The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-06-07
BLA1nR,s RECORD.

BLA1NB's RECORD.
: Mr.. Blaine's nomination to tn,
!. highest office within the gilt of tn,
nation forces his partisans to face tb,
people with his record. Turn which
, way they will they will and their pc
sition embarrassing. To begin with
In the war he had no part except in
urging others to light. In Congress
he was the hired attorney and agent
OF more than one corporation. In
national politics he was ambitious
and selfish. In the Cabinet of Gar
field he was reckless and unscrupu-
lous, and deliberately sought to en-
brojl the country In q war with q for
eign power, touching q matter in
which we had no interest.
While the wal lasted Blaine was q
poor Congressman from Maine. This
is not to his discredit. But when the
wal was over, and the railroad lob.
bies one after another put in their
appearance he found his vocation.
Let us look at it. His first effort was
in connection with tho Little Rock
and Fort Smith railroad land grab.
For his services he claimed his re-
ward and received it. Having pre-
vented the defeat of the grant as
Speaker of the House and saved the
bill, he humbly asked for his ap-
pointment az selling agent of the
bonds in Maine on commission, and
was able to sell them at q good price
to the Union Pacific railroad.
These things happened in 1859. but
Blaine manged to escape exposure
until 1876. At the time of the Credit
Mobilier earthquake he escaped I'M
hurt. He was fortunate. While
Colfax was driven from public life
and a half dozen others were tarFed
with the same stick, Blaine Was un-
scathed. His time came, however, |
in 1876. He was for the first time q |
formidable candidate for the Presi> |
cency. As in the present instance,
his canvass was conducted with char
acteristic beldness, swagger and dash.
Exposure was pending, but he fought
it with courage and resolution. Mr..
Mulligan AN honest and worthy man,
had letters of his of q compromising
MI. Blaine borrowed
them under a solemn promise to re-
turn them and then destroyed them.
But an avenging Nemesis pursued
him. Between his battle for the Gin
cinnati nomination and the bitter
of a hostile committee of
investigation the tension was too
great even for his iron nerves and he
broke down, collapsed and writhed
agony. The telegraph said it was
sunstroke.
His enemies had mercy. They
would not strike him when he was
1own, and he rallied again when the
was past. Out Of pity for a
knight the investigation
vas not concluded. No sooner,
however, had the memory of these
events sunk into semi-forgetfulness
han he buckled on his armor once
more and renewed the contest again
a 1880 at Chicago. He was beaten
gain. All he could then achieve
vas to save the pieces and this he
lid by a bargain with Garfield that
le should be President in TACT while
he other was President in name.
Hhe rest Is fresh in the minds OF all .
eaders of current events. Garfield
vas shot and Blaine usurped the ,
unctions of the Executive and for
he first time in American history p,
he power of the Presidency was {
oddly exercised by a man who had ,
lot even the shadow of a claim {
1t. {
These words sound harsh when \
tered against a man toward whom :
he eyes of the world are now turned q
nd who in the first flush of victory i
receiving the praises of a million '
and the homage of as many =
artisans. But they will be iterated t
reiterated; will be dwelt upon +
= the press and upon the stump I'M =
| every man, woman and child in n
.merica will hear all that can be Il
id against James G.. Blaine. By b
persistently seeking and finally :,
'taining the nomination for the +,
residency he has challenged an in
estlgation of his record as a poll n
clan, as a public servant and as a " "
Should he fall under it he r.
ust charge his disaster to an I'M 10
ambition and an over fr
confidence in the inrce- ~
Atty of men.
TaE HERALD's OPINION. 81
The New York Herald is an inde> w y,
ndent newspaper but during the h(
st two or three Presidential cleo fe
ma IT, hoa violdod 3fo ;rou-. - CO