Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1884 — A VIVID PORTRAIT. [ARTICLE]

A VIVID PORTRAIT.

A Life-Long Republican on the Tattooed Candidate. Hon, Robert C. Pitman, a leading and oldtime Republican of Massachusetts, recently delivered an address in Tremont Temple, Boston, in the course of which he drew this vivid picture of the dishonest demagogue who is trying to hoodwink the American people into elevating him to the place occupied by Washington: I cannot upon my conscience support James G. Blaine. I have lived to see tke Republican party defy the moral sense of the country. I have lived to see orators and journalists of that party sneer at the sentiment of conscience from which that party drew the breath of life. As a test of fealty to that party they require me to support a man who prostituted the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to aid him as a stock broker ana jobber, In playing upon the hopes and fears of the speculators ana aaventuers who were his chosen companions; who, as a Senator, chiefly distinguished himself as a shameless demagogue In selecting a memorial service to William Klng as an occasion for venting his spite upon Massachusetts by defaming her history, and as Secretary of State rendered his short career memorable only as a breaker and disturber of the peace among nations. Let others, if they will, bend the knee to the man who bent the knee to James Mulligan. I scorn the homage. This Presidential election is both a test and a training of the character of the American people. Says Wendell Phillips: “The character of a state is well shown by the character of those she crowns.” Still more profound was the saying of the Greek orator centuries ago: “It is not your palestras or your schools that instruct your youth, but much more your bestowal of public honors." The character of the people will as the character of those you crow* Mr. Blaine is held forth to the young men of the land as an “ideal Republican candidate.” The phrases of chivalry are invoked to do him honor. Men of Massachusetts, read the Mulligan letters, and see your plumed knight full drawn by himself in those letters which were not burned. If you would have a picturesque background and some interesting postures of your knight, read Mr. Mulligan’s testimony—which Senator Hoar majestically waves asi e. But in my experience of trials I never knew the testimony of a disinterested and unimpeached witness set aside merely because his testimony was not agreeable to the accused. But if you take Mr. Blaine’s letters alone, what do you think pf your hero? Mr. Blaine’s advice is to read them. The Boston Journal goes beyond the assurance of its candidate and says: “It will help him rather than injure him." When you read these letters, remember they were written by a man holding a position of which, a few nights ago, George 8. Boutwell spoke as follows: The Speaker, until bis committees are appointed, is the most potential being in the United States. He shapes all your policies—everything of yours, in fact.” At the close of this correspondence, this knight writes out a certificate of character for Mr. Fisher to sign: “Your conduct was in the highest degree honorable and straightforward.” If I were to adopt it and repeat it should I not be thought satirical? Mr. Blaine, in a word, has precisely those vices of mind and character that prevent the most brilliant demagogism from ever rising to the plane of wise statesmanship.

One more picture of the plumed knight at Augusta. See his courage in voting on the prohibition amendment. It was late in the afternoon, and the ladies had all gone, and he walked in and voted for everything else except the question which most concerned the people of Maine. Now, talk about not having the courage of his convictions—he has no convictions.