The Portland daily press., 1869-04-01
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND
Thursday Morning, April l, 1869.
BLAINE vs.. COLFAX-

BLAINE VS.. COLFAX.
The Washington correspondent OF the
Chleago Tribune says: A fine antithetical
study would be that of Blaine and his prede-
cessof, Coifax. They are so like in the aver
age that one has to hesitate before he prefe rs
either. Coliax is native of the Empi re
State, Blaine of the Keystone Both are
Middle States men in all essentials of temper
ment, n2ure, physiognOmy, and hearty COM
nonsense patriotism. Colfax is accidental
ly New Yorker, being by right a Jerseyman.
and his disposition lacks in some respects the
largeness and "dash" of the metropolis, re-
tanning in some small regards the traditional
traits of the State of Camden and Amboy.-
Blaine with the open candOr of a rural Penn
sylvanian, caught the fire of Kentucyian as
he-taught school in the Blue Grass country,
and then he pursued sweetheart into the
State of Maine, and settled there He is
fine specimen of howImuch better Yankee is
for having been first Middle State or a West
ern State man. Blaine has all the better
ideas of New England with better manners.
He is long-waisted man, with shoulders
square and ready for the wheel, and there is
hitch to them when he is anxious His eye
is piercing and large, his head is carried hand
somely, and he has vigorous legs and arms,
and often looks soldierly, as If cavalry boots
and buckskin gauntlets would become him.
He is more manly parsonage to the eye
than COlfax, showing throughout his life
Irish extractiens, and he has wit, perhaps
imagination, to match. He is a strong exec
utive officer, and he directed the Republican
vote OF the State of Maine last year with
zest and energy In which you could hear his
nerves tingle.
Colfax is closer politician than Blaine
not a mere ardent one, but an astuter one
l had almost said more cunning one. He
puts all his opportunities to the thriftiest use.
His Congressional documents, packages OF
garden seeds, tickets of admission to public
places, abstemIous evening receptions, and
whatever other facilities he enjoys, are rapid
ly applied to the uses chiefly Of those who are,
or may be, his constituents.
Colfax's motherly education made him a
moral boy, with good habits and fine associa-
tions, while his natural adroitness directed
this prudent life and engaging manners to
heights of place such as only genius or real
force OF character commonly reach. There is
neither flint nor fire in Colfax, and yet he IS
capable man. He does not resist, but he
avoids; be is not scintillant nor energetic, but
satisfactory. His career affords an encourage
ing example to young men not possessed Of
the very first intellectual qualities as to how
far along they can get with good morals
Mr.. C0lfax, as presiding officer, was dis
tinguished for his perfect and available
knowledge OF rulings, for the rapidity of his
mind in catching up appeals, and the shrewd-
ness with which he distributed committees.
Mr.. Kerr, of Indiana, recently said, at Fer
nando Woods dinner, that he was as fair a
presiding officer as an opponent could expect.
Once or twice Colfax surprised me by leaving
the chair and joining in pitched battle upon
some one point affecting the propriety of his
rulings, and he has displayed much clever
ness in such debate. He is one of those an
omalous members who show far stronger in
the presiding chair than on the floor.