Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1884 — POLITICAL. [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL.

James G. Blaine,, writes to his counsel at Indianapolis to dismiss his libel-suit against the Sentinel newspaper. The following is his letter: Messrs. Harrison, Miller A Elam, Counselors at Gentlemen: When I requested you In August last to bring suit against the publishers of the Indianapolis Sentinel tor libel. I did so in the belief that the wrong done me by that paper, 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 up and the libel reproduced 'with all itossible exaggeration in every Democratic paper in Indiana. Except from throe meml>ers of the Democratic party of that State, I never heard that a word of disapproval was spoken, while the groat mass of the Democratic speakers repeated the libel from every stump in Indiana with vituperative rancor, with gibe and ribald jest. It pas thus made, so for as any matter of the kind can be made, an issue in an exciting political campaign, and tho 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 wero unfair enough to desiro 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,! was repeatedly advised that six Democrats could not be found 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 evidenoe 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 bv the bill of discovery have already been substantially and fully answered by me, and I am willing to leave my 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 statement of the reason which induced me to believe the prosecution of the case would be utterly fruitless. Very respectfully, James G. Blaine. A PROMINENT Ohio Democrat states that Judge Thurman has recently received from Daniel Manning a letter asking him to accept a Cabinet position. It is further averred that Mr. Thurman will decline, for fear of creating a hopeless division in the party in 0hi0.... Out in Montana much disappointment ifc felt concerning the nomination of Platt Carpenter to the Governorship of the Territory. Carpenter lives in New York State.

Three Cabinet portfolios are said to have been already decided Upon. Senator Bayard is to be Secretary of the Treasury, Senator Garland Attorney-General, and General 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, Benator Gayland, of Arkansas, for Attorny General, and Gen. MoClellan. of New Jersey for Secretary of the Navy. This gentleman says that Mr. Cleveland - has decided that neither New York nor Indiana shall have a Cabinet place, as he oousiders 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 wb:oh 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 tdo many enemies to punish. This partial slate comes 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 Cabihet, and that Senator Pendleton will be suitably recognized with one of the principal foreign missions.