The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-02
REPLY OF MRS. BLAINE
DENIES TIE sEcRErARr,s CHARGES
And Calls Upon Him To Retract-What Judge
Thomas Has to- Say About His Part
In the Divorce Affair.

Sioux FALLS. $: d.. March l-Mfs. James
G. Blaine, Jr.. las addressed the following
letter to her father-in-law Secretary OF State
Blaine in answer to his personal statement Of
a few days ago:
NV Dear Sir.-You have furnished the pub
lie with a remarkable production under the
caption of personal statement. con-
slider it my duty at the present time
70 address you with that degree Of
dignity which your position as q pub
lie man entities you 70. | acknowledge
your well rendered. richly deserved fame asa
diplomat and appreciate iuuy tue Welgnt
which your utterances possess "a iully as 90
appreciate my own weakness ana my totas
inability TO cope with you III persoual en-
counter. But / shall expect from you that
considerate and honorable treatment
which ! am sure your Keen sense OF
equity and fairness will dictate. Inc power,
ful man OF great nation VIII surely aeooi1u s1
TO o weak and defenseless woman her tull
need of Justice. You surely can III afford 10
withhold IT, | wish 1t distinctly understood
by you that am not asking sympathy.
JUSTICE DEMANDED.
I respectfully demand Justice. II is n
your power to grant this simple request.
10 remains to be seen If you Will do IT,
will aid you by n suggestion. Have
the kindness TO publish in connection with
your statement the full text OF the
letters YOU have quoted from. Do not. like
shrewd and unprincipled person. select only
such pages as may be needed 10 make out
a case but give the entire contents o.
the public that ! may be Judged
righteously. You have documents surely,
else you could not quote from them. | VIII
give you sufficient time IN winch
10 conform TO my reasonable demand
say ten days. If at the end OF that
time you fail 10 respond shall
deem it my duty b give IN substance their
contents and corroborate my statement by
publishing letters from your son both prior
and subsequent 70 our marriage.
You know full we'll that your charges
against me regarding the marriage are un-
founded. give you ample opportunity 10
retract.
TWO ALTERNATIVES.
You have two alternatives The one sug-
gested or silence. Your consideration Tor
your grandson will surely induce vou 10
decide in favor OF the first. This Is
not proposed diplomatic engagement on
my part for your success in dealing with
powerful nations is too well known for me
to meet you on any other ground than as the
mother of your grandson. ! take it that your
statement was prompted chiefly by the re-
marks of Judge Thomas IN rendering bis de-
cisi0n which gave me my freedom.
have no defense TO offer in bis behalf. |
simply declare now that YOU have
arraigled me by the use of tragmentary quo
tations from my love letters 10 your
son. ] hope that you will be fair enough TO
publish the originals in full. | will
then prove 20 the world that your son was
far from a weakling and that you. his proud
father, well knew 1t long before he married
me. Truly yours.
MARIE NEvrvs BLAINE.
To Mr. James G.. Blame, Washington city.
JUDGE THOMAS INTERVIEWED.
DFADwooD, s. D.. March Judge Thomas
was interviewed 10 day by reporter for the
United Press in regard to the letter of Hon.
James G.. Blaine, made public last Sunday.
The Judge was quite averse To talking on the
subject but after much persistence consented
10 explain his position. He said: " | nder the
circumstances | deem the matter somewhat
indelicate 20 discuss IN the public print after
having passed upon the case IN a judicial ca
pacity." In regard TO Mr.. Blalnes opinion
tnat he was too severe in his criticism of Mrs.
Blaine. the elder and her son. he SAID
{" II seems that Mr.. Blaine believes | was
TOO severe and ! regret II very much.
as | certainly did not wish or intend
10 be unduy harsh or severe IN the re-
marks made from the bench. though
I thought at the time, and still think,
they were cOuched in the most moderate and
conservative language and upon the clear and
undisputed testimony IN the case which, IN
my Judgment. would have warranted much
stronger language than | used
in regard 10 Mr. Blaine 5 statement OF the
case / do not caro- 10 express an opinion, as
they were not before me for consideration;
hence / would not consider them IN arriving
at my Judgment. however true and weghty
they NAV be. His defense of his wife and son
we're natural and filaL admire him for his
defense Of his wife. Doubtless from his
standpoint he believes she was right. and may
be she was. but a. | said before. my remarks
concerning her we're justified by the undis-
puted testimony IN the case.
II have nothing 10 say in regard TO Father
Duceys statement. except that have for
Mr. Blaine the deepest sympathy IN the sad
affection brought about by the ill-adyised
marriage and unpleasant notoriety. / am
heartily sick Of the notoriety. and believe the
matter should now be dropped IL the interest
of all concerned