Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-09-11
A STINGING REBUKE.
What the Wife of the Late Senator
Morrill, of Maine, Thinks of Blaine.
New York Herald.l

ihC iuiC OtliibOI LOU VI. hOIIIilf Vi
Maine, represented the pruest and best
methods in politics, as his successor,
James q. Blaine, represents the worst. |
The clear facts of Blaine's ten years /
leadership of the party in Maine leaves
no doubt on that point. When Sena-
tor Morrill, resigned the Senatorship 10 |
accept the Treasury portfolio under
Grant, as will be remembered, Mr.. |
Blaine was appointed his successor.
Senator Morrill, died here eighteen |
months ago. His widow, who is the |
daughter of the late Mr.. Vance, who in |
his day was one of the most prominent
citizens of this section, lives in pleas
ant home on Winthrop street, this city.
She is lady evidently of great force of
character and was the valued associate,
confidante and help-mate of her distin-
guished husband both in the Executive
Mansion of this State and during the
many years of his residence at Wash
ington as Senator and Secretary of the
Treasury.
Mrs. Morrill, was recently surprised
to receive from Ohio on official letter
directed to her late husband. Opening
it she found it to be very important APP
peal to Senator Morrill, to visit Ohio and
to lend his aid in saving the State to Mr..
Blaine. Mrs. Morrill, turned the sheet
over and wrote on its back an indignant
reply and mailed it forthwith to the
gentleman who had signed the appeal.
The Herald correspondent called on
Mrs. Morrill, at her residence this even
ing. She is still in deep mourning and
consented to receive the visit with great
reluctance, but she said that the eXi-
gency created by Mr.. Blaine's nomina-
ton is so important that she was con-
vinced all private feelings should be
subordinate to it. AS her husband had
been one of the most distinguished,
loyal and upright members of the Re
publican party as he had assisted in its
formation, had been one of it's first Gov
ernors elected in this State, and help its
traditions and its principles faithfully
until his last conscious moment, she
knew that if alive to-day he would feel
that it was disgraced by the nomina-
ton of Mr.. Blaine as its candidate for
President, and that it had let go all that
made its existence necessary to the
country.
"When Garfield was nominated,h ~
said Mrs. Morrill,, che said to me, sadly
and seriously, "My dear, the Republic
can candidate will be elected this time;
but unless new methods are used in the
party and new and better men become
its leaders he will be the last one. You
will live to see Democrat elected four
years hence;tI will not. My husband v
continued Mrs. Morrill,, "died of his
devotion to the party of which he thus
so sadly spoke. 1t is unquestioned that
the breaking down of his health dated
from his perhaps too faithful preform-
ance of his duties to the Treasury Pc
partment."
To a question as to the Ohio Letter
Mrs. Morrill, said:
"Some six weeks ago [ received let
ter from Columbus, Ohio, on sheet
with printed head representing some
political organization. | was so sur
prised and indignant at its contents that
did not particularly notice whether it
was from the State Committee, a Coun-
ty Commissioner or some political club,
but it was signed by Mr.. Brown as
Chairman, and Mr.. Ogden as Secre-
tary. 1t was, as we'll as l can remem-
Der, about as follows.
'"SENAToR LOT M. MoRRILI-De0r
Sir: The situation in Ohio is critical
one. The party is in trouble on account
of the attacks on Mr.. Blaine as the cam
didate of the party. With your we'll
known character as pure and upright
statesman, and coming from Blaine's
own State, you could refute the charges
as no one else can. We hope you will
come to us in this emergency and make
as many speeches as possible"
III was indignant and amazed that
any Republican should be ignorant that
my husband was dead. I was more in
dignant that he should be asked to assist
in making Mr.. Blaine President. l at
once sat down and wrote on the back of
the sheet this reply, as near as can re-
member it. l am now sorry that did
not keep copies of both the letter and
my answer:
"To-BRowN, Chairman, Columbus,
Ohio: was surprised and shocked to
receive such q communication.
thought every citizen of this country
knew my husband was at rest. am in
mourning for him; but as much as I
mourn his death, l thank my Father in
heaven that he called him home before
the party he loved so we'll and did so
much for had so disgraced itself as to
nominate so wicked and corrupt man
for the highest office with the gift of the
American people, as | know and my
husband knew James G. Blaine to be.
If he were alive he would not support
Mr.. Blaine, or any such man, even at
the bidding of his party"
| "CHARLOTE MERRILL
"My huSbandn continued Mrs. Nor
rill "was visited by Mr.. Blaine at the
beginning of the Congressional investi-
CATION into the Little Rock Railroad
land. Mr.. Blaine, as he did to Multi
gan, importuned my husband with
tears and entreaties to use his influence
to save him. When my husband re-
signed to 60 into the Cabinet it was gem
orally understood, and my husband SO
understood, that Governor Chamber
lain would be appointed to fill the va
cancy. Instead, and to the surprise of
every one, Governor Connor appointed
Mr.. Blaine, then representative in
Congress, and under charges in that
body, to the vacancy"
AS Mrs. Morrill, intimated, the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Blaine to the vacan-
cy was evidently to save him from the
further Investigation and the evident
incrimination verdict of the committee.
Governor Connor had his reward. He
is Pension Agent for this State, the best
office next to the Collectorship.
Opinions are but little things" said
John Wesley 1876 years ago. We think
| that opinions which are backed by eX-