Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1879 — BLAINE OF MAINE. [ARTICLE]

BLAINE OF MAINE.

The Way He Fought the Battlee o. the Union[Few York Son.] We have received two letters, from widely separated parts of the Union, asking for information’ on matters that may profitably be treated at the same time. One of out correspondents lives in this State, at Malone, the home of William Almon Wheeler.— He writes; “Wade Hampton announces that there are 22 ex-Confederate soldiers in the Senate of the United States, to only four who fought in the army of the Union. Is that true'? and, if true, what do you think of its significance?” It signifies, we suppose, that civilians are relatively more successful in Northern politics than In Southern.— Beyond that unimportant statistical fact it signifies nothing. The ex-Con-federate officers are not now in arms agafnst the Government. Most of the Republican leaders who are endeavoring to persuade the country that that is the case, kept well away from the front during the period of actual hostilities. An excellent illustration on this point is as orded by the war record of James G. Blaine, about which our second correspondent writes from Nevada to inquire: To the Editoa of the Sun: Sin—ln tne Congressional Record of the 19th the following bit is printed: Mr. Williams—l should like to ask the senator did his substitute fight? Mr. Blaine—No. I found out afterward that he was a Democrat. [Laughter.] I was inveigled into hiring him without knowing who he was. Mr. Eaton—Did he sell himself for half price? Mr. Blaine—l do not know. I paid full price for him, more than an ave rage Democrat was worth in the war [Great laughter.] Is there any means of ascertaining who Mr. Blaine’s substitute was, and what kind of a soldier he made? It may be that he was a brave one, and that the man for whom he did the fighting has been willing to blacken the memory of a departed hero (though humble and fighting under the disadvantage of being Mr. Blaine’s substitute) for the sake of a repartee. It might knock a large hole in the sarcasm of the ferocious wariior of the Senate if that substitute’s record could be hunted up Arthur McEwen. Virginia, Nev., May 27.

Early in the war, Mr. Blaine’s name was placed upon the military rolls of Maine, and he, like other able-bodied citizens of that State, became liable to conscription A great many of his fellow-townsmen in Augusta did not wait for the draft, but volunteered, and went to the front to fight for the Union. Mr. Blaine was deeplyjconcerned during the dark days of 1862 for the fate of our armies and the fortunes of the natfon. We know this to be the case, for he himself has publicly admitted, in a speech in Congress, that “after the lapse'of thirteen years he could never recall that period without a chill of horror.” He was also concerned in a contract for furn ishing Spencer rifles to the Government, and he did not volunteer to do military duty. lhe necessity for troops being urgent, and Mr. Blaine not coming forward, President Lincoln proclaimed a draft. The draft proceeded to Augusta without interruption. One of the first names taken from the box was that of the present senator jfroru Maine. But even then Mr. Biainedid not join the army. He procured the substitute whose military record our Nevada correspondent is anxious to learn, and continued to defend the Government by means of able speeches at Augusta and in Washington. In replying to the questions of Sen ators Eaton and Williams, Mr. Blaine implies that his substitute did not fight, because he was a Democrat. It is well to be exact in historical matters even of trifling import, It was not because he was a Democrat that Mr. Blaine’s substitute failed to render any assistance in suppressing the rebellion. He did not go to the front at all. Political influence of apotent sort was exerted at Augusta in behalf of the man who represented Mr. Blaine in the army of the Union, and he was put to peaceful and easy serv.ce in the provost marshal’s office in that town. Soon after, Mr. Blaine’s substitute was detected in forging soldiers’ certificates of discharge and draft exemption papers, and selling them for $159 apiece to other patriots who preferred to remain at home. Upon this discovery, Mr. Blaine’s substitute was ocked up in the countv jail, through the iron bars of which he watched the varying fortunes of the war, and saw his principal grow rich and famous. Mr. Blaine’s memory is at fault in another particular, He informs'Mr. Eaton that he paid full price for his Democratic substitute. That statement is hardly accuiate. The substitute was paid for out of the funds of the Augusta Loyal Mutual Alliance, an organization of patriots who,formed a pool to insure such of its members as might be drafted against the expense of procuring substitutes. Mr. Blaine was a member of this interesting association, and had subscribed to its fund. Several years later the city of Augusta undertook to reimburse the subscribers to this fund, and did so in 5 per cent. 20 year bonds, to meet the interest on which, we suppose, the people of that town are still taxed There also appears on the record of the city’s contingent expenses for 1866 the following entry: J. G.Blaine, for substitute, S2OO 00 We have quite as fittle charity for the Republican politician s in Congress who go on fighting the battles that ended 14 years ago as we“haye patience with those ex-Confederate brigadier generals and colonels and majors who delight to exercise their rhetoric in parading the errors of their past. One class is doing as much as the other to keep war passions alive. * * * *

4th of July Excursions——The “Pan Handle” to the Front AgainThe Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway, familiarly known as the “Pan Handle Route,” will place excursion ticirets on sale July 3d and 4th, 1879, to and from all stations on their lines. Tickets will be good to return until Monday, July 7th. which will enable those desiring to do so, to remain over Sunday with their friends. This is a very liberal concession on the part of the Railroad Company, and will be appreciated by patrons of the road. The rates will be low, and ample accommodations will be provided for all who desire to avail themselves of this opportunity to visit friends in adjoining and distant cities and towns At Bethany, Westmoreland countv, Pa., week before last, Miss Annie Tan married Amos Feathers. Tar and r cithers.

Eliza Kirk, tea her of Paris school, in District No. 7. reoorts for the month ending June 13, an enrollment of 21 pupils and an average attendance of 19. Those who were perfect In attend ance, punctuality and deportment, are Ida Coons, Rosa Coons, Harvey Robinson, and Katie West. Those perfect in punctuality and deportment—Rosa Paris and Mattie Groom. Those perfect in punctuality and at tendance—Tommy West Mary Wiley, Jimmy Wiley, Ora Robinson and Geo. Nolen. Number of visitors received during the month, five.

Wicked but True. New Ydrk World. In view of the now ascertaisejd fact that tne great majority of the $lO certificates were taken up by wealthy speculators, and that their agents got the certificates while poor women anxious to invest their avings were left to be knocked about by police men in the line outside the doors, we really do not think that Mr. Sherman’s man Foster will oe wise if he says much about thatsubject in his epeech in Ohio. That is unless the people of Ohio are really as ignorant as in his speech of acceptance Mr. Fo. ter assumes them to be. “Times are hard, Mr. Editor, and I must curtail expenses so you will nlease discontinue my paper,” said a careful and economical farmer recently, and reiieved of the awful burden of paying for a newspaper for his family, he went out and invited four of his friends in to take something, two of whom took whisky the same as himself and the other two took cigars: Expense 50 cents, or three months subscription.—Exchange. That the republican rank and file may not be misled, their attention is directed to the fact that when republican leaders fire metaphorical hot shot at “confederate brigsdiers,” they refer only to those who vote the Demcratic ticket. Longstreet, Key, Mosby and the rest of the “confederate brigadiers” who are lepublieans, are of course “loyal” and patriotic. . --<♦»- General Ewing, Ohio’s Democratic nominee for Governor, sent a note to his wife from Washington, announcing his nomination for Governor by the Ohio Democratic Convention, to which he received this reply: ‘Your news is stale. I have already had scores of callers to congratulate me. Now come home yourself and let your wife congratulate you.”

Dr. Waren, of Boston, states “a simple, easy and effectual cure for stammering” is, simply at every syllable pronounced to tap at the same time with the finger. By so doing the most inveterate stammerer will be surprised to find that he can pronounce quite fluently, and by long and constant practice he will pronounce perfectly well. - Guerrilla Mosby, American consul at Hong Kong, is booming up for secretary of war, in place of McCrary, of lowa. Since Guerrilla Mosby has joined the stalwarts he has become a greater man than a one-armed soldier, Even Jeff. David would be warmly welcomed by the stalwarts - General Joe Hooker is now in Meadville, Pa., the guest of Samuel Bates, State Historian of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. Though suffering from a Chancellorsville wound, his right side being partly paralyzed, the old fighter is in better health than usual. Rev. David McKinney, a very prominent minister of the Presbyterian church, for many years pastor at Hollidaysburg, Pa., and the founder of the Presbyterian Banner, died at his home, near Pittsburgh, Pa„ May 27, aged 84 years.

Remington Reporter: Prosecuting Attorney Babcock, and John F. Boroughs, a young lawyer of Rensselaer, took sides in the late “Willett beer case.” Mr. Boroughs is winning a reputation as a well posted lawyer wherever he goes. — I fear we are making a mistake in forcing the o d issue of Federalism. The country has never vet been carried on that issue, and it has been lost on it over and over again.—Prominent Republican. Schuyler Colfax is takked of as the Republican candidate for Congress in the thirteenth district. Schuyler, stick to the lecture fleid As a politician you’re deader’n a smelt.—Wabash Courier. “Take a wing?” inquired a pompous young upstart of a sensible young lady at the close of a prayer meeting. Not of a gander,” she quickly replied, and walked home with her mother. “Have you the song. ‘Saccharine Futurity?”’ asked a girl of a music clerk. “We have,” he replied, as with a pleasant smile he rolled up a copy of “The Sweet By-and By.” The three planks in the next repub lican platform though differently expressed, will be elections by bayonets, packed juries and abolition of State Government. There is a man in Philadelphia so witty that his wife manufactures all the butter that the family uses out of the cream of his jokes.