The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-02-01

dency. In an unfortunate conflict with Ros-
coe Conkling he had incurred the proud
New Workers. implacable enmity. Mr..
Blaine WAS further charged with having
proslituted the Office Of speaker to his per-
sonai enrichment, and evidence of the truth
oil the charge was presented IN what have
become known IA the " Mulligan letters"
The house ordered an investigation Mr..
Blaine met the charges with bold defiance.
AT the eliminating moment in one OF the
most dramatic and exciting episodes in all
American political history, the accused,
with audacity that Ii without "A parallel,
rose in his seat and declared that he would
take the house into his confidence, He
would himself read the incrimiating letters
and the members aud the people should
Judge for themselves II he had debased him
self He read the letters, and there were
probably few among those present-the
galleries and the floor OF the house were
packed-while under the spell of the ex-
speakers magic power aud ringing dis
caimer, but what believed he was innocent
of evil doing.
On the eve OF the meeting of the conven-
ton and just after the grand eliminating
scene in the hall of the representatives, Mr..
blaine was Frustrated with sunstroke His
enemies declared that this was simulated
and designed to affect the delegates at Gin
cinnati. Despite all these adverse circum.
stances, which would have crushed any
man less endowed, Mr. Blaine received 29l
votes OH the first ballot, and his support In.
creased to 81 on the seventh. On that bal
lot the field combined against him in favor
of Mr.. Hayes, who received the nomination
July 10, 1876, Mr.. Blaine was appointed a
United States senator from Maine to fill the
vacancy occasioned by the appointment of
Hon. Lot NJ. Morrill, to the spcretaryship of
the treasury. He was subsequently elected
by the legislature to fill out Mr.. Morrill's
unexpi-ed term and the full term ending in
March. 1883,
Again, in 1880, Mr., Blaine was a promi.
nent candidate for the presidency, with
General Grant and Senator Sherman AZ lead
ing competitors. 1t was a battle of giants.
| Grants forces were tnarshaled under ConS-
ing's imperial leadership. Mr.. Blane's
canvass was personally conducted" and
| Garfield was Sherman's spokesman. The
convention assembled in Chicago, and
| 10000 people were spectators OF its tenn
| pestuous proceedings. COnkling's speech
| nominating Grant il unmatched ia the
records Of political oratory, and Garfield's 8,
| presenting the name of Sherman, was only
| less brilliant. MIR. Blaine suffered from an
| inadequate presentation The followers of
Grant, under Conklings command, were as
| impenetrable rs adamant Through thirty
six ballots 306 names unfaiingly responded
| to his call. The forces OF Blaine and Sher-
man broke from their standard, and, COM
| binng on Garfield, nominated him. Blaine
was again denied the object of his ardent
quest. He was made secretary of state,
| and Is credited by his enemies with the re.
| sponsibility for Garfield's effort to crush
Conkling and the unhappy train Of political
| consequences. On the accession of Vice
| President Arthur to the presidency Mr..
Blaine resigned and went into retirement.
| He thenceforth devoted himself to the
work of compiling his Twenty Years of
| Congress" political history Of the period
from Lincoln to Garfield.
A third time, at the convention Of 1884,
MIR. Blaine was the republican candidate
| for the nomination to the presidency, and
was successful on the fourth ballot. His
nomination was received by his followers
with the widest demonstrations of delight
but there were omens of evil in the air. A
| large and influential element in the party
| bOlted. A Campaign characterized by great
rancor and bitterness followed. The " Null
| ligan letters" were industriOusly used as
campaign documents, but it is undeniaby
true that up to the time of the Burchard in
cident in New York city, on the eve of the
election, the campaign was won by Mr.
| Blaine. In spite of the effective use made
by the democrats of the aliterative Rum
Rnmanism and Rebellion" the change Of
600 votes in New York would have giver
him the election, as Cleveland carried the
state by the slender plurality of 1,047 votes
After his defeat, MIR. Blaine completed
his " Twenty Years of Congress and en-
gagged in other political literary work.
In 1883 the old enthusiasm in a large ele
ment of his party was again exhibited with
no diminution of arlor; but in Europe, a.
the time of the holding of the convention
he imperatively commanded his friends tt
refrain from voting for him. President Har
risOn made him secretary of state and ht
distinguished himself i'll that office by the
exhibition of qualities that had not hitherto
been generally credited to the impetuoui
leader. On the economic Legislation OF TIL,
Fny-hrst congress- he left his Impress in tn,
shape of the reciprocity clause incorporated
at his instance into the Mckinley tariff hill
The dream of years was realized in the as
sembling at Washington OF congress 0
the South American nationalties for tn,