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Story
August 16, 1884
The Dillon Tribune
Dillon, Beaverhead County, Montana
What is this article about?
James G. Blaine, Republican presidential candidate, sues the Indianapolis Sentinel for libel after it published an article accusing him of betraying and shotgun-wedding a girl, in response to attacks on Grover Cleveland. Dated August 14, 1884.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
BLAINE SUES FOR SLANDER.
The Republican Candidate for President After a Newspaper.
On August 14th Messrs. Harrison, Miller & Elam, attorneys at law at Indianapolis, entered suit in behalf of James G. Blaine, for the publication of the following article in the Indianapolis Sentinel:
"Can Blaine afford it? The campaign war against Cleveland is to say the least an indecent one. Finding no vulnerable points in his public record the enemy have assailed the supposed irregularity in his private conduct. They have dressed and re-dressed the affair until the naked facts of it are but a small portion of the furbelowed, frilled and ruffled bizarre figure waltzing in the Blaine Republican prints. This besmirching private character is the stock in trade of Blaine folks. It is all they have to offer against the Democratic candidate. But can James G. Blaine afford this plan of battle? If his flanks are as unprotected as they are currently understood to be, is he not provoking a scathing fire by permitting these assaults on Grover Cleveland? The Democracy will hardly remain quiet on Blaine and his inner life when his supporters are resorting to scandal mongering against its candidate. The charges of seduction made upon Mr. Cleveland and which are false upon their very face, can be turned on Blaine and made to stick? There is hardly an intelligent man in the country that has not heard that James G. Blaine betrayed a girl whom he married at the muzzle of a shot gun."
Bulletin. - The following is the last of Blaine's dispatch to Colonel Halloway:
BAR HARBOR, August 14, 1884. - To Colonel A. R. Halloway: I have this moment received the atrocious libel of the Indianapolis Sentinel. It is utterly and abominably false in every statement. Political slanders I do not stop to consider, but this editor assails the honor of my wife and my children. I desire you without an hour's delay to employ the proper attorney and have the responsible publisher of the Sentinel sued for libel in the United States District Court of Indiana. It is my only remedy. I am sure that honorable Democrats alike with Republicans will justify me in defending the honor of my family, if need be by my life.
(Signed),
JAMES G. BLAINE.
The Republican Candidate for President After a Newspaper.
On August 14th Messrs. Harrison, Miller & Elam, attorneys at law at Indianapolis, entered suit in behalf of James G. Blaine, for the publication of the following article in the Indianapolis Sentinel:
"Can Blaine afford it? The campaign war against Cleveland is to say the least an indecent one. Finding no vulnerable points in his public record the enemy have assailed the supposed irregularity in his private conduct. They have dressed and re-dressed the affair until the naked facts of it are but a small portion of the furbelowed, frilled and ruffled bizarre figure waltzing in the Blaine Republican prints. This besmirching private character is the stock in trade of Blaine folks. It is all they have to offer against the Democratic candidate. But can James G. Blaine afford this plan of battle? If his flanks are as unprotected as they are currently understood to be, is he not provoking a scathing fire by permitting these assaults on Grover Cleveland? The Democracy will hardly remain quiet on Blaine and his inner life when his supporters are resorting to scandal mongering against its candidate. The charges of seduction made upon Mr. Cleveland and which are false upon their very face, can be turned on Blaine and made to stick? There is hardly an intelligent man in the country that has not heard that James G. Blaine betrayed a girl whom he married at the muzzle of a shot gun."
Bulletin. - The following is the last of Blaine's dispatch to Colonel Halloway:
BAR HARBOR, August 14, 1884. - To Colonel A. R. Halloway: I have this moment received the atrocious libel of the Indianapolis Sentinel. It is utterly and abominably false in every statement. Political slanders I do not stop to consider, but this editor assails the honor of my wife and my children. I desire you without an hour's delay to employ the proper attorney and have the responsible publisher of the Sentinel sued for libel in the United States District Court of Indiana. It is my only remedy. I am sure that honorable Democrats alike with Republicans will justify me in defending the honor of my family, if need be by my life.
(Signed),
JAMES G. BLAINE.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Deception Fraud
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Blaine Libel Suit
Indianapolis Sentinel
1884 Presidential Campaign
Political Slander
Shotgun Wedding Accusation
What entities or persons were involved?
James G. Blaine
Grover Cleveland
Colonel A. R. Halloway
Harrison, Miller & Elam
Where did it happen?
Indianapolis, Indiana; Bar Harbor
Story Details
Key Persons
James G. Blaine
Grover Cleveland
Colonel A. R. Halloway
Harrison, Miller & Elam
Location
Indianapolis, Indiana; Bar Harbor
Event Date
1884 08 14
Story Details
James G. Blaine instructs attorneys to sue the Indianapolis Sentinel for libel after it published an article accusing him of betraying a girl and marrying her at shotgun point, in retaliation for attacks on Cleveland's private life during the 1884 presidential campaign.