Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1884 — POLITICAL. [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL.

Mr. Blaine has addressed the following letter to his attorneys, instructing them to dismiss the suit for $50,000 damages for libel against the Indianapolis Sentinel, which he instituted during the recent campaign: Messrs. Harrison, Miller <fc Elam, Counselors at Law: Gentlemen : When I requested yon In August last to bring salt against the publishers of the Indianapolis Sentinel for libel, I did so in the belief that the wrong done me by that palter, being entirely of a personal and domestic character, could be fairly tried without undue influence from political considerations. I confess I was profoundly amazed to find the matter at once taken np and the libel reproduced with all possible exaggeration in every Democratic paper in Indiana. Except from three members of the Democratic party of that State, I never heard that a word of disapproval was spoken, while the great mass of the Democratic speakers repeated the libel from every stump in Indiana with vituperative rancor, with gibe and ribald jest. It was thus made, so for as any matter of the kind can be made, an issue in an exciting political campaign, and tbe Democrats of the State were thoroughly poisoned In their minds in regard to the question to be decided at law. Under such conditions it is simply impossible that I can have a fair trial, or that I can expect any other result than that which uniformly attends a political suit growing out of an exciting campaign in this country, if I were unfair enough to desire a jury composed of my own partis, ns I could not have it. A properly constituted jury in Indiana would be composed or members of both political parties in about equal proportions. When I visited Indiana in October, I was repeatedly advised that six Democrats could not be fonnd In the State who, in a political suit, would give a verdict against their leading party organ. This did not necessarily convey an Imputation against their personal Integrity as citizens, but simply that the blinding of party prejudice would utterly prevent an impartial consideration of the evidence submitted. lam perfectly able to fight the Sentinel newspaper in an Indiana court, but I would stand no chance whatever against the consolidated venom of the Democratic party of the State. With these surroundings, and with this prospect, it is idle for me to go through the trouble and annoyance of a trial. The questions propounded by the bill of discovery have already been substantially and fully answered by me, and I am willing to leave mv written statement and answers under oath to the judgment of the public. Ido not choose to have the case indirectly concluded by a technicality or suffered to die in silence. I prefer to make this frank and open statementof the reason which induced me to believe the prosecution of the case would be utterly fruitless. Very respectfully, James G. Blaine.

Thbee Cabinet portfolios are said to have been already deeided upon. Senator Bayard is to be Secretary of the Treasury, Senator Garland Attorney-General, and Gen. McClellan Secretary of the Navy. The Washington correspondent of the Chicago Tribune telegraphs that journal this bit of Cabinet gossip; A prominent Democrat says that three Cabinet positions have been settled. They are: Senator Bayard for the Treasury, Senator Garland, of Arkansas, for Attorney General, ana Gen. McClellan, of New Jersey, for Secretary of the Navy. The gentleman says that Mr. Cl eveland has decided that neither New York nor Indiana shall have a Cabinet place, as he considers that both those States are represented In the Cabinet through the President and Vice President. So confident are Democrats that Mr. Garland is to go into the Cabinet that an application has already been recorded on the diagram of the Senate chamber for the seat which Garland now occupies. The reason why McClellan is not assigned to the War Department is that he has too many friends in the army to reward and too many enemies to punish. This partial slate com e from a prominent Senator, and considerable importance is attached to it. Among Senators the impression is general that Judge Thurman will be one of the Cabinet, and that Senator Pendleton will be suitably recognized with one of the principal foreign missions.