Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-03-11
A BRUTAL EXHIBITION.

Mr.. Blaine's personal statement" TO the
public ON the subject of his sons marriage
to Marie Nevins and OF the divorce recently
granted at Deadwood is entirely character
istic of the man. He despises the atmos
phere OF court room, where every utter
asce is weighted with the solemnity of an
oath, and there is no opportunity for exer-
cising the Imagination. But he does not hest
tate to take the country into his confidence
and In his own restricted erpdrte method
relate bis unhappy story. He ignores as
trivial the circumstances that young Mrs.
Baine's complaint was presented to court
OF Justice, that her husband had actual
notice Of the suit and proposed at one time
TO resist 1t, that the testimony was obtained
principally in New York, where IL was re-
duced to writing, the witnesses being sworn
and subjected TO cross examination and, most
important of all, II what the elder Blaine
now says is true an available defense could
have been established or successful coun
ter plea prosecuted.
His sneering reference TO the court, con.
tanned in his mention of the "outragc" en-
bodied in the decision of the judge at Dead
wood, does not alter the facts in evidence
before him. Had the elder Blaine told in
the court at Deadwood under oath the story
which he has given to the press the decision
might not have been such an COURAGE" in
his opinion. But he failed TO appear as a
witness before the proper tribunal and &C.
coiding 10 the forms OF law. No plea 10 the
proceedings at Deadwood was ever inter.
posed by the Blaines
Now, however, that the decree of divorce
has been granted, the outrage Of young Mrs.
Blaine having been sustained in every de.
tail, the father OF the defendant brings his
son before the bar Of public opinion and sets
up Tor him II defense out Of court. This
great man invokes his power us the chief OF
tue State Department Of the Federal gov
ernment, his prestige us the plumed knight
Of his party, his position as the head of a
family distinguished in the social circles,
10 give character and effect 10 "personal
statement oi matter already judicially de
termined. And for what purposeY For the
lgueble purpose oil crushing more com
pleiey, il possible, poor, weak, helpless,
disease stricken woman. No more brutal
exhibition has ever disgraced man sus-
pected Of possessing the least cbivaIry and
refinement, TO say nothing OF one occupy
ing Mr. Blaine's exalted station.
His desire Tor vengeance against the un.
fortunate woman, who was recently his
daughter In law, causes him 10 drag the
skeletons from the family closet He por
trays his own son as an irresolute, irrespon.
sibe, half witted youth, 81 source of con-
slant anxiety and an object OF constant
watchlulness." He paints the frail little
Nevins a scheming adventures, bold, de.
signing and diabolical. Nothing is sacred
10 him. lie culls sentences IRON the mes.
sages which passed between the youthful
lovers and vainly endeayvrs to distort hem
INTO evidences Of her powers Of intrigue.
1t seems almost incredible that man pos
sessing the sagacity Mr.. Blaine is credited
TO the public. Its only effect must be to
strengthen the impression that Merle Nevins
Blaine did not secure her divorce day too
soon. When she got rid of James G. Blaine,
Jr., as a husband, and James G. Blaine, ST.,
rs father in law, she deserved the heartiest
congratulations OF her friends.
UNFOLDING THE MCKINLEY la w.
The Supreme Court of the United States
has decided In favor of the validity of the
Mckinley tariff law, with the reciprocity
feature, Tom Reeds quorum, the omission
Of the tobacco rebate clause and all other
iniquities thrown in. The decision is not
surprise. On one point only was there
any division OF opinion. Justices Fuller
and Lamar dissented from the majority iu
holding that the reciprocity section was un-
constitutional because 1t delegated legisls-
tive powers to the Executive. So far as the
Speakers power TO count quorum is con
cerned, the Court holds simply that Con.
gress has the privilege TO make rule for
OF course the Courts decision only applies
10 the technical correctness of the egisla.
ton. Its deslrability was adversely decided
by the people IN 1890.
But the great argument against protec.
tive tariff remains unrefuted. 1t has
been charged time and again that the Re
publicans would never give to their tariff
bills proper titles aHd risk their approval
by the Supreme Court. The Mckinley bill,
like all other robber legislation Of that char
acier, was labeled "An act TO provide reve.
nue." lift had been described in its title
ms il should have been, "An act to tax all
the people for the benefit oil the few" the
Supreme Court would have promptly de.
cided II unconstitutional. But, although it
has successfully run the gauntlet Of the
courts, the peoples verdict was against it
two years ago, and they will have an oppor
unity 10 pass upon it next November.
THE ISSUES WELL DEFINED.