The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-13

can preserve for improving the mind. Bet
ter far is instruction which adds strength to
The immortal soul than the perishable lucro
which passes away.
aIr. Blaine's Illness-Its Political Effect.
If the sudden prostitution which befell Mr..
Blaine on Sunday were as serious as it was
1t first apprehended to be it would settle
the question Of his nomination. But neither
his physicians at Washington nor his political
supporters at Cincinnati think him in any
great danger. 1t is expected that in q few
days, or at most few weeks, he will recover
his former robust health, and his friends are
prosecuting his canvass with undated zeal.
Instead of thinking his illness an impedi-
ment they regard it as a great aid to his
success. Of course they do not pretend that
sunstroko or an apoplectic attack excul-
pates him from the pending charges but
they interpret the outburst of regret and
sympathy which followed the news Of his
prosrration as proof of his great popu-
larity and his strong hold on public
confidence, in spite of the facts dis
closed in his letters. They think, more
over, that it will effectually silence
attacks on his personal character dur
ing the progress Of the Convention, and
that the magnanimity and forbearance prac-
tised toward man suffering under such
visitation have deprived Mr.. Blaine's oppo-
nents at Cincinnati of their most effective
weapon.
Plausible as this view may seem it has
but little weight. The wide manifestations
of sympathy merely illustrate a peculiar
feature of the American character. In every
case where distinguished public man is
suddenly stricken down his political oppo-
nents vie with his political friends in ex-
pressions Of regret. There was nothing
tragic in the death Of Andrew johnson, but
those who had been his bitterest enemies
used the language Of respect and deep feel
Ing When Vice President Wilson died the
whole country went into a parade of grief
and mourning without distinction of party.
Splendid eulogies were pronounced on Sen
ator Sumner by Southern politicians who
had opposed and detested all the measures
of the living statesman. The American peo-
pie are peculiarly given to gush on such oc-
casions, as is exemplifed in the practice of
setting apart day in both houses for de-
livering formal panegyrics on every deceased
member of Congress, q practice which is
without example in any other country. But
one might as well 60 to the epitaph on a
mans tombstone for description Of his real
character as to quote these funeral eulogies
as proofs of the estimation in which the sub
jects Of them were held by their country
men.
The first news created the impression
that Mr.. Blaine had been suddenly stricken
down with apoplexy and could not recover.
An hour or two later his death was bulle-
tined at the Office OF the principal news
paper in Cincinnati. The sensation was as
profound as if Mr. Blaine had actually died.
The event was so sudden, and the point of
time and attending circumstances gave it SO
dramatic cast, that everything else relat-
ing to Mr.. Blaine was forgotten. But all
this will quickly pass if the assurances of his
physicians are confirmed. It will be felt
that Mr.. Blaine is neither better
nor worse for sudden and alarm
ing illness, and as soon as there is an
assured prospect of his recovery the ex-
pediency of his nomination will stand on
precisely the same grounds as before. He
may hold the greater part of the delegates
elected to support him, but there is as yet no
proof that he is making any gains, while
some of his supporters are wavering and
few have actually deserted. There is even
less reason to expect his nomination than
there was before his illness.