The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-09
PUBLIC REGARD FOR TRUTH.
Blaine's Mendacity and Tergiversations
the Causes of His Defeat.

Blaine's Mendacity and Tergiversations
the Causes Of His Defeat
Blaine recently said that the nomina-
ton for the Presidency had been thrust
at him, and he did not feel justified in
declining it. This is political, or, more
strictly speaking, parliamentary Ian
guage of that nature coming more gem
erally into use among politicians as the
world grows older
There Is no reason why politician
should not tell the truth. He has to
mix with all classes of people; sees all
phases of life; possesses rare opportuni-
ties for the study of human nature, and.
if originally without a talent for close
observation, his constant intercourse
with men should OF itself nourish into
activity even his most latent possessions
of the perceptive quality and cause him
to learn the one fact which his observa-
ton surely teaches-namely, that peo-
pie demand truthful utterances from
public men. Taey are supposed to
speak. for the masses, and therefore
their responsibility is all the greater.
John Stuart NIL was once invited to
stand for Parliamen. by few friends
who knew his great ability. He con-
Sented, but he was generally unknown
to the people of that particular district
The voting population was made
up largely of wOrkingmen. His op-
ponent, who regarded his candidacy
with indifference, had, he was GER
tain. one bomb which. Wien exploded,
would shatter Mills slightest chance of
success. 1t was n report that had been
raked up from the past to the effect that
Mill had once said that "the working
classes of England are given to lying"
Did you ever make that remark ?''
asked Mills opponent at an immense
mass meeting composed almost entirely
OF the wOrking-classes- Mills straight
ened himself, looked the man in the
eye. and said simply: II did" That
was all-no explanation; no equivalent.
What was the result? That meeting,
made up as it was of the working
classes, sent forth Il shout of applause
which shook the building. Here was
public man who had the courage to tell
the truth about a remark he had made,
although the truth appeared damaging
to h IN. He had made an assertion he
should not have made, but he did not
attempt to escape the penalty by equiv
ocation. 1t elected Mill. These people
whom he had once dspraised realized
that they would get in him a man
whose word they could RELY upon They
felt that here at least was one public
man who was not given to lying.
If one cause more than another can
be given for BIaine's defeat it is to be
found N the fact that the people had
ceased to believe what he said. He had
made so many misstatementS that the
public wanted the aiiidavits TO substan-
tiate his utterances. He had made that
so surprisingly common among
public men-namely, that the people
can be fooled more than once. 1t is
contrary fact that the masses are like a
child. One untruth can forfeit a trust
of years. And Blaine has lied repeat
edly, but never so tranSparently aS
when he avowed that he did rot try to
get the Republican nomination for the
His last reported utterance is that he
will never again be candidate. But
who believes HIN? Who can believe
him? Because a man is a Republican
it is not necessarily held that he is a
liar. Because a man is public man it
is not necessarily held that all public
men are liars. But Blaine as being
Republican and public man
has been shining exempliiication of
the fact that both Republicans and pub
lic men can lie and do lie too often--
Richmond (Ed.) State