The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-04-07
GEN. BLAIR ANDFATHER DE SMET.

GEN. BLAIR ANDFATHER DE SMET.
An Incident Illustrating the Warn
Latter Bsfriended the Former when |
. Candidate for the United ss~'es
Senate.
From the Chicago Times.l
To the casual observer the lives OF
these two distinguished men seem so
widely apart that he could scarcely i'm
aeine they should ever have come to-
gether. Yet to those who were honor
ed with the confidence and friendship
of both there were many Of the high
virtues animating the heart of the great
missionary displayed in the turbulent
but heroic life of the great Missourian.
Both of them were the friends of my
better days, and though the upcoming
years may bring forth greater minds
than either, still do not expect to see
a purer statesman than Frank Blair any
more than expect to look on hOlier
priest than Father De Smet.
But no matter. Let me say how they
came together. It will be remembered
that, upon the resignation by Mr.. Drake
of his seat in the United States Senate
to assume the life position of Chief JUS
tice of the Court of Claims, General
Blair, then a member of the Lower
House of the Missouri Legislature, was
ut once called upon by the Democratic
party to replace him. While the can
yass was pending he dropped into my
Office one day, as was his custom.
"Good morning, General" said I;
"there is no doubt, understand, of
your election to the Senate"
81 think not, !" he replied, I" although
there will be opposition from quarters
where least expected it,
"Ah! where is itp''
"Why, Senator x will oppose
i me both with his vote and his in1u-
ence."
/ "Any thing pers onal between you?"
| Nothing that l know off,
| Now Mr.. x know had undoubt-
ed influence in the Missouri Senate, but
also knew that he was a man who
would not allow his public duties to be
subordinated to his private prejudices.
1 therefore replied:
General, if his mind is made up /
have not sufficient influence to change
it; but from what know of the man, he
will have no hesitation in giving the rea-
,, sons that govern him. IN find them
out"
"Please do so, JOHN" he returned,
!, and started for the door. Before he
reached it he turned back, and, taking
me aside, he inquired:
"Do you know Father De Smet?''
Intimately said !, ''I'm one of his
boys"
"Would he do you favor?''
, "Of course, he would; particularly
, said I, eff he thought it would have a
tendency to assist in the salvation of my
soul. BY the bye, Frank, I'm begin.
, ming to find out since I've mixed up in
politics that that salvation business is a
+ fearfully tough job
"Wsll, John, we must all commence
at the primer again in those matters
! I'm going to do it myself some of these
!, days. However, ask Father De Smet
, to see Senator X for me.'
! II will, General-but you know now
how those Jesuits are. They would
rather playa game of base ball with
; the nine muses. than interfere in poll
= tics"
"Ask him, anyhow" and Genera
/ Blair left.
It was not an hour afterward wher
!, Father De Smet entered. The old mar
had risen from bed of sickness, an(
. his slow step and worn visage betoken
! ed that constitution which once wa
q iron had begun to break under the &C
: cumulated tolls, travels and depriva
= tons of half century of active life de
? voted to God and his fellow-man. Tn
!, venerable missionary sat down near tn,
. stove and busted himself with the edi
!, torial columns of the morning paper
: My long acquaintance with him, fa1
O from giving me confidence, made m
somewhat timorous in broaching tn
- subject. I therefore skirmished, frs
2 about the weather, and then made som
e remark about the last election, and tn
! important duties that would devolv
: on the incoming Legislature. He mere
4 ly turned around and smilingly said, il
i his fatherly way: "My dear boy, tn
: less you interest yourself in politics, tn
, happier will your heart be when you ar
my age" was about to drop the sub
: jeet, when I remembered that l hat
:, promised Gen. Blair to ask his interce.
! sion with his friend. /, therefore, re
% piled that did not feel any interest i
If politics at that time, but that 1 desire
: to see General Blair elected to the Ser
i ate. The moment I said this the oil
: man put aside his paper and said:
is General Blair candidate for th
D Senate?"
e Certainly" said I.
d "Then do most fervently hope b
n will succeed; they can send there n