The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-07-05
The sMadigan Circular
From tie 1lbnnu Aral,s.

From tie Albdny argus.
The Argus has the word of Ex-Governor
Harris NJ. Plaisted, of Maine, that, to his per-
sonal knowledge, James G. Blaine is the au-
thor ofthe circular inserted within this article.
The circular was employed in the 1875 politi-
cal campaign by the Republican State COM
mittee Of Maine, and of that committee Mr..
Blaine was then the chairman. 1t was used
in the Fourth Congressional district of that
State, and thousands upon thousands of it
were sent to voters, under the orders and by
the hand of James G.. Blaine. This is the
circular:
Do the Protestant Democrats of the Fourth
district desire to be represented in Congress
by Roman Catholic? James C. Madigan,
the Democratic candidate for Congress in the
Fourth district, is very Jealous Roman
Catholic. 1t is believed by many that he is a
lay member of the secret order of Jesuits,
just as the late Senator Casserly of California
was. Casserly was elected to the Senate by
by Jesuit money-S1O0,000 contributed by
that order-and the fact being discovered,
Casserly at once resigned his seat, rather than
stand an investigation, and thus expose the
workings of the order. In Ohio and other
States the Catholics are striving to destroy
the only avenue of education left open to the
children of the poor. They say, "We will
have church schools instead" and thus let
loose the worst of theological quarrels over
the land. 1t is great gain to the Catholics
to get these prominent men in Congress.
They have now four members of the United
States Senate, one each from the States OF
New York, Missouri, Virginia and Florida.
The whole energy of the Catholic church is
now exerted to increase its power in the Con-
gress of the United States. The Papists
81. fba racult of Madl-
gan's campaign in this district, and it will be
hailed everywhere as great triumph for the
Catholics, if a New England Protestant dis
trict sends Roman Catholic to represent it
in Congress Are the Protestant Democrats
of the Fourth district willing to aid in building
up the Roman hierarchy? Answer at the
POLLS on the 18th of September, and if you do
not feel willing to vote for General Plaisted,
at least cut Madigan's name off your regular
Democratic ticket Remember that you owe
more to religious sentiments than you do to
your party and the proper rebuke to your
party for asking you to vote for Roman
Catholic is to support General Conner for
Governor and General Plaisted for Congress.
81. . PROTESTANT DEMOCRAT.
This circular, written by Mr.. Blaine, and
signed in a deceiving and untrue manner, ac-
cording to Elk Governor Plaisted, was issued
against Mr.. James c. Madigan, the Demo
cratic candidate for Congress in that district.
He was an American, born of Irish parents,
a respected lawyer and citizen. His religion
was Catholic. The candidate opposing him
was the Hon. Harris NJ. Plaisted, already re-
ferred to. The appeal made to prejudice in
the circular elected Plaisted and defeated
Madigan. 1t viii be recalled that Mr.. Plais.
ted afterward left the Republican party, and
in 1880 became Governor of Maine, elected on
a fusion ticket. He everywhere bears the
reputation of truthful man. He says that
Blaine wrote the circular and that he saw
him do it. Mr.. Blaine has made no denial OF
the allegation. 1t will be impossible for him
to deny that he franked thousands of copies OF
the circulars to voters, for they received them,
and many of his franked envelopes are pre-
served.