The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-01

forced to meet them by personal explanation
in the house OF representatives. he stated in
explicit terms the charge that had been made
against him to this effect: That q certain
draft was negotiated at the house of Morton,
Bliss Il Co. in 1871 through the president of the
Union Pacific railroad for the sum OF S6i 600, and
that SIS 900 of the bonds OF the Little Rock & Ft
Smith railroad were pledged as collateral; that
the Union Pacific paid the draft and lifted
the oollstsrRl; that the cash proceeds OF
IL went 20 me and that l had furnished
or sold or In some way conveyed to Thomas A.
Scott, president of the Union Pacific these
bonds which had been used as collateral; that
the bonds really belonged to me or to some
friends of mine for whom was acting" Mr..
Blaine denied the charges absolutely, declaring
"they we're without one particle OF foundation
in TACT and without little OF evidence to SUBJ
stantiate them"
On May 2, the same year, resolution was
adopted in the house to investigate an alleged
purchase by the Union Pacific company, at an
excessive price, of certain bonds of the Little
Rock * FL. Smith road. It aimed at Ar.
Blaine. Ii was during this investigation that
the letters since famous as the Null
ligRn letters" were read and the
truth regarding Blsine's connection with the
deal was made known. The letters were filled
with imputations against Blaine. Mulllgsn
was summoned to Washington by the commit
tee. liz was while In Washington that he met
plhinOs auu hlbtT refusing the latter appear
and offers of fsvors TO give up the letters. he
allowed himself to be deprived of them by
force. Mr.. Blaine. under a promise that he
would return them. secured possession of the
discriminating letters and then positively re-
fused to give them mp. On June he arose to
another personal explanation, and after deny
ing the power Of the house to compel him to
produces his private papers. and his willingness
to go TO any extremity in defense
of his rights; he declared his purpose
so reserve nothing Holding up the letters, he
exclaimed: Thank God, | am not ashamed
TO show them. There is the original package.
And with some sense of humiliation, with q
modification | do not attempt to conceal, with
q sense of outrage. which think any man
in my position would feel, invite the conf
dence OF a, OOO.OO OF my countrymen while
read those letters from this desk"
The scene presented was one of the most
dramatic ever witnessed in the house. Blame
boldly accused the chairman of the committee
with having suppressed Information that would
have completely eXOnerated him. This all took
place just previous to the republican national
convention held in Cincinnati that resulted in
Hayes nomination. For a time il seemed that
Mr.. Blaine had triumphed. But his period of
exultation was brief Mulligan was called and
made his statement and instead of being ex-
onerated, Blaine was disgraced. It was proven
that Blaine had secured possession OF the let
tiers By a dlsreputaole trick. He had gone
down on his knees before MulligAn and begged
for the letters Mr.. Mulligan stated that Mr..
Blaine came to the Riggs house and there had
o conference with Mr.. Fisher and himself. He
wanted TO see the letters. "He prayed, almost
went on his knees" testified Mr.. Mulligan,
land i'm plored me to think of his SIX children
and his wife, and that il the committee should
get hold OF the letters 10 won ruin him for
ever. He followed me to my room and con-
unued to beg of me to give up the letters. and
even cOntemp sted suicde If | did not. Ihad al
lowad him m road kha letNara 10 h. OUpd
me 10 let him read them again. | did and
he refused to return them" The committee
was asked TO secure the letters. 1t attempted
10 do so, but Blaine refused TO give them up.
He pretended to read all he had secured from
Mulhgan to the committee, but he only read a
part OF them, those that were not so damag.
ing.
That SunstrOke.
Il was at this time that Blaine had his tim ely
sunstroke and the committee held no more SEES
sions. Blaine was the most prominent csndi-
date for the nomination. 1t was in this con-
vention that Rober, G. Ingersoll made himself
famous by nominating Blaine in one of the
most eloquent speeches ever delivered
upon . similar occasion. He indirectly
referred to the then but recent stirring events
through which Blaine had been the central
figure. he wildly described the closing sceneI
attending the investigation. He closed his
speech by referring to the candidate as tha
prince of psriamentarians; that leader oil
lerders," and finally wound up by clubbing him
"the plumed knight" Ever since Blaine ha:
been called the 'plumed knight" But ne wal
defeated for the nomination. Hayes won and
was counted in to succeed Grant
Mr.. Blaine was in the senate during Hayes
administration. He opposed the electoral
commission that gave Hayes the Office of presi-
dent. In 1873 he advocated the establish
ment of line OF mail steamship:
between the United States and Brazil, and
urged the application of a subsidy. He also
favored the restriction OF Chinese immigration.
The Fight of 1850.
As the presidential convention of 1880 ap
preached it was evident that Mr.. Blaine re
/ tanned the same support shat had adhered t.
! him go tenaciously four years before. the con
/ yentiOn Was held in Chicago, and the contes
| was one of the most earnest and prolonged il
l the history Of political conventions in THU
4 country. 1t was q struggle between the friends
! of Mr.. Blaine aud the friends OF Gen
] Grant headed by the peerless Conk
! ling. the bitter enemy OF the Maine
/ man. The convention lasted siI
I days. Thirty-six ballots were taken. Grant
| led In the balloting with 304 votes to 2S4 for
/ Blame and % for sherman, the others scatter
/ ing. On the final ballot the friends of Blaine
and Sherman united on Gen. Garfield and ht
! was nominated Blaine took an active part il
( the campaign, speaking in a number OF states
] He N ade three speeches in Indiana Garfield
/ was elected and Blaine became his secretary o
state. lie was in President Gsr6eld's Dom
/ pany when the latter received the assassin
bullets that resulted In his death. WheI
! Garfield died and Arthur assumed th'
\ presidency, Blaine resigned. Upon takinl
/ the office he had iRRugurated foreign policy
| with two principal objects in view. The frs
was to secure peace throughout the continent
| Chilli and Peru were at war and he sought e
restore their friendly feelings for each other
/ The second was 90 cultivate close Commercial
relations and increase the trade with the variou
countries of North aud South America. Tb'
death OF Garfield stopped his plans and when
| President Arthur appointed a successor q
! Blaine, the latter Witnessed q reversion o
his policy and the abandonment Of his plan. II
may be said in passing that Mr.. Blsine's iniu
ence Garfield popularity supposed 4
! have caused the rupture between the latter an'
! COnkling And out of the excitement follow
ing Conkling's resignation came the mGdnes
of Guitesu VIII ich inspired tue murder OF Gar
field.
out of Ogce.
Upon Mr. Blaine's retirement from The
cabinet in 1881, il was the first time he hsC
been out Of public life for twenty-three years
| He then began the composition of his historics
work, since completed and entitled Invent
Years OF Congress" The first volume wa
published in April, 1884, and the second il
January, 1886. The reading public is fsinilaI
with the work and the fact that it has had
/ wide circulation and great sale.
J In 1884 Mr.. Blaine's ambition 10 secure thu
republican nomination to the presidency va
at last satisfied. He was given the nom nation
at Chicago over President Arthur. Senator Ed
munds aud others on the first ballot. Gen
John A. Logan was made his running mate
J The democracy nominated Cleveland anC