The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-08

William Randolph Hearst is not the
irst person who exploded bombs in
residential campaigns by means of
etters in which political leaders fig
red. Nor did his letters do quite as
nuch destruction as some of those
f the past.
Foraker, Haskell and associates
Who were hit by the disclosures of the
New York editor can if they wish,
'oint out many persons who have ex-
'erienced a similar discontinue and
ome of them, too. were presidential
andidates. In fact ever since the days
# the fictitious Baron Roorback,"
etters which have dynamite in them
ave appeared in every second or third
residential canvass. Sometimes they
nave come oftener.
Near the close of the Cleveland-Ha
ison campaign of 1883 a letter from
ord Sackville, the British minister
1t Washington, to person signing
himself Charles F. Murchison," was
published which created a stir in dem
ocratic and republican headquarters
"Murchison' who pretended to be a
ormer British subject who was now
laturalzed, asked Lord Sackville
which Of the two candidates he, as a
over Of England ought to vote for in
he approaching election. The guile
less minister fell into the trap which
lad been set for him, and responded
hat vote for Cleveland would be
more advisable for him, as friend of
England, than would a vote for Har-
'ison. This letter was Immediately
made public, and the republican press
and stump speakers hailed it as evil
dence that England wanted Cleveland
20 be reelected. Most of the repub-
leans who made use of this letter in
his way supposed at the moment that
'Murchison" was real person, and
that he. actually sought the informa-
ton which Lord Sacxville gave him.
The important point, however, so far
as there was any importance at ali
to the correspondence was that Sack
Vile made this disclosure. Many of
the republicans therefore called Cleve-
land the British candidate and
doubtless he lost some votes on that
account. 1t is possible, though i'm
probable that this bogus "Murchison''
may have turned the scale in New
York, in which, out OF 1900, 900, votes
Harrison's plurality was only $4,000
The result was that DOOR rSackville
was sent out of the country for his
indiscretion, and he never received a
first class mission afterward. ...-
The Maria Halpin letters wer used
against Cleveland in the canvass OF
1884, but they evidently did not
change many votes. They were much
more than Offset by the Mulligan let
tiers, which were used against Blaine
These letters first came up in the can
vass Of 1876, and defeated Blaine fol
the nomination in that year. Blaine
was by far the most popular Of all re-
publican aspirants at that time. Grant
was near the end of his term, and in
tended to step down on the following
March and make a tour of the world
The third term movement, which was
to take ofrmal shape four years later
had not yet received any impetus
The list of aspirants to succeed Grant
included Blaine, Morton OF Indiana
Bristow, ConkHng, Hartranft Of Penn
sylvania, Hayes Of Ohio and one Oh
two others. The chances were at the
beginning of 1876 that Blaine woult
get the nomination on the first ballot
But at fatal moment for him the
railway disclosures We're sprung upor
the country. They were in the shape
of letters between Blaine and Warner
Fisher in connection with the Little
Rock and Fort Smith railroad, ant
these letters fell into the hands of {
man named Mulligan who had been {
former clerk for Fisher.
Shortly before the meeting OF thu
republican national convention of 1876
the house of representatives of which
Blaine was member, formed a com
mittee to investigate the charge.
against Blaine, and Blaine coming int
possession of the letters made dram
attic defense before the house, which
convinced, many republicans, as wei
as democrats, Of his innocence, not
withstanding some things which look
ed strange. Just as the national con
| vention met Blaine had an attack o
sunstroke, and then the investigation
was dropped. 1t was believed for tn
moment that Blaine would die. but h
was struggling for. moral and politi
cal as well as physical life, and SOC,
recovered Notwithstanding the al
tacks which were made upon him b.
his democratic and republican enemie
Blaine had a long lead over all hi
rivals on many ballots. Beginnini
J with vote of 2S5 he gradually il
creased his strength until the, sex
enth and last ballot, when he had 81
votes, 379 being necessary to a choict
A concentration among his rivals be
gan to take place. however, one or tw
ballots earlier, and the strength G
several of them was thrown to Hayes
and he was nominated. Hayes vot
on the final ballot, however was onl
3S4, as compared with 351 for Blaine
Morton, Conkling, Hartranft and 9th
ers dorpped out and most Of thel
! votes went to Hayes. the dark horst
and he was nominated. - The Null
gan scandal was used against Blain
in the convention of 1880, in whic
r q -