Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-10
The Joy Blaine Affair
MR ALGER ASKS Mr. BEEcHER TO lSvEsTT
GATE AND EXPLAIN.
DE1RoIr. MICH Oct. s

DETROIT. MICH Oct
The following open letter from General X.
A. Alger of this city to Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher was made public last night:
DETROIT, Mich. Oct. I. 1884.
TO the Rev Henry Ward Beechrr, Brook
lyn, \. Y.
DEAR SIR,-The newspapers of to-day
publish Your letter of yesterdays date direct
ed to me concerning the Joy-Blaine Little
Rock bonds affair, and possibly in due course
of mail may receive the original letter
from You. However, | hasten to reply
through the same medium which brought
your letter to my notice. | beg to inform
you that where Mr.. Joy is known he is not
considered to be the guileless individual who
can be mi.led by a cableQram from any per
son, nor is he a man to allow the character
Of another to BE- unjustly furnished when it
is in his power to do justice. My cable to
Mr. Joy was intended to call his attention to
the Little Rock bonds affair, a matter which
he doubtless understands thoroughly, and
believe his reply, clean cut as it is, was in
tended to refute the whole scandal. | had
conversation with Mr.. Joy some years ago
concerning this matter, and before his nom
mating speech of MIR. Blaine in 1880, and
although | cannot give you the full details OF
that, the clear impression left upon my mind
was that he at the time the proposition was
made to him by some third parties to take
certain bonds in Washington supposed the
proposition came from Mr. Blaine, but sub
sequently became convinced that the parties
themselves were the ones who were trying II
sell the bonds. and that he had done Mr.
Blaine an injustice Doubtless, had he re-
membered mentioning the matter to you, he
H.
of it had an opportunity been given
him. This impression was so strong in my
mind that, when | saw your communication
concerning the affair, at once cabled Mr.
JOY and received the reply expe cted, and I
have no doubt he intended to fully and
thoroughly refute every charge against Mr.
Blaine in connection with the affair. Mr..
JOY is not the man to beat round the bush
and say things he does not mean, nor shirk
any responsibility, and those who know him
know that he deals in no uncertain language
in whatever he has to say, and that he never
lodges an issue.
1t seems TO me incredible that any business
man should believe Mr. Blaine so weak as to
send such proposition TO another business
man as was allie ed in this matter. and thus
allow himself to be subjected to ruin, even
tough he had no moral objection tG making
such criminal proposition purported to have
been made in this charge. If believed him
so weak would not support him for the pres
idpncy though he might be as pure as st. Paul
himself
When MIR JOY returns from Europe hope
you will seize the first opportunity to have an
interview with him. and if YOU find you are
doing MIR. Blaine an injustice, as thorough
ly believe you are, that you will publicly
apologize to the American people for the
wrong you have done him and the republican
party, as you have been active in trying to
ruin both Mr.. Joy is not the man to have
accepted the great trust he did in 1880 when
he presented the name of Mr.. Blaine to the
Chicago convention Tor the nomination of
President. had he believed him guilty of any
unfair dealing or of prostituting his high
office for gain.
(Signed) Il. A. ALGER, Republican
A. w. SMITH State Com.