Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-09-24
THOSE LETTERS.

The further edition of the Muligan
letters recently published shows: l.
That the mode in which Mr. Blaine ex-
pected to be useful to the Little Rock &
Fort Smith enterprise was not, as Carl
Schurz foolishiy insinuated, by future
rulings which he would bave occasion to
make as Speaker, but by placing con-
siderable block Of the stock among his
Maine friends. This he actually did to
the extent of $125,000, forwarding to
Fisher t1e subscriptions and money re-
ceived, and in addition making loan of
$25, 900 of his own money for witch lie
was promised good notes and $50 600 of
the Little Rock & Fort Smith bonds as
security, which Mr.. r...Blane had considera-
bic difficulty in getting,It indeed he ever
got them. In short. Mr. Fisber sharper
aud probably blackmailer who probably
early in the trans cton showed that he
had discovered that Blaine was extremely
sensitive as to anything that could affect
his reputation, and hence was in favor.
able condition to be bied, bulied and i'm
posed upon by Fisher
These letters do not constitute a
complete narrative N any transaction,
and much additional information is es-
sential to understand upon what basis of
facts they were actually written. Mr..
Fisher and Mr.. Blame put quite unlike
constructions on the same transactions.
Mr.. Blaine seems not at all to have
feared that anything he was doing in
! placing stock among his friends wnGld be
| looked on as casting stigma on his
| public lite, but was fearful that the friends
among whom he was placing the stock
might, if it turned out badly, or if it were
known that he obtainsd a commission
out Of it. hold in less esteem his private
honor. This was the source of the
modification and mental hardship 10
which he so frequently refers, and in
this point of view he ultimately retrieved
himself by taking the entire stock from
his friends, making ihem whole and
bearing the loss himself.
3. Meanwhile the letters indicate,
without fully revealing, tha; the whole
sum which Blaine was to receive i'm
commissions was converted into loan to
Fisher that Pratt negotiated, and when
due Blame had to take up the notes given
for it In what way, if at ALL Blaine
got whole with Fisher on this transaction
is not indicated.
4. Fisher was bad egg. He went
Blane's influence and money deliberately
intending to pay him for both with in
timdation and slander, and he has done
it Fisher refused to sign the straight
forward vindication Of Blaine which the
latter asked him to sign.
Mr.. Caldwell, however, is more hon
est man He did not hesitate when
called upon by Blaine, as the latter had
perfect righ, TO do, to vindicate Blaine.
A few persons seem to imagine that be-
cause Blaine when in a contest dictates
the terms OF vindication in his favor
that affords some presumption against
the truth. Such persons must have very
little experience in business. 1t raises
no other presumption whatever than that
the person asking for the vindication
knows the nature of the controversy
which calls for it, while the person Civ
ing the vindication does not. Caldwell
was In London, and could not know un-
til he heard by cable what points it was
necessary to yindicate Blaine, because he
could not know at what point their
transactions were attacked.
The following is the letter sent volun-
tarily by Caldwell to Blaine, in which is
included the telegram, which Blaine had
requested Caldwell to send:
No. 115 CANNON STREET. LONDON. E.
c., June 8, 1876.-The Hon J. G. Blaine.
Dear Sir: | read in the New York pa
pers OF the 18th ult. Colonel Scott's evi-
dence before the Congressional committee
and | at once cabled him as follows:
"Ihos. A. Scott, Philadelphia: Your
statement before the Congressional com
mittee on the 10Th, relating to the Fort
Smith Railroad bonds which you pur-
chased OF me, is perfectly correct. [ can
more fully substantiate it if necessary.
have also cabled the Chairman of
the Judiciary Committee as follows:
Have just read in the New York pa
pers Scotts evidence about orr bond
transactions, and fully corrobate it. Il
never gave Blaine any Fort Smith rail-
way bonds, directly or otherwise. II
have three foreign railway contracts upon
my hands which make it impossible for
me to leave without great pecuniary loss.
or would gladly voluntarily come home
and SO testify Can make affidavit to
this effect, and mail if desired.
am very sorry that | am not able to
60 personally before the committee and
give my testimony but [ presume that
Colonel Scott's evidence will be sufficient