Year: 1876

Mr.. Blaine is in most uncomfortable
position before the country. In these days
| when the thermometer stands high in the
nineties, and man is puzzled and taxed tc
his utmost in the frantic effort to effect a
sort Of compromise by the aid of fan and
ice water between the two temperatures OF


heat and cold, to be otherwise ANNOYED is
simply horrible Politically, Mr.. Blaine


is in a more perplexing situation than that
spoken of above. He is as an Indian
captive running the gauntlet, beseiged on
all sides by engines virtually aimed at the
destruction of his greatest personal or po-
liticalhopes-the Presidency of the United
States.


If the chief actor in the great drama of
the political stage were aself-denying par
ty advocate acting, for love of party, and
not for self, he would indeed,be the equal
of soile of those old political martyrs who
come down to us from the dim profound of
tradition


With the wolves of one of the most
powerful combinations of political in
trigue to destroy an enemy of the present
chief executive, barking at his heels; and
his honesty and integrity both as a poIiti-
tian and citizen being under investigation
by q committee, we consider that Mr..
Blaine is laboring under very hishear-
ming and dscouraging conditions
for one that is to offer himself to the snf
fragcs Of the people for the highest position
within their gift, and whose recommenda.
tions should be of the very highest charac
ter.


The investigation into his connection
with various railroad bonds, was more
damaging TO him on Thursday, by the tes-
timony given, than in anything developed
in association With the case since its COM
mencement. A witness was turned NJ
that was for many years private secretary
to Mr.. Blaine, and had an opportunity Of
seeing all that gentleman's private cor
respondence, in which were some eighteen
letters of such delicate business nature
that this witness determined to hold on to
them. He did hold on to them. and one
day told Mr.. Blaine that he had them, and
Immediately there was scene. The wit
ness says that Mr.. Blaine became intensely
dramatic, he bent his knee in suppliance
to the obstinate witness and besought him
to surrender the letters, for if they received
public criticism it would surely bring him
to ruin. The New England statesman tore
his hair and went off into the tragical
strain by declaring he would commit sui
eide. Then he became more gentle and
reminded the witness of the odium his dis
honor would bring to his wife and five
children. 1t was for them and not for
himself that he cared. But the witness
listened to it all and was apparently un-
moved in very efiectual manner, for the
letters are now in the hands ofthe commit
tee, and will be duly over. hauled,


The ex-Speaker denies it ALL and is
either cringing coward, Or the witness is
an infamous liar. 1t is merely a matter
OF yeraclty between the two, but it must be
acknowledged one that places the prin-
clpal actor in an uncomfortable position
which if he escapes from with whole bone.
will lift a terrible weight from the bur-
thens he is now CARRYING. And if he can
not, it will be another that the pruning
hook has chopped away from the healthy
bodice and if he comes to Cincinnati in
such a plight, Conklinr need use no undue
eY'r"I7e because it will be a complete
wink over the track,