The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-06-23
Hon. Newton G. Blanchard Explains.
Letter to Editor of Arcadia Advance.

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: Letter to Editor of Arcadia Advance.
g WASHINGTON, June 1, 17S6.-You do nj
t great injustice in the article which az
pcarcd in your paper of tho 10Th of May
entitled "That Scheme" l had expecte,
, Misrepresentation from certain quarter
, but hardly from the 1drance.
} I, of course, had nothing to do with tn
publication in the DeSoto Democrat SOM
time ago of the editorial headed ga Mic,
Political Scheme" But seeing it, and be
lieving then as do now that the editor
of the Democrat had good grounds for the
exposure he made, l requested some o.
the diapers in the district (yours among
thcm) to reproduce the article, and be-
sides sent number of copies of it through
the district accompanied by statement
calling attention to it. That is the height
of my offending. And for this you accuse
me ofengaging in ''chcap electioneering
schemes" of hawking around" the names
of certain gentlemen, of "aiding and
abetting" in the publication" in tho pub
LEGATION of a malicious slander" etc., and
declare that have committed IA crime"
which "cannot be easily forgiven" and at
which Every nature revolts"-that of the
attempted pollution" of the names of
gentlemen, and of "taking mean ad-
vantage"
Your bill of indictment is "a stunner'-
its counts numerous, its charges grave.
You must, nevertheless permit me to
enter the plea of 'not guilty."
You have, apparently, misunderstood
my purpose, misconstrued my motive and
placed upon this matter an Interpretation
not warranted by the facts.
In requesting the republication of the
De Soto Democrats article, and in distrib-
uting copies of it i'll the district, nothing
was further from my intention than re-
lection Oh Messrs. Sutherlin, Watkins,
Ogden, Stringfellow and Blackman,
whose names were mentioned in the Dem
ocrats article. Nor did the editor of the
Democrat, in mentioning their names, in
tend the slightest disrespcct, and it can
not possibly be so considered except by
distortion. He was merely giving the
project of ''the scheme" rs narrated to
him by the schemer who was endeayoring
to work it up. Not that the gentlemen
named were engaged in ''the scheme" OF
even know that their names were being
used in connection with it, but that was
the plan Of the conspirators as unfolded
to the editor of tho Democrat by one of
them. With this plan, none of the gen.
tlemen named in connection with it had
to do, and no one has ever so
stated, or done anything from which it
could be inferred.
The plan is outlined to the editor of the
Democrat was promptly and properly en-
posed by him. l desire the people of the
district to know that Certain schemcrs."
lot the gentlemen named in the article
'ut certain other parties - had formed
UGH plan and were attempting to put
into execution, and, hence, asked other
'apers to reproduce the Democrats expo-
ure. That this plan was an ATTEMPT ut
fraud on the people" and "an inius-
ice on myself" few will be found to de-
y, and yet those who so think are not to
70 considered as believing that Judge ,
Watkins, Mr.. stringfellow, OF the other
cntlemen named, wonld for a moment
such a thing. No, sir, you
annot put me in that attitude. l did 6
OF intend any reflection upon them by +
'eking to disseminate among the people 4
le facts of the sheme as unfolded by one s
the plotters to the editor Of the Demo- s
at. Several of The gentlemen named
ave been for years, and are now, friends
II whom entertain great respect and
teen, and l believe am incapable of
'lng anything to injure their good name. !,
N. G. BLANCHARD. -