The Mineral argus., 1884-10-09
a Vivid Portrait by a Massachusetts
Republican, Judge.

cannot upon my conscience support James
g. Blaine. LApplause.l have lived to see
the Republican party defy the moral sense Of
the country. 1 nave lived 10 see orators ana
journalists Of that party sneer at the senti.
ment of conscience from which that mart,
drew the breath of life. AS a test of fealtv -
that party, they require me to support a man
who prostituted the Office Of Speaker Of the
House of Representatives to aid him A
stock-broker and jobber, in PLAYING upoD
the hopes and fears of the speculators
and adventurous who were his chosen
companions; who as a Senator chiefly distin-
guished himself as a shameless demagogue in
selecting a memorial service to William King
as an occasion for venting his spite upon
Massachusetts by defaming her history, and as
secretary of state rendered his short career
memorable only as a breaker and disturber of
the peace among nations. Let others, if they
will, e their knee to the man who bent the
knee to James Mulligan. l scoTn the homage.
This presidential election is both a test and a
training of the character of the American peo-
pie. Says Wendell Phillips, "The character Of
a state is well shown by the character of those
she WINS. Still more profound was the
saying of the Greek orator, centuries ago, SIT
is not your palestras or your schools that in
struct your youth, but much more your be-
stowal of public honors."
The character of the people will be such as
the character Of those you crown. Mr.. Blaine is
held forth to the young men Of the land as an
ideal Republican candidate" The phrases Of
chivalry are invoked to do him honor. Men Of
Massachusetts,, read the Mulligan letters, and
see your Plumed Knight full drawn by himself
in those letters which were not burned. II
You would have a picturesque background and
some interesting pastures of your knight, read
Mr.. Mulligan's t~estimony-which Senator HoaI
majestically waves aside. But in my expert.
ence of trials / never knew the testimony Of a
DISTINGUISHED and unimpeached witness SET
aside merely because his testimony was not
agreeable to the accused. But If you take Mr..
Blaine's letter alone, what do you think Of
of your hero? Mr.. Blaine's advice is to read
them. TIL Boston Journal goes beyond the as
surance of its candidate and says, cit will help
rather than inJure HIM" When you read these
letters, remember that they were written bya
man holding q position of which, a few
nights ago, George S Boutwell, spoke
as follows: ''The speaker, until his commit
tees are appointed, is the most potential be-
ing in the United States. He shapes all your
pOlicies-everything of yours, in fact" AT
the close of tins correspondence, this knight
writes out a certificate Of character for Mr..
Fisher to sign: 'Your conduct was in the
highest degree honorable and straightforward
If l were to adopt it and repeat it, should ]
not be thought satirical? Mr.. Blaine, in a word,
has precisely those vices of mind and charac-
ter that prevent the most brilliant demagogism
from ever rising to the plane of wise states
manship.
One more picture Of the Plumed Knight at
Augusta. See his courage in voting on the
prohibition amendment 1t was late in the
afternoon, and the ladies had all gone, and he
walked in and voted for everything else except
the question which most concerned the people
of Maine. Now, talk about not having the
courage of his convictions-he has no convic-
tions. -Boston Transcript Report of the Ire
mont Temple Speech of the Hon. Robert C.
Pitman.