The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-08
The Topic of Discussion Being Mr.. Beecher's
Charge of Official Corruption on
the Part of Mr.. Blaine,
And the Prompt and Explicit Denial
Entered by the Hon. James +. JOy
Samuel J. Tilden Also Indulges in EpistOlary
Politics, ExtOlling the Democracy and
Lamenting Republican Depravity.
ALGER TO BEECHER.
Mr.. Joy Was Not Misled, and viii Fully
Exonerate Mr.. Blaine.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
DETROIT, Mich. Oct THE following open
letter from General R. A. Alger, of this city, to
Henry Ward Beecher, is made public day:
DETROIT, Mich, Oct. T.
To the Rev. Henry Ward Beeche Brooklyn, N. Y:
Dear Sir-The newspapers of to-day publish
your letter of yesterdays date, directed to me,
concerning the JOY Blaine Little Rock bonds
affair, and possibly, in due course of mail, may
receive the original letter from you. However,
l hasten to reply through the same medium
whick brought your letter to my notice. 1 beg
to inform you that where Mr..
Joy, is known, he is not ,consid,,
cred to be the guileless individual
who can be misled by cablegram from any
person, nor is he man to allow the character
of another to be unjustly tarnished when it is in
his power to be just. My cablegram to Mr.. Joy
was intended to call his attention TO the Little
Rock bonds affair, matter which he, doubt
less, understands thoroughly, and l believe his
reply, clean cut as it is, was intended TO refute
the whole scandal. I had conversation with
Mr.. Joy, some years ago, concerning this matter,
and before his nominating speech of Mr.
Blaine in 1880, and although I cannot
give you the full details of that conversation, the
clear impression left upon my mind was that he
at the time the proposition was made him by
some third parties to take certain bonds in
Washington supposed the proposition came
from Mr.. Blaine, but subsequently became con.
WINGED that the parties themselves were the ones
who were trying to sell the bonds, and that he
had done Mr.. Blaine an injustice Doubtless,
had be remembered mentioning the matter to
you, he would have given you a further ex-
PLANTATION of it, had opportunity been given him.
This impression strong in my mind that,
when | saw your communication concerning
the affair, at once cabled Mr. Joy and received
the reply expected, and nave no doubt he liz
tends to fully and thoroughly refute every
charge against Mr.. Blaine in connection with
the affair Mr. Joy is not the man to beat
around the bush and say things he does not
mean. nor to shrk any responsible ty; and
those who know him know that he deals in no
uncertain language in whatever he has
to say, and that he never lodges
an issue. 1t seems to me incredible
that any business man should believe Mr..
Blaine SO weak as to send such proposition to
another business man as was alleged in this
to ruin, even though he had no moral objections
to making such a criminal proposition as is pur-
ported to have been made in this charge. If
believed him SO weak 1 would not sup
port him for the presidency, though
he might be as pure st. Paul
himself. When Mr. Joy returns from Europe
hope you will seize the first opportunity to
have an interview with him, and if you find you
are doing Mr.. Blaine an injustice as l
thoroughly believe You are that you will as
publicly apologize to the American people for
the wrong you have tNne him and the Repub-
hcan party, as you have been active in trying to
ruin both. Mr.. Joy is not The man to have ac-
cepted the great trust he did in $780, when he
presented the name of Mr.. Blaine to the Chicago
convention for the nomination as President, had
he believed him guilty of any unfair dealing, or
prostitutirg his high Office for gain.
r. A ALGER