The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-04-01
Sneaker Blaine.

- IN fN
Tho Portland Advertiser In q long arti-
Gle under the above title, proposes several
conundrums which will be found at the
close of its article which we copy below,
but which e either cannot or are not
called upon to answer ut the present time.
The special objection to Mr.. Blaine's sue
ceeding to tho United States Senate, in
the mind of the advertiser seems to be
that he is not ''wise." That is bad, AMI II
proved. Mr.. Blaine may consider himself
out of the lists. But what our cotempo-
rary considers .wise," it unfortunately
does not state, and we arc left in darkness
by the hiding Of its face. The "feeler"
thus put out by the Adrertiser is timely or
untimely according to the purpose to be
accomplished. Notwithstanding Its de-
murer, we suspect that its purpose is to
abandon our honorable friend Lynch, and
support Mr.. Blaine for the Senate. We
object to having any candidate Struggled
upon the people in an undetermined man
ner:
Mr.. Blaine is now about forty years old, and
his life has been singularly and uniformly pros
porous. ale who is not handsome at twenty,
strong at thirty, rich at forty, and wise at tfty,
says Spanish prOyerb. Evil never he hand
some, strong, rich or wise" Mr.. Blaine. has
passed the first three tests successfully. Wheth-
err he viii be wise ten years hence remains to be
seen; but hitherto that quality has not been as
eribed to him. People call him adrof. skillfal,
able, prudent, cautious, or timid, but nobody
yet, 80 far as we have observed, calls him wise.
Ills intellect is acute and rapid, his ends are
Immediate and practical, and his choice OF
means Is prompt and SPACIOUS but not fastldi-
Gus. For general rules Of conduct, based upon
broad nductions and looking to remote rs well
rs immediate results, Mr.. Blaine has, one would
saw, kind Of contempt comparing them with
the shrcud devices which he finds 50 seryiceable.
1t is nevertheless upon these gcneralizations that
mankind have agreed to confer the name Of
wisdom.
In certain pursuits. men get along very well
without wisdom. The world is governed with
prVyerbiany small allowance Of that quality'
when Mr. Blaine came to this State, he came
with the distinct purpose Of devoting himself to
the practical work of government. lie became
a professional politician at the very time when
that profession was at its lowest, when the two
great parties had both agreed to compromise
with slavery, and the game Of politics had be-
come as disreputable as faro, deriving its sole
interest from the magnitude Of the stakes, and
Its sole dignity from the unwilling participation
In public affairs Of n few men who were chosen
by, not foisted upon, their fellow-citzens. MIR.
Blaine accepted the profession as he found 1t,
and made his way by the usual methods, taking
up his residence at the State capital, editing the
party paper, making stump speeches, repeating
the party shibboleth with loud and distinct
voice ON all suitable occasions. serving on the
party committees, managing the party caucuses
and finally making his way into the legislature
In 1859. To that arena he came fully equipped
with all necessary knowledge. and he carried no
dead weight. With all the intricacies Of par
liamentary practice he Was perfectly familiar.
II bill was to be swiftly put throgh or adroit-
ly blocked, no man in the House knew better
how 10 do il. He knew the history and meas
ure of every man upon the hOor-how to APP
proach him for Cancellation, where he was
most vulnerable for attack. lie had no notions,
no obstinate opnions-and has none now. The
road TO the Speakers chair was for him short
and easy; his first marked triumph was won ap-
pdrently without effort.
The power which man gains by concentrat-
ing his whole force upon his chosen pursuit, has
never been more clearly shown than in Mr..
Blane's career. He has never been out Of train
ing, never wasted any time or study on even
collateral pursuits. After four years in the
legislature, he was elected to the Thirty Eighth
Congress, and came to his seat in that body,
thoroughly master Of himself and all his powers.
On the day when he entered that chamber he
was probably the best parliamentarian there, un-
less we except Speaker COlfax. lie was an
adroit and ready debater. An ordinary politi-
clan would have plunged at once into the cur
rent discussion and sent carloads OF speeches
home TO his constituents. Mr.. Blaine did moth
ing Of the kind. For a year he sat silent in his
seat. carefully studying this new ground. He
found Thaddeus Stevens holding kind Of leai-
crship among the Republicans, and fora time
sought the old mans favor. But the imprac-
ticable nature Of the cynical Pennsylvania was
an Offset to the fact of his temporary leadership,
and Mr.. Blaine presently thought 1t best, all
things considered, to hold little aloof.
When he was quite ready 10 move, the debate
on reconstruction had fairly opened. The
great sluggish public was Mt last fully aroused,
and for a wonder was faithfully reading the
Washington dispatches every morning. Then
came that alroit proposition, 1.-THE Blaine amend-
ment," which put his name at once in every
bOly's mouth. From that time TO this, there
has been no great debate Of which Mr.. Blaine
has flied to take advantage. lie waits until
the long. speeches are all made, the lines are
drawn, and the attention OF the country is hir-
liz arrested. Then he takes the argument on
his own side, which has always been the popu-
lar side, and skilfully condenses IL in a telling
speech Of quarter of column in the Globe,
which is copied into every Republican newsPa-
per IN the land.
II is impossible to Withhold the need Of admi-
ration due to these splendid tactics. Mr..
Blaine plays politics as powerfully as Morphy
plays chess, and with the same extraordinary
capacity for playing three or four games at
once blndFold. The only drawback is the re-
hection that the game Of politics is only prof.
table to the successful player AMI his hackers.
Mr.. Blaine has now been for seven years in
Congress. lie has been during that time chair
man Of the Republican State Committee Mt
home. lie has managed the mechanical part
Of tho State campaigns, and has distributed
his share Of the offices dtscreety and properly
enough, as things 60, to his personal friends
and supporters. lie has got 10 be Speaker OF
the House, and is q very capable Speaker too.
But what meanwhile has he done for the State
or country. What influence has he had upon
the course Of legislation What are his tri-
umphs, or what would be his failures, to those
of US who have no stake in the political game,
but simply want good government and the
privilege Of attending to our own Affairs in
peace and quietudei