Evening star., 1926-06-13
Blaine and the
Nomination.

nj. ~ tne 1fn OF June,
oAdIue anu the 1876. On the eve
Mammalian OF the convention
James G.. Blaine Of
Maine was the leading candidate for
the nomination to succeed Grant. The
scandals brought up against him.
however. had caused some feeling that
he had lost his chance and encourag ged
his rivals for the nomination The
Star Of June 5, 1876. says:
THE partisans OF some Of the presi-
dental candidates are rushing in to
administer on Blaine's effects on the
supposition that the Mulligan wreck
ers have effectually scuttled his politi-
cal craft. The names of Conkling,
Bristow, Washburne, Morton. Hayes,
etc, are shouted in turn for the place
of administrator. But the Blaine men
scout the idea that his prospects have
been materially injured by the Multi
gan treachery and some OF them even
express the conviction that 1t will real
ly give him strength by showing him
to be the victim OF a conspiracy to
break him down. 1t Is noticed. too.
that several papers not especially
friendly to Blaine foresee that he may
be prosecuted into public sympathy.
The Buffalo Express says. They have
stopped lying about Bristow and
|
Blaine The Indianapolis journal
argues that One or two Mulligans. If
there are such in reserve. judiciously
used between now and the 14th Of
June, will be almost certain to make
Mr.. Blaine the man OF Cincinnati The
Troy IN. " Whig thinks 1T is rather
too early for the New York Times to
whistle Blaine down the wind. He has
not vet been proved guilty Of doing
any discreditable act, while his assail-
ants have been guilty of acts meaner
than petty larceny. The Pittsburgh
Gazette says: The persecution of
Blaine is being carried to n most in
decent limit. A man named Mulligan
shows his entire untrustworthiness by
offering to use pilfered private letters.
The Philadelphia Press maintains that
Blaine deserves credit for being the
first public man in America to defy
the storm Of defamation against our
political leaders. which has set in ever
since the demoralized Democratic
party. by an accident. gained a major
ity in the House The Troy IN. "
Times says: A witness named Multi
gan has been discovered, out of whom
the inquisitors hope to get some in
formation. 1t is evident that he is
filled with hatred of Mr.. Blaine and
Il he does not commit fiat perjury. In
the hope Of injuring that gentleman
This Ia the tenor of the views Of q
large number Of papers scattered
throughout the country. On the other
hand, the New York City papers quite
generally express the opinion that Mr..
Blaines chances have been destroyed
by the Mulligan revelations. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether they or the
outside papers quoted from represent
most nearly the public sentiment OF
the country.
On the same day, June 5. 1876. Mr..
Blaine arose in his place in the House
p,.;n.,. OF Representatives and
Speech nesseha nessen Of exnsnscr mis- sarser sna
defense. Denying the power of the
House to compel the production Of
his private papers, he declared his
purpose to reserve nothing. Holding
up a package Of letters. he exclaimed:
Thank God, / am not ashamed TO
show them" He thereupon proceeded
to read the letters. A dramatic scene
ensued as Mr.. Blaine asserted that
the chairman of the judiciary commit
tee had received a dispatch that COM
pletely exonerated him from the
charge against him and had sup
pressed 1t.
The Star the next day. June 6, 1876,
said:
"Of course, the general topic Of dis
cussion today Is the astounding man.
ner in which Mr.. Blaine has once
more turned apparent defeat into vic
tory. The question now comes up as
to whether the forty-four million peo-
pie he addressed yesterday will be
wrought upon as successfully as was
the immediate audience yesterday. un-
der the spell Of his personal magnet,
ism, resonant voice and thrilling, dra-
matte effect Of the successful points
made. The opinion Of veteran politi-
clans is that his speech will be yet
more effective with the country than
1t was in the House; that 1t establishes
for him that quality Of leadership
which the public has not seen for
wears and that while refuting the
charges against him 1t incidentally
makes an adroit appeal to the union
sentiment Of the country. which will
help him amazingly. 1t Is pretty evi-
dent, however, whether it affects all
this or not. that hia speech sesyea 10