The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-14
THE KNIFE FOR blaine.

The Russell Harrison organ evidently
has got it's orders at last. Blaine is to
be put out of the way. He is either
t~reacherous to his party or he is a sick
man, and in either event he must be
set aside. 1t does not matter that
neither Tracy, nor Wanamaker, 0
Noble, nor Law Partner Miller is doing
duty for Mckinley in Ohio. The fact
that Blaine is not there clearly indicates
that he must be sick, or that he is not
interested in McKinley's success. "If,"
says the organ, she is basking in the
sunshine of perfect health, friends Of
protection who recognize in that ques-
ton tho chief issue of the next campaign
have a right to inquire why the power
full influence OF the Maine statesman is
not on duty as a factor in the great
struggle for supremacy in OHIO. Upon
the election Of Mckinley depends, to
some extent, the vitality Of an issue to
which the republican party is %irrevoca-
bly, committed. Democracy is concen-
trating its energies in the Buckeye
state. 1t is Blaine's opportunity to ex-
tend to the party the free will offering of
his political genius that the great in
dustrial issue, upon which the campaign
of 1852 is to be fought, may be strength
ened by a glorious triumph in Ohio.
II Blaine is a we'll man his duty is
plain"
That Nh. Blaine strongly opposed the
Mckinley bill at it's inception everybody
knows. 1t was only after he had sue
ceeded in hitching on to that measure
his reciprocity scheme that he acqui-
esced in it's passage, but his loyalty to
his party was never before questioned.
The sinister suggestion of the Russell
Harrison organ that Mr.. Blaine must do
what no other member OF the cabinet is
doing or is asked to do-rush off to
Ohio and take the stump for Mckinley
will be we'll understood by Mr. laine's
friends. Tt is the Harrisonian way of
attacking him IN the rear.
TO make doubly sure of their victim
the H%arrisonians proceed to give him tie
other alternative Of confessing that he
is a broken down man. "We don't be-
lieve he is treacherous," they say, land
therefore he must be sick" Or, as the
Journal puts it, sit (the JournaD be-
lieves that his lack OF interest in the
Ohio campaign is due alone to his deli
cate health, and we indulge the hope
that Providence will deal kindly with
the brilliant New Highlander and revive
the energies that have so long been ded-
icated to the advancement of the party
to which he belongs, and which has pop
ularized his name within it's ranks. 1t
Is unjust to infict upon his reputation
the thought that he is sulking in his
tent in the pride of his manhood when
the skirmish lines of a mighty battle
are being formed. Blaine is a sick man.
When he RECEIVERS his health and
strength and gives public evidence of
his physical ability, and will shoulder
the burden OF a great campaign, it will
be time for his admirers to advocate his
claims"
Was ever an attack on a public man
more dastardly than this? We very
much mistake the temper Of Mr.. Blaine's
admirers if such tactics d. O. recoil on
the heads of those who invented them.
What is Benjamin Harrison, lounglng
in his gift cottage at Cape May, doing
for the republican cause in Ohio that
his Montana organ should demand that
his secretary Of state should go forth to
the rescue Of Mckinley or be- pro-
nounced treacherous to the cause. or a
broken down invalid? Are we to infer
that he too must be disloyal, if he isn't
sick, because he does that which Blaine
is doing? Well might the secretary of
state say to him: "Who art thou that
judgest another" or adjure him in the
language of old Isaak Walton: elf thou
be a severe, sour-complexioned man,
then I here disallow thee to be a com
petent judge