The Indianapolis journal., 1893-01-28
discussion was 80 protracted that tine measure

sent IL back with long Veto message. 1t was
held thus late to enable its foes to prevent a
vote by dilat0ry motions These tactics were
commenced but Mr.. Blaine promptly moved to
suspend the rules that vote might be taken on
cided that a motion in this form cut off ali de-
bate, and two-thirds voting to suspend the rules,
the bill was passed over the Presidents veto
yeas, 135; nays, 48. Thus it will be seen that
Mr. Biaine's idea constituted most important
feature in the reconstruction act, and that his
alertness frustrated the conspiracy OF the Presi-
dent ana MS supporters TO prevent Its final pas
sage.
The. Fortieth Congress, to which Mr. Blaine
was elected, met the very day that the Thirty
ninth closed. This was due TO the fact that the
hostility between the President and Congress was
such that the latter did not dare to trust him
with no organized legislative body. The impor-
tant event IN this Congress was the 1mpeach-
ment OF President johnson for violation OF the
tenureofoiice act Mr. Blaine favored II. but in
upon mature reflection, the Impeachment was
not justified upon the grounds upon which 1t
Johnson was impeached for one series or mlSde-
meanors and tried on another.
Months before the presidential election In
1868 both parties began TO prepare Tor the
struggle. During the FOrtieth Congress financial
heresies were advanced. and some OF them were
so hauslble that not few Republlcans were de-
luded. One OF them was the PendletOn theory OF
paying OF the national debt by issues OF green
backs and another was the taxation or govern
ment bonds. From the first, Mr.. Blaine favored
the nomination of General Grant. Early in the
season he Orened the campaign in Maine, where
the eiecllOn was Delu In september. Against tue
judgment ana in face of the protest of several
prominent Republicans, Mr. Blaine insisted on
making the payment of the bonded debt In coin
or its equivalent a leading issue. AS chairman
OF the Republican State committee, Mr. Blaine
directed the campaign, and led the fight on the
ant Sd were ne S S 1ss Se
UnlOn," helped the Republicans in every doubt
full state. Mr.. Blaines nstituents for the
fourth time expressed their appreciation or his
abilities by giving him an unu Sual majority.
AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
So rapidly had Mr.. Blaine grown in the esti-
nation of his party that, when the Forty first
Congress met, March 4, 500, he was chosen
Speaker. There were other aspirants. men who
stood deservedly high in the estimation of the
party, but the estimation Of the House was that
Mr.. Blaine the best fitted for that most
responsible and conspicuous position. 1t is the
unanimous verdict of both parties that Mr..
Blaine was as near an ideal Speaker as man
could be. He seemed born to preside over Just
such a body as the House. Patient in the tedi-
Gus stages of debate and routine, courteous un-
der harassing Interruptions impartial to friend
and chlyalrlc to foe, he rose rapidly with the
rising tide OF excitement and activity. In every
word and gesture he showed himself master OF
the position. On the occasions of excitement
and conflict, rulings. repartae, translucent ex-
plantations flashed from his lips No mat
ter how violent the storm on the floor.
and direct it. He was wonderfully informed IN
parliamentary law and killed In its application.
his grip on the order or business ana the exact
bearing OF complicated tangle of amendments
and cross motions was remarkable. The fact
that he counted among his intimate personal
friends the leading Democrats in the House, such
as Messrs. Randall and Cox, proved that he eX-
ercised his authority with impartiality. Such
measures as the salary grab" which was passed
while he was Speaker, received his condemnation.
When that measure was proposed it contained
n provision which would nave raised Mr. Blaines
salary ~, 800; that he might not be q party to
that unseemly grabbing. he asked to have the
bill amended so that the large salary would not
apply to him during that Congress. "Thatsaves
the reputation or the House," shouted Sunset
Cox.
Mr.. Blaine was ahead of his party in Congress
on several important matters. He would have
had the fifteenth amendment made q part of the
fourteenth; he would have had the national con-
ventOn In 1868 declare for impartial suffrage in
every state by constitutional provision. But
when 1T came TO the measures to be used in the
South after the war, he was opposed to what is
known as the force bill, which gave the Presi-
dent authority TO suspend the writ or habeas
corpus and to exercise military authority. In
this he proved himself not only in opposition to
the majority of his party associates in the House,
but to the decision of the caucus: nevertheless he
felt that the measure was so mischievous that it
was his duty to oppose it, whcn he did by leaving
the chair and making speech which led to its
defeat Mr.. Blaine has been severely censured
for his course in regard to this bill.
1t was very largely through his influence with
Republican members OF the House that the bill
providing for specie payment was passed. 1t was
done under the operation OF the previous Ques-
ton and without debate. This was not that the
measure would not bear debate, but because de-
bate would arouse the opposition of a large num-
Der OF members who favored contraction OF
the currency, who were willing to vote for the
measure a compromise. Never the
views of party in Congress so widely diver
proved the efficacy of good party leadership and
party recognition of the necessity OF policy.
Mr.. Blaine occupied the Speakers chair during
three terms OF Congress and would have con-
tinued to hold the position longer if the Demo-
Gratis had not secured majority in the House
elected in 1S74. when Mi. Blaine left the chair
hox hah thrSf In dam
stratioD ever made in favor OF q man who had
held the position-a demonstration in which the
| leaders OF the opposition took most conspicu-
GUS part.
In 1875 Mr. Blaine entered House in which
the Democrats were n decided majority. He
was, at once, recognized as the leader OF the op-
position. The panic of 1873 had passed into an
extended period OF paralysis in business and in
dustry, which had resulted in a strong element
I In Congress that believed that something could
be done with the currency to relieve the country
This element was hostile to resumption, to the
national banks, and favored an unlimited issue
OF greenbacks. AS the representative of the
Republican party in the House, Mr. Blaine de-
livered carefully prepared speech Oh the cur
forth the evils of an inflated and irredeemablc
paper currency and the necessity of strictly
complying with the terms OF the resumption act,
which that Democratic House finally voted to
repeal.
THE MULLIGAN INCIDENT.
The presidential succession being near at
hand. the Democratic House began a drag net
investigation of every branch of public service
| in the expectation Of finding something so dis
reputable in Republican rule that the people, un-
der the influence Of such revelation. would once
| more restore the Democratic party to power.
| May 2, 1876. resolution adopted in the
| House to investigate an alledged purchase by
| the Union Pacific Railroad Company at X
cessve price. of certain bonds OF the Lit lie Rock
! d. Fort Smith railroad. It soon became evident
that the investigation was aimed ut Mr.. Blaine.
| An extended mess correspondence on his
| part with Warren Fisher, of Boston, running
through years, and relating TO various tranSac-
tiOns, had fallen into the hands of clerk named
Mulligan, and it is alleged that the produc-
| tOn OF this correspondence would confirm
the imputation against Mr.. Blaine. When Null
ligan was summoned 10 Washington, Mr. Blaine
possessed himself of the letters, together with q
memorandum that contained full index and
abstract. On the 9th OF June he rose to personal
explanation. and after denying the power OF the
House to compel the production of his private
papers and bis Willingness TO 40 10 any extremity
in defense of his rights he declared that he pro-
posed to reserve nothing. Holding up the let
| ters, he exclaimed: THANK God. l am not
| ashamed to show them. There Is the very orig
| inal package, and, with some sense or huInilia-
| ton, with modification L do not attempt to
| conceal. with a sense Of outrage which Think
| any man in my position would feel, invite the
| confidence of forty million OF my country men
| while read these letters"
| A dramatic scene followed the reading of these
| letters. Mr.. Caldwell, who was one OF ths pro-
| mOters Of the Little Rock road. was travelling
| abroad, and upon his testimony hinged ali that
| was left of the Democratic charge. Both he and
| Mr.. Knott chairman OF the House committee in
| charge OF the investigation, had been seeking
| him. Making pause, Mr Blaine turned to Mr..
| Knott, and demanded II the committee had sent
| a.ebf 70 Mr. Halt has ad