The Portland daily press., 1884-09-24
Mr.. Blaine and the Late Judge
Folger.
Extracts From n He ter in Which MIR. Fol-
ger Pledged His support to the Bepub.
lican Ticket.

To the Editor Of the Nel0 York Tribune:
Sir,-Some two weeks ago stated in a LETT
ter to the Tribune that the late Judge Folger
earnestly desired the success OF the Prssiden-
tial ticket, and proposed to take some means
to give public expression to his views. My
letter was met by tho World, the Springfield
Republican, and various Of the other organs Of
Democratic dependence aud independence,
with varied forms of their chief argument in
this campaign, which amounted to the brief
reply, "You lie."
1 did not at that time feel at liberty, as 1
now do, to refer to the fact that there had
been correspondence between Judge Folger
and Mr. Blaine on the subject. Late in July
Judge Folger mentioned to a gentleman in
Washington, as he had to me, that he had
received several letters from friends who d.
vided themselves into two classes, in one of
which the writers reported that suDdry lesser
lights OF what used to be- known, before Pres
ident Arthur broke down the division lines,
as the "half breed' wing of the Republican
party were making mischief by incoDsiderate
boasts and taunts to former "stalwarts."
Writers of the other class expressed their opin-
ion that Mr.. Blaine had not favored Judge
Folger's election as Governor in 1882, and in-
timated desire to revenge themselves on him
in 1884. The gentleman to whom Judge Fol-
ger spoke without his knowledge reported the
matter to Mr.. Blaine, who thereupon, on
August A, wrote Judge Folger to the general
effect that such boasts and taunts were unizs-
tifiable, while so far as concerned his action in
1882, he certainly had never intended to say
do anything to divert support from Judge
Folger, and had never heard it suggested that
he had done 80 until after his nomination for
the Presidency.
On August IL, less than month before he
died, Judge Folger wrote Mr.. Blaine letter
dated at Washington in which, after acknowl-
edging the receipt of his letter, aud saying that
circumstances had DELAYED his answer, he said
that what he stated to the Washington gentle
man twas not in the way of complaint, still
less in the way Of dissatisfaction or hostility
In casual conversation in which the pros
poets of the canvass were spoken Of and in
which expressed my hope aud my belief of q
successful issue, 1 incidentally mentioned that
letters from Western New York" showed the
utterance of such boasts and tauuts as 1 have
referred to- 81 expressed regret at this and
wish that in some way such Manifestations
could be depressed. 1t was far from my
thought then, it is far from my belief or expec-
tation now, that there is among the principal
men Of the party, or that there will be, dis
elimination against any branch thereof"
Passing then to the letters referring to an al
legged feeling consequent upon the result in
1882, Judge Folger says:
have been advised by friends that l ought in
speech or letter, to make some public utterance
which will show to my friends that there is no fur
row on my mind, as indeed there is not; that am
really DESTROYS of the OF the Federal Repub-
lican ticket and solictous that every Republican
and every friend of me in the State shall support
it, as indeed am. have replied to these letters
to that effect. have made no such public utter
ance as has been suggested. 1t is not easy to
touch the sore place without iniaming it; and what
is worse, without seeming to desire to infame 1t.
Besides that ill-health and a lethargic
condition of system has made me procrsstinate
everything that would submit to being put off. II
it Is deemed important and likely to be useful L
am willing to take any apt occasion for doing what
ever is desirable in the way of letter. Probably
l will be in New York City the latter part of this
week. have already written to outside Of the
State of New York, and who asked suggestions,
urging them to continue in their support of the
Republican party and its nominees. From one of
them have request, to which L have acceded,
IL at he show my letter to his friends
Allow me, in conclusion, to say that your ex-
pressions of respects are very grateful. 1 thank
you for them. Very sincerely, yours etc. etc.,
CHARLES j. FoLGER.
You will see by this that L was entirely
right when 1 said that Judge Folger vas true
to himself and to his party. Yours,
GEORGE BLISS.
New York, Sept. %, 1884.