The Portland daily press., 1884-09-19
The Latest Blaine Letters.
What Gov. Robinson of Massachusetts
has to Say of Them.
(FrOm recent speech at Springfield,

NS0AAhS win puDliC QuobbiOu6t Wuotu6E u6 DO
one that speaks from public platform or
simply one who is busy with his own concerns,
in dealing with every problem of citizenship it
is his business to keep abreast of the times, to
know what is going on, and now, within the
last two days we have had spread before the
the people of the Common wealth, yes, before
the eyes and ears of the people of the
country, what is said to be fresh and new evil
dence bearing against the character of Mr.
Blaine. do not allude to the famous publi-
cations that have been discussed and discussed.
You, gentlemen, know have your own opin-
ions about them. l will not attempt to state
them or their substance. To compare these
long statements with each other, point by point
would take more time now than We have at
our command; but We are bound tonight, here
and now, am by myself and you are each one
BY yourselves, to find out whether there is
anything new and damaging in what has
| recently come out, because nv vote rests uDon
my own Judgment, that is all, and yours has as
good foundation as that-your own common
sense and honesty. Let us look into those
letters that have been published within day
or two to see what there is new in them. One
thing is entirely new; now let US look at it.
There are three letters that refer to the es-
tablishment of a national bank in Little Rock
Arkansas. Now, it is not a charge against a
man that he has some concern with national
bank. By no means. 1t is of no consequence
in this discussion unless it be made to appear
that Mr.. Blaine was in some way improperly
connected with that enterprise 1t would not
hold ii he were an officer in that institution
The only question you want to know is, did he
do anything wrong about that bank, and now
what do the letters show? Read them for
yourselves, don't take my word for anything,
take your own eyesight and sense. The first
one, writteniin 1869, during the vacation of
Congress, from Augusta, Me, states what?
that there was likely to be an increase Of bank
ing capital allowed at the next session of Con-
gress, and that it would probably be distributed
IN the Southwest. In it the suggestion was
made to Mr. Fisher, the gentleman to whom
1t was written, possibly you and your friends
might like to establish bank there" They
were connected with railroad enterprises there.
Here may be an opportunity, and Mr.. Blaine
offers his assistance to aid in getting the
establishment of a bank out there. Now what
Is there about 1t besides that? Nothing what
ever. There is another letter which treats of
the same subject, but only briefly, and there is
another which describes the character of the
bonds which must be used as basis of their
circulation. What is there in the letter that
is specious, as it is said? The expression ia
used, these matters are decided by favoritism,
and then, he says 81 may be able to aid you.'
These are the two expressions. Take them
for what they are worth. What was Mr..
Blaine's connection with the establishment Of
that bank? and what could it be? He was
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Congress would pass a law providing for more
banking capital, and perhaps it would be 10
Gated In the South aud West, although that
was not probable. Does Congress decide just
where the banks shall be or who shall be given
their charters? Does Congress have any
voice in the matter? No. Who? The secre-
tary OF the treasury or the comptroller of the
currency. 1t is purely an executive duty, not
a legislative. Does anybody argue that that
bank was to be established without any
capital as special favor to Mr.. Blaine? that
they were going to get $4500O0 in bills for
circulation without putting anything In? No
body says that; 1t would be frivolous, and what
did the information amount to? What oould II
accomplish? Nothing as understand it ex.
cept that which every member of Congress is
glad to provide his constituents, for want to
tell you that member of Congress is a first
class errand boy for everybody in the Common
wealth. say for constituents YES These
were not in Maine, you say But so far as the
motive and the purpose and the correctness of
the act were concerned, / fail to see where it |
makes any difference whether the bank was |
established In Arkansas or Maine. AT all |
events, there seems to be no doubt that Mr. |
Blaine said to the comptroller of the CURRENCY, |
THESE gentlemen want bank in Little Rock
l am informed the bank was established there.
So far as is known It has never failed or
cheated its creditors. That is all can find in
the bank matter. Applause.l And, gentle-
men, l want to say one thing frankly and
directly, while you are following critically, al
you should, every public man, consider vour
reiatlons 10 pubic servants, and If it Is wrong
Tor your member in Washington to intercede
In your behalf in any way there, 1 suggest that
you be a little modest in doing it. Zap
plause.
Now, in regard to the other portions of that
publication. There is reference to that tran
saction that was described quite at length and
that has been subject of discussion for eight
years. What was charged against Mr. Blaine
at the outset in that matter? This: that he |
used ms p9ohc position for private and person
al gain. Now, if he did, he deserves our CON-
domination, If he did not, then of course we |
have no right TO put him under suspicion after |
We have had an opportunity for investigation |
10 these letters do anything to support that |
charge? l fail to find it, These letters on |
the contrary, show that Mr.. Blaine found him
self In an unfortunate position. He had at |
tempted speculation and had not succeeded,
what does he say to these men to whom he |
was wrinngY II am only an innocent party |
In this transaction" OF course Won saw he |
would say that to men outside; but as to t6ese |
two men the charge is, he was in connivance |
with them. II he was they knew il, and il |
they knew 1t and he knew it, do you think he
IS so lacking in sense that he would write
them that he was an innocent party in the en-. |
terprise? That is not the way men do who set |
out by connlvance and fraud to overreach 9TH
srs. In the next place, you will notice let |
ter, the last one in the series, in which the |
statement is made that he wished Mr. Fisher |
TO sign what was false from beginning to end.
That is serious charge. There are circum- |
stances. it is claimed, which sustain that asser
ton. But look again. In the very letter
which he sent enclosing the one for signature
he writes the man who knew, Just as well az |
be did, all about 1t land he didn't write it for |
publication, either-bear that in mind; there |
was private" at the top of it, and "burn it |
up at the bottom): "These statements are
frnn and hAv.A Il4 Ill l.
and will stop the mouth of SANDER" have |
yet to ind or see any explanation of that Ian |
guage, written, it is claimed, by man who
knew he was a rascal, to another who was
rascal, which will clear out that claim. II
they were OF that character such language as
"These statements are strictly true'' would
not have been used between them. find,
then, am bound to say in Justice to him. in
Justice to the good sense of he people. in JUS
tice to my SELF there is no support of the charge
that was made against him as basis for the in
vestigation OF eight years ago. Applause 1t
is said however, that this is fresh evidence that
Mr.. Blaine is guilty of falsehood, or has been
at some time. That seems to be coming down
pretty close to the domain of private life, with
which the public have no concern, you know.
Applause | am bound TO go further and
say that it Is a question of the consideration OF
papers not yet produced. 1t must be evident
to anybody who has examined the series that
not all are produced. Mr.. Blaine has no oppor-
tunity in paper to reply, and under the cir
cumstances, with the charges falling around
in every other way, 1 think we may safely say
that 1t ia only the part of reasonable prudence
and fairness to withhold that accusation
When there is reasonable opportunity have
no doubt Mr.. Blaine will meet these charges
AT all events instead of saying to the men who
make the charges against him, "Tell the
truth" he says Bring the men into court and
will meet them" Now, gentlemen, know
very we'll that have not exhausted the dis
cussion of that branch of the question, but
say to you that you are bound to read and
Judgefor yourselves, not to take my words as
any authority in the matter. Mr.. Blaine says,
as you know, speaking for himself, IT want
the whole American people to read all those let
tiers, and will cheerfully abide by the result"
When the gentleman against whom charges of
this character are made, thus openly and
frankly makes that statement, take him at his
word, and as honest men look for yourselves
What we say in public places is discussed
thereafter and criticised, and opportunities
will not be afforded to make a reply; but il
each one will carefully consider these charges,
we Will not take his name from the flag. APP
plause John A. Logan speaks for himself.
lApplause.I We are content to match him
alongside his opponent applausel, and
though | prize education very highly, and
though would have man cultivated and
adorned to the full, at gthe same time have
good deal of respect for that old hard sense,
that common honesty and loval patriotism,
which have actuated John A Logan for more
than twenty years. Applause.