has presided over happy home.
and the sole effect of this SANDER, as far as it
can have any effect, is to mortify her and wound
a household Of innocent children. In this re
spect it is the basest and foulest job of scoun-
dFeism that ever found its way into an Ameri-
can canvass. and hence we have stigmatized it,
and all honest Democrats have disowned it"
j G. OoHILTREE
CoNNERsvILLE Ind, Sept 90, 1884.
Mr. Rlainess and Rohert DaIa flvvens,s Nor
Fiages.