The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-08-12
BLAINE vs.. BLAINE.

BLAINE vs.. BLAINE.
The Plumed Knight COnvicts Him
self of Deliberate FalsehOOd In
the Fort Smith Business.
New York Sun.
Our esteemed contemporary, the Eve
ming Post, 10 series OF articles in whic
candor and acuteness have kept eve
step. brings out very clearly the fact ths
Mr.. Blaine told at different times two en-
tirely different stories about his connec
tion with the Little Rock and Fort Smit
speculation. In other words, leaving ou
of sight altogether the question of hi
guilt or innocence Of corruption in tha
business, his own statement and the tes
timony afforded ny the letters which b
admits having written convict him of de
liberate talsehood.
1t will be remembered that the sam
thing happened in the case OF several o
the Credit Mobllier Congressman durin
the investigation that, curiously enough
was set on foot by Mr. Blaine himself
In their ignorance OF the existence O
Oakes Ames' memorandum book. som
of the Senators and Representative
whom Oakes Ames had bribed mad
sworn statements at the beginning Of tn
investigation which we're utterly demol
ished by the production Of the recor'
evidence few days later. Then the,
we're obliged to change their defense
The wholesale denial under oath whicl
had been the irst refuge of the inculpa
ted statesmen protited them nothing; il
the light of the subsequent disclosures
IL simply added perjury to their load o
shame.
Mr.. Blaine made the same mistake. II
April, 1876. when the report was frs
circulated that Mr.. Thomas Scott had
taken of bis hands, for S64, 1000, bond:
of the Little Rock and Fort Smith R ,il
road Company Of the face value of S75,.
900, Mr. Blaine hsstened to his feet il
the House OF Representatives with per
sonsl explaEation. 1t was made on April
"a. 1874 and is printed on page 2.725 o'
volume 4 part 8, Of the Congressional
Record. Mr.. Blaine tuen said:
"The absurd rumor has lately appear
ed 10 certain newspapers that was the
owner of from S150.0 900 to $3.50, 900 oi
the Little Rock aud Fort Smith railroad
bonds, which I received without consid.
Grafton, and that it was from these bonds
that Thomas "A Scott receivad his S75,-
000 The statement is graluitously and
utterly false.
"The Little Rock and Fort Smith
Company received grant from the State
Finally, toward tn. close OF
1868. q company Of B ston gentlemen,
representing considerable capital, UNDER
took its construction. In raising the
requisite means they placed the bonds OF
the road on the New England market in
the summer Of 1859. offering them on
terms whiah seemed very favorable to
the purchaser, and offering them at time
when investments Of this kind we're "a
tally popular.
"In common with hundreds Of other
people in New Eagland and other parts
Of the country, I bought some OF these
bonds . very large anount-paving
for them at precisely the same rate that
others paid.
II never heard and do not believe that
the Little Rock Company--which know
Is controlled bv highly honorable men
ever parted with bond to any person
except at the regular price fixed for the
sale. Nv whole connection
with the road has been open as the day.
II there had been anything to conceal
about 1t, should never have touched it
Wherever conceslment is desired avoid
ance is advisable, and I do not know any
better test to apply to the honor and fair
ness of a Business transaction"
After putting this noble sentiment into
the form of an apothegm, Mr.. Blaine
summed up his denial:
"Instead Of receiving bonds Of the
Little Rock and Fort Smith road as 8
gratuity. I never had one except at the
regular market price, and instead OF ma
king q large fortune out of that comps.
nv, l have incurred severe pecuniary
loss from my investment in its securities
which still retain. And out Of suct
affairs as this grows the popular gossip
OF large fortunes amassed 10 Congress.
At the time when Mr.. Blaine made hi'
statement in explanation Of his owner
ship Of the Little Rock bonds-and i
our recollection is right this very state
ment was subsequently, incorporated q
his own request into his sworn testimo
ny before the Investigating Committee
he had no reason to suppose that hi
own letters to Mr.. Warren Fisher, Jr.
should ever see the light again, or tha
the memorandum Of Mr.. Fishers book
keeper, Mr. Mulligah. would ever be pro
duced for the information of commit
tee OF Congress. He. therefore, tool
high grounds. The rumor that he wa
the owoer of Sl5O,00O or more of ,hes
bonds was absurd. He had bought som
Of the bonds-not very large amour
paying money for them precisely q
every o.her investor did, and at the mar
ket price. Had it come to this, he de
manded, that an American citizen was Il
be excluded from perfectly honorabl
and open business investment merely be
cause he happened to be representa-
tive in Congress Mr. Blaine's indig
nation was as lofty as the sentimen
which he advanced was virtuous =
"Where concealment is desirable avoid
ance il advisable"
Yet It was destined that within 81!
weeks Mr.. Blaine shorld be forced t
read in the House a letter written an
signed by himself, showing the ex'c
s:z. OF the "small amount" OF bis hold
ings in Little Rock and Fort Smit
bonds--a small amount, as he said. pai
for in cash at the market price, and mag
nified by an absurd rumor to something
over $l50.000. On October 4, 1871, b
wrote to Mr. Fisher:
81 have been used with positive cru
city In regard to the bonds l hav
your positive written contract to delive
me Sl25, 900 land bonds and $3.50
first mortgage bonds. Of this Who'll
amount OF bonds due me / have recaiv
ed but $50, 900 land grants, leaving 375
600 of those and 832, 500 first mortgag