Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1884 — THE CONVENTIONS. [ARTICLE]

THE CONVENTIONS.

As the time of the conv ntions is drawing near, it will be well enough to pul this item where it Can be found when wanted! J State Democratic Convention. Indianapolis, June 25th National Demo< ratio Convention, Chi* ;cugo, July Sth.

Chicago News,(Republican): “When the Civil War broke out John A. Logan was a Representative in Congress from he Thirteenth Illinois District. When Stephen A. Douglas made his famous speech in the hall of the House of Representatives at Springfield, Logan was present. Douglas, with a loyalty that has made his name honored among the followers of his groat opponent, Lincoln, gave in his adherence to the Government and pledged the Democratic party to support the Union at all hazards. It was the Senator’s last speech before that more memorable one which was delivered in Chicago just before his death. Logan listened with impatience until its conclusion. and then followed the exhausted and dying Senator t© his rooms, where, in the presence of many of Douglas’ friends, he denounced and. upbraided him for his attempt to “sell out the Democratic party to the Abolitionists,” and declared that the attempt should not succeed. On the train which bore Senator Douglas, his wife and Logan from Springfield to Chicago Logan acted like a boor tow ard Mrs. Douglas, and while Douglas was addressing a crowd at Joliet from the rear car in favor of the Union, Logan was in another portion of the train indulging in the most violent language, denouncing both Douglas and the North/’

(We believe this was the oc. casion when the gre/t Douglas denounced him as a ‘Dirty Dog.”)—Ed. Sentinel. The News continues: “Shortly preceding the rebellion ilham H. Zailey, present County Clerk of Will county, was in Washington, and having a letter to Logan from his friend Samuel Casey, of Joliet, was invited by Logan to the floor of the H. use. The conversation turned on the feeling of the Democrats in •> ill county, and when Mr. Zailey innocently assured Logan that it followed Douglas, the CoTTgrtsp--man grew very excited:— answer to a statemeiiMJlaF they were prepared tosendan army, if need be, to subdue the rebellious Southerners, Logan could restrain himself no longer, and burst out: “You will have to march over our dead bodies then.” This was said in the presence of Hon. James Robinson, now a partner of ex-Governor Palmer, and another gentleman. Both endeavored to moderate Logan’s temper, but he continued very bitter in. his denunciation of the North, and supporting the South while damning the Government. * * *

“Logan’s stubborn refusal to listen to the pleadings of humanity, reason and loyalty, and his reluctance to enter the army or have anything to do with the subjugation of the South, was the cause and origin of the well-known story of Casey’s calf: “Like Casey’s calf, he had to be pulled up by the ears to make him suck, and then by the tail to compel him to let go.” Logan has not yet let go, as the folio wing list of relatives in the United States emdloy testifies;

John Cunningham (father-in-law) Postmaster; Sam Cun niugham (nephew) from the Chicago Postoffice to a Lieutenancy in the regular army; James V. Logan (brother) Postmaster; Susie Cunningham, clerkship in w ashington; Mrs. Mary Cunningham, succeeded John M. as Postmaster; Dr. Logan (cousin) Foreign Minister; William Tucker (son-in-law) paymaster in the army; Enoch Blanchard (nephew) postal service; Mrs. Jenkins (cousin) P istmistress and Department Clerk; John A. Logan, Jr., cadet at West Point, and Mr. Cunningham (brother-in-law) just appointed postmaster at Birmingham, Ala. This nepotic array brings us to a consideration of John A. Logan’s record on civil service

reform. It will be seen that he has preached as he has practised. His course in Congress has u niformly shown that he has looked on the bestowal of patronage as the highest purpose of politics. — ■' " ■ Boston special: E. F. Pillsbury, of Maine, a close neighbor of Mr. Blaine, said; “I think 1 am pretty well acquainted with the Hon. James G. Blame, I have encountered him on the stump and have fought political battles with him in Maine. I have studied his methods and character, and I think I understand him pretty well. lam free to acco d to Mr. Blaine that he has no equal as a politician in this country and he is prolific in his resources and tact and sharpness in politics/ but beyond that I have never yet seen a republican win could say more for Blaine. No republican could ever give me a sound reason why Blaine sho’d command the respect of the people of tins country. I now ask what has he done outside of his acts as a politician to command respect; what act of statesmanship? vv ith wh a t great measure has ho been allied? No one can tell, w hat has he done in statesmanship, in business or in religion, if you please, that entitles him to this support? In the matter of Christian religion, Jas. G. Blaine came to Augusta a Catholic, and carried his bible and rosary to church,but when he went in politics the Catholic church was not popular enough and he apostatized and went into the Congregational church, on the condition that he should not be called on to make a prayer in church. [Cheers.] v. bat his war record, 'hat it should entitle him to the confidence of the people, although he was foremost in the proceedings that led to the war? He was the first to be drafted in his district, but prior to that an organization had b?on of ■itected in Augusta to protect -mim-against the ’draft, each •member paying $26 to the fund to hire a substitute if drafted. Mr. Blaine, out of that fund, hired asubstitute named Bradford. A soft placets fouijd for the man to remain at the post in Augusta instead of going to the front. After awhile he was detected in selling for money certain certificates,' and he was put into jail until the close of the war. That constituted Mr. Blaine’s service in the field. [Loud laughter.—

After the war had closed the men who had been drawn claimed that the towns and cities should pay the expenses they had been put to, and Augusta generously voted to pay these men the money they had ■ >aid for substitutes, and Mr. . llaine got his bond for S2OO. 3ut that is not the end. Afterwards a resolution was put before the common council of Augusta to pay Mr. Blaine S2OO, the amount he had paid for a substitute, and it was voted and passed, and he, was paid. That you can rely on as being a true story.”

The World [Dem.]: We do not exactly see why the people of the United States, whose taxes are increased and whose burd-‘ ens are doubled while a corrupt party keeps a hundred millions in the Treasury is an incentive to dishonesty, sho’d Slve way to enthusiasm at this me. Mr. Blaine may wear his plume well, but plumed knights have very little place in the solution of the pressing and practical problem before this country, ihe demand of the people is for honesty and reform in the administration of public affairs. Far deeper than any party need is the demand for National honor.— The Republican party replies to this by nominating a champion of political corruption and by howling itself hoarse over his plume.