The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-05-29

ne Clique THAI Englneers the Anain 81
the Nation.


attention 10 the fact that the men who
are closest 10 Mr.. Blaine politically
constitute n clique which embraces
some of the most daring spectators in
America. Its existence first became
notorious during the period 81 the star
route scandal. Prior 10 hat time Mr.
blaine. as is well known. had taken .
yer, considerable financial interest in
the affairs OF Arkansas in connection
with Little Rock railroad securities
and with casting anchors To wlndward
In the formation of national banks. In
this connection he made close friends
~ some ~ the most notorious carpet
bag politicians Of Arkansas. and from
Arkansa, operations were extended 70
New Mexico. where mis- friends raided
the public lands in much the same
style as one Of their numher-District
Attorney Clay;on-madc his debut in
Oklahoma under this administration.
This clique. bound together by com
mon afiliation with Mr.. Blaine and
having headquarters both in Wall
stree. and Washington. has operated
through resident members in West Nir-
ginia. in New Mexico. in Arkansas, in
Montana. in Oklahoma. and wherever
else there was an opportunity 10 turn a
penny through politics. as is now being
lone through Mr.. Hlainc's sealskin d.
plomacy.
In its personnel the connection is
made TIVE those engaged in Mr..
Blaine's deals with Fisher. in his guano
diplomacy. and in the star route con
tracts Prior 10 the nomination Of Mr..
BENJAMIN Harrison. his son. Mr.. Rus
sell Il. Harrison, was taken into full
fellowship and into open partnership
with Elkins in the Montana operations
OF the syndicate which in Montana was
active in land schemes and in politics.
Young Harrison. who went to Montana
20 hold a minor fed sral Office. had no
capital OF his own. and when he was
taken into the clique there is little or
no doubt hat the deal for the nomina-
ton Of his father had already been
made In pursuance OF this deal Mr.
Morton. the American representative
of the French syndicate engaged in the
guano deal. was made vice president
through the same influence which made
Mr.. Harrison president--the influence
Of stephen u. Elkins as the political
familiar Of Mr.. Blaine
The history of the Harrison admins
tration shows how the deal has been
carried out. We need not 70 beyond
Arkansas and Missouri u find a suti-
Gent illustration Of how all-powerful
49, 49,. -. s-u- 49,. 49,,
lators over Mr.. Harrison They have
been the power behind the throne Of
the second Of the Harrison dynasty.
They have dictated appointments; he
has merely assented. The patronage
of the administration has been under
their control. and they have used it to
promote their private ends. regardless
of party as of public welfare.
Such notorious facts make it a very
serious question how far Nessrs. Blaine
and Harrison are free agents in connec
ton with the extensive political and
| speculative operations of these men,
The weight Of the evidence tends te
show that Mr.. Blaine acts under com
! pulsion. He seems to be literally in
the hands of his friends Of the mer
whom in the past he has used for hi
own purposes; whom now. when tn,
end of his career is in sight. when hs
has opportunities 70 make an honorable
record in closing it, he might gladly
shake of If he could But It is inevita
bic that when q public man Of nationaI
reputation makes such alliances he be
comes TIE slave of those he expected x
use only as tools. Desperate men. will
no regard for public opinion. carin.
nothing for what is said Of them. ben
on getting the largest possible amount
Of unclrnei money in the shortest pos
siblc time. they ere not 70 be trifes
with. as SIR. blaine well knows afte
his experience with Fisher. lIavin:
once .'got a cinch- on him they use i
either 70 control him or ruin nim-t'
control him regardless of whether |
ruins him or not. His humiliation
under such circumstance must be ex
treme. lie is the victim Of these mel
and Of the deal they made in his name
in nominating Mr.. Harrison.
On Mr.. Harrison the hold they hav
was established prior TO this deal. an
II has been strengthened since throug'
the speculative operations in whic'
Russell T. Harrison is used with wha
Is clearly studied ostentation. leavin
no doubt that he is played as a stoc
pigeon by experienced operators who's
designs he i not capable Of understand
ing.
Whatever the bitterness privatel
felt towards each othrr BY members 3
such combinations. il cannot NANTES
itself in open rupture. The same II
iucnccs which nominated MIR. Harriso
bind him and Mr.. blaine together. \
matter how much they may distrus
and dislike each other. they canne
separate. Mr.. Blaine will not desei
Mr.. Harrison nor will Stew Elkins al
scrt Mr.. Blaine.
Thc operations Of Mr.. Elkins ard b
associates in Behring's sea show ho'
ruthlessly Mr.. Blaine Is used tn
governing idea Of these spectators
TO make all they can while the lIarriso
administration lasts, and they ar
utilizing every opportunity. regardle'
Of the scandal created when Il become
no longer possible 10 conceal the fax
that the machinery Of the governmcr
i. Of a great people Is prostitutcd to II
private ends Of a band Of financii
free I.ouis Rcpubli..