Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1884 — APPEALING TO THE DEAD. [ARTICLE]

APPEALING TO THE DEAD.

Ohio Republicans, in Their Despair, Call Upon the Late Senator Morrill. Indignant Eeply of His Widow—What the Deceased Statesman Thought of James 0. Blaine —A Terrible Arraignment of the Bepublican * Leader. [Augusta (Me.) special to the Chicago Herald] The late Senator Lot M. Morrill, of Maine, represented the purest and best methods In politics. When Senator Morrill resigned the Benatorship to accept the Treasury portfolio under Grant, as will be remembered, Mr. Blaine was appointed his successor. Senator Morrill died here eighteen months ago. His widow, who is the daughter of the late Mr. Vance, who In his day was one of the most prominent citizens of this section, lives in a pleasant home on Winthrop street, this city. She is a ladv evidently of great force of character, and was the valued associate, confidante and helpmate of her distinguished husband, both in the Executive Mansion in this State and during the many years of his' residence in Washington as Senator and Secretary of the Treasury, Mrs. Morill was recently surprised to receive from Ohio an official letter directed to her lata husbad. Opening it she found it to be a very importunate appeal to Senator Morrill to visit Ohio and to lend his aid in saving the State to Mr. Blaine. Mrs. Morrill turned the sheet over and wrote on its back an indignant reply and mailed It forthwith to the gentleman who had signed the appeal. In conversation to-day on the subject or the Ohio letter Mrs. Morrill said: ''Borne six weeks ago I received a letter from Columbus, Ohio, on a sheet with a printed head representing some political organization. I was so surprised and indignant at its contents that I did not particularly -notice whether it was from a State committee* a county committee, or a political club, but it was signed by a Mr. Brown, as chairman, and a Mr. Ogden, as secretary. It was, as well as I oan romember it, about as follows: “Senator Lot M. Morrill: “Deab Sib—The situation in Ohio is a critical one. Tho party Is in trouble on account of the attacks on Mr. Blaine as the oapdidate of the party. Your well-known ohar'acter as a pure and upright statesman, and coming from Blaine’s own State, you could refute the oharges as no one else can. We hope you will come to us in this emergency and make as many speeches as possible. “I was indignant and amazod that any Republican should be ignorant that my husband was dead. I was more indignant that he should be asked to assist in making Mr. Blaine President. lat once sat down and wrote on the back of the sheet this reply, as near as I can remember it. lam now sorry that I did not keep copies of both tho letter and of my answer: “To Brown, Chairman, Columbus, Ohio; lam surprised and shocked to receive such a communication. I thought every citizen of this country knew my husband was at rest lam in mourning for him; but as much as I mourn ills death, I thank my Father in heaven that he called him home before the party that he loved so wffil and did so much for had so disgraced itself as to nominate so wicked and corrupt a man for the highest office within tho gift of the Amerloan people as I know and my husband knew James G. Blaine to toe. If he were alivo he would not support Mr. Blaine, or any suoh man, oven at thebidding of his party. “Chablotte IX Mobbill.

“My husband,” continued Mrs. Morrill, "was visited by Mr. Blaino at the beginning of tho Congressional investigation into the Little Rock Railroad bonds. Mr. Blaine, as he did to Mulligan, importuned my husband with tears and entreaties to use his influence to save him. When my husband resigned to go into the Cabinet it was generally understood, and my husband so understood, that Governor Chamberlain would be appointed to rill the vacancy. Instead, and to the surprise of every one. Governor Connor appointed Mr. Blaine, then a Representative in Congress and under charges in that body, to the vacanoy." As Mrs. Morrill Intimated, the appointment of Mr. Blaine to the vacancy was evidently to save him from the further Investigation and the inevitable incriminating verdict of the committee. Governor Connor had his reward. He is now Pension Agent for this State, the best office next to the Collectors Mp. Blaine’s Treachery to Senator Morrill— The Feeling in Boston. [Boston speolal to Chicago News.] The letter of Mrs. Charlotte Morrill to the Republican Committee of Ohio, which sent a request to her deceased husband to come out and help them in their extremity, has made a profound impression here. Mr. Morrill was a pure, incorruptible man, and was highly esteemed in Boston, where he was about as well known as in his own State of Maine. By many Mrs. Morrill’s letter, coming as it does from one who undoubtedly knew the real opinion her husband had of Blaine, is regarded as the severest blow which has been dealt the Republican candidates in the opening of the campaign. It has created an undisguised feeling of gloom among the followers of Mr. Blaine. He whose testimony is thus given by one best able to give it and best autnorized to do so is not now to be traduced and declared an unfit witness. He knew Blaine well, had been with him m Maine polities since IBM, and the estimate ho placed on him was founded on evidence of the most indisputable character.

Those who are well Informed of the relatione that have long existed between the Morrill and the Blaine families are not surprised at this letter. Mrs. Morrill has not spoken to Blaine or Ms wife for several years. The last interview Blaine ever had with Lot Morrill was In 1876, when the Congressional investigation pertaining to the Mulligan letters was in progress, and when Blaine conceived the idea of getting irito the Senate, and thus to escape the probable conviction and expulsion. He went to Morrill, who «fvas then in the Senate, and besought him to resign and accept the Secretaryship of the Treasury. Grant was President, and he had agreed to help Blaine out. Blaine told Morrill that Gov. Connor, then in the Executive chair of Maine, would appoint Gen. Chamberlain to the vacancy made in the Senate. Morrill consented to resign with that understanding. Imagine his surprise when Gov. Connor appointed Blaine himself to the vacancy. From that time forward Morrill had no confidence whatever in Blaine, but believed him to be an unscrupulous rascal. But there are other causes that played their part in putting Mrs. Morrill in a frame of mind suitable for writing that most damaging letter. A story is told to the effect that an incident occurred some years ago in Washington, not of a political nature, to which Mrs. Morrill was an accidental, unexpected, and greatly surprised and indignant witness, and that from that moment to the present she has had the most unbounded contempt for Blaine. She evidently knows a good deal more than she has yet told, and if she concludes to tell it all, there may be something rivaling the Kentucky story which figures in the now celebrated Blaine libel suit. The feeling against Blaine in Boston and throughout the State is unquestionably growing both in extent and intensity. Nowhere have been heard such determined expressions against him, and it is a remarkable fact that those who denounce him with the greatest severity are old Republicans. The independent movement here is going to yield surprising results. Should the revolt continue to grow as it is now growing, Cleveland will certainly carry the state. Very many careful men already believe that be will do so. Some of the reports that are being made to the Independent State Committee show great defections.