The Portland daily press., 1884-04-28

| commerce among the nations of this continent,
| and refraining from European complications.
| The charge Of packing conventions needs no
answer. This is the third Presidential cam
] paIgn in which Mr.. Blaine has been undeni-
ably the choice of a large proportion of the
Republican party. In each of them be has
| had the active opposition of the National Adj
mlnlstration, with the use of its patronage
against him. He has control OF no patronage.
ne mas no machine. Machine and patronage
nave been steadily against him. WhateYel
prominence he has enjoyed has been conferred
ny me people. He has no means not open &c
SVery CITIZEN of influencing public opinion.
no campaign in his favor originated elsewhere
Va w "hlong Tue people. He has never sought
oihce' lie never held position to which he
was not nominated by the unanimous voice of
ms party. He has not sought the Presidency.
circumstances made him a candidate in 1S76.
aiInosE DSfofe he was aware of it, In 1870 he
did not wish TO enter the Canvass T Was ono
OF q small party OF intimate friends wAo in
long conversation in February, 1880, persuaded
MIN That 1t was his duty. He has done nothing
10 make himself a candidate this year. He
mas asked no mans support. He has written no
ieIGers, neld no conversation, taken no stems
looking to his candidacy. He has never said
to his most intimate friends that he expected
or wanted the nomination
II, upon review o. the whole case, Won
snonld charge that it would have bean heftar
ana wiser for Mr.. Blaine to have RETAINED
that had directly or indirectly receiyad ga
from the legislation of Congress, should he
ready to agree with you, not because the thing
was necessarily wrong i'll ITSELF but because IL
Is easy ioF such matters to be 80 Representatives
70 appear wrong. But why should Mr.. Blaine
De selected for special reprobation and criti-
clsm when SO many other Senators and
representatives have been similarly situ.
ateo? | know of my own knowledge
mat g Gayernor Morgan, Mr. Hooper,
senator Grimes and many of my friends
while in Congress acquired and held interests
IN such enterprises, and neither you, nor /. nor
the people. suspected the transaction to be
wrong or that 1t gave them an advantage over
other investors. Why entertain and Dublisb
that suspicion against Mr.. Blaine alone?When
sat as a delegate at large in the last National
convention, Senator Edmunds and Senator
WINDOW we're both candidates, and shonld
gladly have supported either. Senator Ed
mun0s was understood TO have a block of Bnl-
lington and Missouri securities, and the otbfr
aad not only block In the securities of tie
Northern Pacific Company, but was one ofits
directors. Yet you find no fault With these
gentlemen, Nor Would you and differ in
giving the highest rank to Senator Grimes, but
both he and Senator Edmunds acquired their
interests in the Burlington aud Missouri roads
while they were IN the Senate. They both GER
tainly supported the bill to restore the land
grant to their road, passed on tho same day
with The Little Rock bill. Both measures
were JUST, and both we're passed in the Houss
and Senate without dissenting vote, WIZ
must we suspect that Mr.. Blaine had asecret
and corrupt motive and that other membe.s
and Senators had none?
Let me add Circumstance which seems to
me to be significant of Mr.. Blaine's conssicns
Innocence in this Fort Smith transaction. He
voluntarily made himself party of recosd in
snlt against the Fort Smith and Little lock
Railway Company in the United States Curt
which involved the nature and source OF his
ownership in the property. II he had obtsiI-
ed this ownership dishonorably would he havC
courted this publicity
have thus vedturedj Mr.. Editor, to MAKE
answer to the charges you have brought
against Mr.. Blaine. There are other charges
equally baseless which have read, but in otl-
er papers. SO that may not claim your spa.e
TO deny or answer them. / give two exampbs
Mr.. Blaine IS represented as the possessor II
millions, while ] know that he was never tie
possessof of the half OF one million. lie WIS
represented as living for the past ten years n
palatlai grandeur in Washington. He sod
that palatial mansion, with all its furnituri,
to Mr.. Travers for $24, 600, and got all it Wis
worth. But You are responsible for sucl
onarges as you have made, and have ther-
fore made answer TO them authoritatively Over
my own name, and / challenge denial Of
any substantial fact l have stated Your at
tacks are notion Mr.. Blaine alone, they are on
his friends as we'll, and these are certainly a
larger and more devoted body of supporters
than can bs claimed by any other man in pub-
lie lie. II sc ems to me as I recall those in
every station who are proud to be numbered
among them that I recognize many of the
ablest, truest and most honorable Of our coun-
trymen. am respectfully yours,
WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS.