Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-22
BLAiNE'S SECOND VOLUME.
A Rrief Review OF lt-Nh lie Says and
What lie DoeSn't Say -Misrepreseuted
on the SILVER Qne>tion.

The second volume OF Mr. Blaine's histor-
ical review of Twenty Years of Congress
opens with the accession of Andrew johnson
To the presidency and closes with the election
of Garfield. Ii begins therefore, Just after
one assination aad pauses upon the threshold
of another like tragedy. The period inter-
vening between these two melancholy events
was crowded with important occurrences
The controversies between Presiden, John
son and Congress, the reconstruction legis.s-
tlon, the constitutional amendment the inn
parchment of Johnson, the Geneva arhitrs-
tion, the resumption of specie payments the
electoral complications OF 1876, the Discus
sion OF silver coinage and the question of the
fisheries are among the grave and critical
questions which tell within this period.
OF all these occurrences, Mr.. Blaine WAS
not only close and well informed observer.
but he was also one of the foremost Of politi.
cal leaders, and had sn active share in the
discussions and legislations of the times.
This narrative combines the research of an
historian with the vividness of an eve witness
and participant, and especially as regards the
leading public men of the period What he
writes has that force and accuracy which.
come with personal observation, and the alb
sence of which could not be supplied by even
by the most painstaking inquiry. There is
apparent throughout his work, a sincere effort
to divest himself of personal or political pre-
possessions, and to treat with fairness those
from whom he differs, yet he does not hesi-
tate to criticse men and measures when the
occasion calls for il.
As we had anticipated there proves to be
no foundation for the reperts circulated in
journals which do not scruple to invent reas-
ons for attacking MIR. Blaine, to the effect
that no won Ia 1aelara fnr tha fraar 90
silver in this volume. He gives a concise
history of the debate in Congress upon this
question, and among the opinions OF senators
at that time he gives his own, as embodied in
his speech, namely. that he favored the coin
age of "such silver dollar as will not only
do justice among our citizens nj home, but
prove an absolute barrcade against gold
mono -metslists" In his summing IN of the
different theories which were held at that
time he says that ma jority Of the democrats
and considerable number of republicans in
Congress believe in free silver coinage; that
a small minority disbelieved in the use OF sill
yer except subsidiary coins, and that a ma
jority of republicans and a minority of demo-
Gratis asserted the necessity of maintaining
silver coin at full legal tender, but upon the
basis of equality in intrinsic value with the
gold dollar. This view MIR. Blaine evidently
of avarv in,aii;con, hi,no,,.i;,, - ,ha 80
~,
T., ..,,.a ., .,,,,,i. .o.,,,,,,,,;., ~. pt.t
,,an,;a.iI,. aiai,r. ,he a.a;, 20 at;a"o
nan, Gov ,hosa iaa,.t.,ors AL e,.no;a,a ,h.
had ,ho laraas, Ell j., ,,,a ro.nnr"a. - ,ho
na,;nn and for ,ho r,nJ;n, aol;c, y, ,ha ra
nuhI;nans ,.h;oh rodnoad ,hp ann,.i tn,ora.,
charge one-half from 1865 to 1879. Speak
ing of John Sherman's connection with the
go ,I, NJ pia;, 80 ,tn, ar .,atJ;'hda
% sn"ao;aI r.,',,,a,;on ,;', ,o,d - ,ha, ~,
.,nn j., o,- h;a,a.,,,, :, my
of ,he ,crmre ~ onPco bul r,.sod dnr,,,
,ho Iohnson ad,,;,;s,ro,;on NJ pla;no sa,s
/ =, .. 80,