Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-06-19
A Few Plain Facts.

There are few plain facts in regard to
Mr.. Blaine and his nomination worthy OF
especial note.
/. Mr. Blaine did not seek the nomina-
ton II came to him without his claiming
or asking for IL. by the voice of the people
Of the country expressed through the rep.
resentatives which they elected as dele
gates to the national convention. 1t may
be said in sincerity and truth that he made
no plans to secure the nomination for him
self, advised nobody to enter into n can
vass in his favor. and steadily persisted
against the wishes and urgent appeals of
his friends in keeping aloof from all
movements iu his behalf.
9. His nomination was the result of the
popular sentiment in favor of him as the
fitting candidate to lead in this campaign
and to fill the place of President of the
United States. There is no secret about
this The people in all parts of the coun-
try tell the same story. Murat lialsted
said in his telegram of congratulation to
Mr. Blaine after his nomination 1T had
to happen. 1t was in the air and the sun
shine" Speaking since at grand rati-
ficaton meeting in Cincinnati, he said ::
There was no trick about it. no scheme.
no strategy. no grand tactics. 1t was ex-
pressly and remarkably a nomination by
the people" Even independents do not
deny that it was fair expression of the
popular sentiment; thus compelling them
selves to appear If they bolt. as assuming
that the people are not capable of jndging
for themselves in the selection of candi-
dates. and ought to consult few men
who believe in their own infallbilty and
absolute right to dictate the nominations
of the republican party.
8. A great deal Is said about MIR. Blaine
being ''machine man." one who has
risen to his present position by the use of
government patronage. The fact is pa
tent to everybody that reads the news
papers that such an assertion is entirely
false. When Mr.. Blaine was a candidate
for the Presidential nomination in 1876.
he had to contend with the office-holders.
under Grant. who opposed him. In 1880.
the same power. under the immediate
lead Of Conkliug. defeated Blaine in the
national convention. This year. President
Arthur. with all the strength of the ad-
ministration to support him. was the
chief opponent of the Blaine men in con-
vention who succeeded in nominating the
latter against and in spite Of the office
holding power. 1t was the name of
Blaine that broke the ''unit rule" that
potent, instrument of the machine :" and
his friends and supporters in New York
and Pennsylvania are they who broke ring
rule in those States and restored in large
measure the influence OF the prim-
aries therein. 1t is only inexcus-
able ignorance or stupidity. or brazen
falsehood which charges Mr.. Blaine with
being an "office broker" machine
man. Mr.. Blaine has held no office for
three years. and been without power to
help anybody to office. We have pre-
sumed this to be generally known. but it
seems the adversaries of Mr.. Blaine have
no limit to their effrontery and believe
the common people to be without knowl-
edge, sense. or conscience.
Let these few plain facts be borne in
mind. They are the simple truth. that
will stand against every attempt that may
be made to obscure, distort or overturn
them. The ISLANDERS against Mr.. Blaine
as man have been well answered by
those whose word is beyond successful
dispute. The charges as to his use of dis
honorable methods in politics have not The
weight Of feather against the foregoing
open and undeniable facts.