Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1884 — The Great English Question [ARTICLE]

The Great English Question

T see a Century scientist tells us the sun is so far away that if a limited express train had left there when the Mayflower sailed from Delfnaven it would still be many years’ journey from the earth.” “Aye, but you blastered Hameri cans are so unreasonabfe, ye know. 'Ow the deuce could a liraiied hexpress run from the sun ’ere? And where would it stop for dinner?”

The attorneys for the Sentinel have filled the following interrogatories for Mr. Blaine to answer under oath, positively and without evassion: 1. What was the maiden name of your wife? 2. When and where did you make her acquaintance? <3. State whether you ever lived in the State of Kentucky,jri what em’ ployment you were there engaged, and at wuat place, and at what time you were so eng iged? 4. State whether the petson you afterward married lived in Kentucky at that time, iu what employment she was engaged, and at what place she was so engaged. 5. State when you finally left Kentucky, if you at any time resided there, where you went theretrom, where you were next employed, in what business or calling. 6. If you answer that the maiden name of your wife was Harriet Stanwood, state when she finally left Kentucky, and when and where you next met her. 7. How and where you first married? . . 8. Were you not married some time in the month of March, 1351? 9. Give th 9 date and place of your mairiage, and the name of the per* sons besides yourself and wife, who were present on the occasion? 10. What acquaintance had you with Jacob Stan wood? 11. What relation was he, if any, to the person you married, and what coversation or interview did you have with him before said marriage concerning the same, and where did

such any. occur, and what wus said and done tbereiu? 12. Was not the first child of said maniac* born on the 18th day of June, 1881? 13. What was its name, bow long did it live, and with whom? 14. Where did said child die, where -ras it buried, and if in any cemetery give the name of the cemetery? 15. Woe any tombstone or monument erected at the grave of said child, giviDg the date of its birth, and by whose directions said tombstone erected? 16. Was there any inscription on said tombstone, at the time of its erect’":! or shortly thereafter? If so, give he said inscription in words and figures as the acme was originally on said tombstone? 17. Did not said tombstone bear the loilowing inscripion relative to the birth of said child: “Stanwood Blaine, born June 18, 1881?” lft Has any portion of such inscription on said tombstone been erased since its erectio —if so what portion thereof?

19. What acquaintance have you with a book called, “The Life of Janies G. Blaine,” written by Russell H. Conwell, with an introduction by Gov. Robie, of Maine, and published by E. C. Allen & Co., Augusta, Maine, in the year 1884? 20. . Were iot the proof of such work submitted to you for revision ? 21. Is not the statement made up' on the 68th page of said book, a 8 follows; “Miss Stan wood, In March. 1851, became his wife at Pittsburg Pa.,” a correct statement or the time and place of your marriage? 22. Bid you not communicate to the author of said book, for his use in such wortt. the time and place of your matrhige, as afordsaid? The following communication was handed to the edi or of the Republic can, but h s columns were “too much crowded" to give it space. Possibly it was *too strong meat for readers whose intellects have been enfeebled by a protracted diet of pap and treacle : j. j.

Editor Republican: Wby can’t men be decent in their politics? Why not exhibit some of the maivelous effects of our boasted civilization and Christianity in their political as well as their religious dealings with their fellow men? The Methodist brother, no matter how ardent in his convic lions, does not stand ou the street corner and howl at because of the difference in their creeds; the Presbyterian does not rail at the Baptist, nor tl.e Baptist abuse the Episcopalian, because the light does not strike them ail in the same spot. The members of these and the hundreds of other denominations are content to march harmoniously in the grand procession, believing that all aie working towafd the same great goal, and that though their paths may diverge slightly here, they will all “get there* in the end. It is reserved for the politicians to degrade themselves by slandering and vilifying every man who does not see tilings through their jaundiced spectacles. This disposition prevails largely in both parties, but It is much more nearly universal amoDg epablieuns than among Democrats. Recall the Republican speeches you have I card; turn over your files ot Republican papers; converse with tho leading Republicans ol your acquaintance; and if you can remember, find or hear oue sing e Kindly, generous, hearty sentiment of appre* elation of a Democrat, I’ll give you my head for a toot-ball. You wi.l hear every Republican politician, even of the smallest caliber, spoken of as an “eminent statesman,” or “a Dure patriot,” or “a wise and able man,” or some other equally fulsome and laudatory term applied to him: while every Democrat is referred to us “a misera le traitor,” or “a sneakng copperhead,” or “an arrant demagogue.” I have noticed, also, that t..e descending grade of intellect exactly marks the ascending grade of abuse of all men of opposite opiu« ions; and when you finally reach the narrow line which thinly divides the man and the monkey, you will learn that in this free land a Democrat has no rights whatever —that they are all “liars and hoi se-thieves, and bribed by Briti -h gold,” or words to that effect. These connecting links tnink a Democrat has no right even to aspire to office, and go upon the Douny brook Fair principle: “W erever you see a head, hit it.” Now, Mr. Editor you and I, and all intelligent people know what insufferable popycoclc all tiiis is. We know there is not a uincempoop in all the land sufficiently silly to be swayed by it. Then why not use your influence to put a s'op to it, and make men gen tlemen in their politics as well as their religion? Last week you praised the great Normal recently held here as marking the rapid progress of education among tLe people. Yet every week you lend your influence lo perpetuate a style of Bpolitical warfart—the Chinese stink-pot stylo—which has become obsolete in intelligent communities* that is calculated to move back the hands upon the dial of time fully fifty years, and Which, if it has any effect at all, must be only through he basest passions of the must degraded men. You know that three-fourths of the political assertions you print from week to week concerning the opposite party are baseless fabrications, concoct ed for political effect; you know that the Democratic party has the good of the country at heart every whit as much as the Republicans; you know that Cleveland will make as respectable a President as Blaine; you know that the election of either will not have the slightest effect to retard or

advance the prosperity of the country’ or deleteriously affect the of any single citize ; you kDow that there are no “great principles” oi ‘tremendous issues” involved in the present campaign—you know it is simply a fight of the ins to stay in, and of the outs to get in. Then why should the average citizen rend bi's iinen, or bawl himself hoarse in behalf of either candidate? And why should newspaper . which set themselves up as guardians of the morals of the people, make themselves, instead, mere sewers of fll'h. disseminators of slander, ani receptacle* of lies to blacken the fair fame of good men who may chance to be nominated for offlci bv the opposite party? In what I haye written, Mr Editor, I do not wish to be considered persona!, but am speauing in general terms, Intended for application to both parties. I occupy the elevated plane of ts-e succsssfui speculator who holds four aces in a little game of draw. In other words, I am eu tirely independent— perhaps even in* different—and don’t care a continental which wins. But Irould not resist the temptation in a plea for more decency in politics, and a higher tone to current, di cushion thereof. If yau convince me that I am wrong and you are right, I will throw up my hat for fiiaino during the rest of the campaign.

JOHN JASPER.