The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-10-16

A-AO iOIuCi dppCaiCQ tlC
New York papers on tho morning of
the 7th: ss.s4 -.
BROOKLYN, N. Y, Oct 6, 1884,
!. To GENERAL r. A. AL1ER, Candidate for
the Gubernatorial Office in Michigan-Dear
Sir: The publication of your telegram to Mr..
James f. Joy, of Detroit, but now in London,
and his reply, compels me to publish the facts
of an interview with him at his house, at or
about September 20. 1877, in order to clear my
against him. have steadily refused to give
at the hospi:able board of private house.
public man had right to mention it pri-
vately among my intimate friends. In what
way the partial and imperfect story of that
interview got into the newspapers / do not
know. Certainly not with my knowledge or
privity. Misled by these reports you tele.
"DErRoIT, Sept 30, 1884.
Joy, care Brown, Shipley Co., London:
a Sane = x otter to agpoRRt RdS Sommttee to suit
handst henry Ward Beecher says you told
him ne did. ALGER."
kind, as You shall soon1see. 1t was easy for
Mr. JOY to reply:
"R. A. ALGER, Detroit, Mich: Blame
never made me any offer to appoint COM
mittee to suit me in any manner or form or
for any consideration Of any kind Ehatevsr.
Please send to him the following nara
tive, and YOU may depend upon it Mr.. JOY
will not contradict it's substantial accuracy;
neither will any one of the several gentle
men who were at the table with me, nor will
other witnesses. Not a few deny that the
same substantial statements have been made
by Mr.. Joy to others not infrequentIy.
Toward the close of the dinner, September
Ss 1877, political matters were introduced, and
the nomination that went to Hayes. Mr.. Joy
spoke with contemptuous severity of Mr.
Blaine, and gave this statement: when a
a1fhculty occurred in regard to certain lands
in the Southwest in which was interested
committee was about to be appointed by Con-
Speaker Of the House. Through friend
asked Mr.: Blaine to have one sound lawyer
appointed on that committee, did not care
lawyer In IA a day OF two two Mr.. Blaine Blaine s sent In me
word through friend that he had certain de-
preciated bonds, aud that il l would enable
mittee as wanted it. can not forget with
what cutting scorn Mr.. Joy leaned back in his
and he added: 81 refused the offer, and as
the courts soon settled the matter. no COM
mittee was appointed" zs =
question, nor of the bonds alluded to, but
did understand fully Mr.. Joys. opinion of
James G. Blaine. What changed Mr.. Joys
notion and led hlm to nominate Mr.. Blaine at
the Chicago Convention in 1880 I do not know
It can probably be found out by inquiring of
who hardly found language bitter enough for
years to 1nveigh against Mr.. Blaine, and who
now can not find language to pour contempt
Mr.. Blaine in the Presidential chair.
/ shall not prolong this letter by narrating
Mr.. Blaine's views of the matters in an inter-
view with me which took place after my
speech at Cooper Union during the Garfield
canvass, at his own request in the Fifth Ave-
nue. Hotel. can hardly believe that he has
forgotten that.
l can not but admit the indomitable pluck
with which Mr.. Blaine is defending himself
against such cloud of charges as was never
made against any other Presidential candI-
date since the Government began. Yet can
not allow myself to be misled by sympathy
with his undoubted kind-heartedness, courage
and audacity. Unsound in s.atesmauike
Judgment, unscrupulous in political methods,
dim-eyed in perceiying the distinction be-
tween truth and untruth, absorbingly ambi-
tious. but short sighted as to the methods of
gratifying his ambition, but, with a genial So
cial disposition and brilliant rhetorical ca
pacity. Mr.. Blaine makes an alluring candi-
date, but would make dangerous President.
pray you to excuse my adding to the cares
of your canvass by consideration OF these
matters. 1t was, however. but just to you to
point out how misleading was your telegram
to Mr.. Joy. and how irrelevant to the subject
matter was his reply.
HENRY WARD BEECHRR