Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1884 — Blaine and his Personal Honor. [ARTICLE]

Blaine and his Personal Honor.

Missouri Rebublican: Mr. Blaine has directed that a suit for libel be instituted against tbe editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel for the publication of an article charging certain immoral acts committed in his earlier life. An action for lioel is a tedious method of vindicating personal honor, particularly in’this ease, as the November election must be an event of the past before the facts can he developed by a jncicial iu. quiry. To commence such a proceeding, however, with a grand flourish oi trumpets, respecting his personal bouoand his willingness to defend it with his life, isentirely in keeping with Blaine's methods and ideas. \Hetealways ready with a-dedaration anda volley of words, and can strike au attitude of indignant surprise with great effect and impressiveness. >His whole career is a glittering sham with nothing in it of substantial performance, but with sensational effort to attract public notice and to win a reputation by partisan aggressiveness. We know nothing as to this story of his domestic immorality—it may be of the same stripe with the foolish slander put in circulation about Cleveland—but we do know that a suit for libel is a very tame aud ineffective ■ mode of meeting the allegations. He has a .right to encounter a serious charge in any way.that suits his taste, but it : .s too late for him to effect any extraordinary sensitiveness as to his personal honor. Within the lines of his own party and outside of them tbe grayest kind of.charges respecting his personal honor and official integrity have been' made repeatedly, many of hich are matters of documentary evidence, and ‘ he has.-submitted to the shame without any great show of righteous indignation.' He has the prize of his ambition —he is tire nominee of bis party for the. highest-office in the Government, and yet there is coupled with his success the proof of his dishonor. It is the record of his acts that now threatens him with defeat, ilt .is this that has put him on, the defense from the outset, that hasdriven mar y of the liest men of hie party into political inactivity in this campaign or into coalition with Democracy. His honor toward his t mily, for aught we know, may be im. iculate, but his honor as acitizen aud tfleial is fatally marred aad beyond th hope of vindication. i