, 1875-07-18

| sioner BY the unanimous vote Of Republicans,
the "ingratltuda was too much even for the yig.
orous Blair. and the shock WAS so CreAt to him
that shortly After, he mas stricken with pazal-
ys's." Frank Blair was 40 baby. TO be killed bs
. shock o1 that sort. II be had been. be might
sest In tha Senate after 1872.
WHEN HIS HEALTH BEGAN TO PAIL
NOT old hla failure Of health begin after his de-
ieat n i83a Indeed the chief argument used
10 eueet hs dafeas at that time was, that he
was wholly broken down, a mere wrocx, who
cooid rot serve out his term il cboson." The
truth ts. that Gen. Biair's health was affected in
such manner as TO give alarm to his friends, d.
early ~ l67l. Those who san him at Wasllipg-
ton during the session OF 1912 will lot forget
~ if to reawaken the vigor Of ths partially
crippled member. DnIipg 1879 his health failed
rapidly. Though \ eanoiaAte for reelection. he
could not return to tho State to take any part
in the campaign. When the Legislative
session Of 1873 began, he was 10 broken in ap-
pearAnce that it was not Thought best tor bun to
be seen Ut the Capitol. and he went st last only
because it had been reported that he was unable
TO come. Nor will any one who saw him forget
h!s entrance to the Legislative Chamber during
pointment killed Frank Blair. His unconquer-
able pluck lived long alter his shattered BODY
had begun to die.
END OF HIS POLITICAL CAREER.
Frank Blar and his tr1eDdB had been the leaders
Of Democracy in Missouri b61ore EuIr21chisa-
ment~ Doubtless thev expected TO lead it af.er-
wards- But his political career virtually ended
wien he gave At once it's candidates and its
death-biow to the Liberal movement OF 1877
The powerful enfranchlsed element in this
State had not yet taken active part
in Affairs. Democrats Who svmpathized with It
had been following Union leaders for yesrs.
Both might have continued 10 follow il that
leadership in 1879 had not affronted their con-
vlctlons, Inundated their pride. aud brought dis
gushing defeat. Greeley elected, with his ideas
and bis record. vas hard enough. Brown
elected, with his habits, *As hard enough But
Greeley and Brown. apd their dafeat--t Was
too much It shocked many Of Biair's old
friends Democracy concluded that these old
Wings. Free-Soilers, and Union men, were not
pleasant men to follow. It saw that, in this
State, it waa atrong, and concluded to show iss
real Belf. Accordingly, Blair and the
many strong Union men who went With
him were dismissed from leadership and
influence. Bogy. who waa assessed as "Rebe2-
sympathizer" IN 1868, waa elected IN p1ace OF
Bair: coc5rell. Confederate General. was
elected in place Of Scturz. And thus the Blair
mau-the Uniou Democrass-are left without q
leader and without party.
No one peed ddh il those waters without ideas
for bsit. Personal hard4hips will not be ad-
mltted again by the men who followed Blair from
1880 to 1877 and, however shocked, did not leave
him even then They ara men OF will, Of cour-
age, and Of convictions. They we're not dlsloyRl.
aud therefore do not hate bondboldezs. Thev
ate noe fools, and therefore do not shrek for
!" more money!" They are not ashamed OF what
thev did in 1851. and may not like to be ostfa-
oisod for it What will they do7 y. II. G.