The National tribune., 1893-02-02

should approve its action. it should become en-
titled to representations and the provisions for
military government should become lnOpera-
tive. The application Of the previous question
ruled out the Blaine amendment, but it was re-
newed in the Senste, finally passed in both
branches, and under the reconstruction it was
completed.
The theory that the public debt should be
paid in greenbacks developed great strength in
1867, while Mr.. Blaine was absent in Europe.
Upon his return at the next session he opposed
it, and was the first man in Congress to give
utterance to his opposition.
ANOTHER Triumph.
The long.unsettled question of protecting
naturalized American citizens abroad attracted
special attention at this time, when certain
Irish Americans got into trouble in England on
the charge of being implicated in the Fenian
plots. Blaine resisted the English doctrine of
perpetual allegiance, intained that natu-
rallied American was entitled to the same pro-
lection abroad as a native-born American, took
active part in the matter, and effected the re-
lease of one of the men, who had been sem
fenced in England to 16 years penal servitude.
This all led to the treaty of 1870, when Eng
| land abandoned her stand, held for so many
years, and accepted the American principle.
SPEAKER SIX YEARS.
| Mr.. Blaine was chosen Speaker of the House
of Representatives in 1869, and served by sue.
| cessive reflections for six years. His admins
trati0n is regarded as one of the most brilliant
! and successful in the annals of the House.
| Though exercising much powerful influence
upon the course of affairs, he seldom left the
| chair to take part in debate.
The political rcvulson of 1874 placed the
| Democrats in control of the House, and Mr..
Blaine became the leader of the minority.
The session preceding the presidential con-
test of 1876 was stormy one. general am
nesty. bill was brought forward removing the
political disabilities of participants in the late
| war on the Southern side, imposed by the Four
| teenth Amendment. Mr.. Blaine moved to
amend by making exception of Jefferson Davis,
| not because he was the chief of the rebellion
| movement but because he was knowingly. de-
! liberately, guiltily, and wilfully the cause of
| the gigantic crimes and murders of Anderson.
| vile. Mr.. Blaine spoke in fiery language. He
and his denunciation of the arch traitor pro-
duced great excitement all over the country,
and intensified the feeling in the presidential
struggle that followed.
Now charges of corruption began to be made
against Mr.. Blaine, by his enemies in relation
to alleged money being received from the
Union Pacific and other railroads for underlined
services presumably for influence used or 10 be
used in their favor in Congress. Mr.. Blaine sue
cessfuly refuted these charges and proved
his honesty.
THE MULLIGAN LETTERS.
On May 2, little later, a resolution was
adopted in the House to investigate an alleged
purchase made by the Union Pacific Company
at an excessive price Of certain bonds of the
Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad 1t
transpired that this investigation was aimed at
Blaine. An extended business correspondence
on his part with Warren Fisher of Boston, rum
ming through years and relating to various
transactions, had fallen into the hands OF a
clerk named Mulligan, and it was alleged that
the production of this correspondence would
confirm the imputations against Mr.. Blaine.
When Mullgan was summoned to Washing
ton Mr. Blaine possessed himself of the letters,
together with memorandum that contained a
full index and abstract. On Juno he rose to
q personal explanation, and, after denying the
power of the House, to compel the production
of his private papers and his willingness to go
to any extremity in defense OF his rights he de-
clared his purpose to reserve nothing. Hold
ing up the letters he exclaimed: Thank God,
/ am not ashamed to show them. There is the
very original package. And with some sense
of humiliation with modification / do not
attempt to conceal, with sense of outrage
which think any man in my position would
feel, invite the confidence of fortyfour mil
lions of my countrymen while read these let
tiers from this desk" s=e
The demonstration clpsed with a dramatic
scene Josiah Caldwell, one of the riginators
of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad. who
had full knowledge of tile whole transaction,
was travelling in Europe and both sides were
seeking to communicate with him. After
finishing the reading Of the letters Mr.. Blaine
turned to the Chairman of the Committee and
demanded to know whether he had received
any dispatch from Mr.. Cald well. Receiving an
evasive answer, Mr.. Blaine asserted, as within
his own knowledge, that the Chairman had re-
ceved such dispatch, completely and abso.
lutely exonerating me from this charge, and
you have suppressed it,"
CANDIDATE FOR NOMINATION.
Mr.. Blaine came near receiving the nomina-
ton to the Presidency by the Republican party
at the Presidential National Convention in
1875, for he was the most prominent candidate
and the events of the past few months had
rightly increased his strength. On tho first
ballot he received 2s5 votes out of 754. the re-
mainder being divided between Senator Nor
ton, Secretary Bristow, Senator Conkling. Gov.
Hayes and others On the seventh ballot his
strength rose to 351 lacking but % of ma
jority. But on the next ballot a union of the
supporters of the other candidates on Gov.
Hayes gave that gentleman 394 votes and the
nomination.
AS A SENATOR.
Mr. Blaine was appointed Senator to fll the
unexpired term Of MIR. Morrill,, who took the |
secretaryship of the Treasury. In the follow
ing year he was chosen by the Maine Legsla-
tnre for the full ensuing term. He opposed
the creation of the Electoral Commission for |
the settling of the disputed Presidential cleo
ton. on the ground that Congress itself did not |
possess the power it proposed to confer upon the
Commission. While still a member OF the
House in February. 1876, he made an elaborate
and strong speech against any perpetuation of
the irredeemabe paper currency, and later in |
the Senate, took strong ground against the de-
teroration Of the silver coinage
He opposed the Bland bill strenu0usly, and |
sought to amend it by providing that the dollar
should contain 425 grains of standard silver in
stead of 4l24 grains. He favored a bimetallc
currency. and resisted the adoption of the
single gold standard. He earnestly favored
measures for the development and protection
of our shipping interests, and acclaimed upon
the good results of policy of subsidy.
THE CONVENTION OF 1880.
Whom the Presidential Convention of 1880
came. MI Blaine retained the same support as
before. The contest became prolonged strug-