Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-09
That pitch from the Tar box of Massa.
chusetts failed to delile Mr. Blaine.
BL4INE'S BATTLES.

Mr. Blaine has shown marvellous comprenen-
sion of the tastes and temper of his countrymen,
and if he becomes the next President of the Uni
ted States he will owe his elevation in no slight
measure to his perfect understanding of the aver
age American citizen. During his public life he
has rarely been a conspicuous leader in the dis
cussion of the great principles and polices which
have from time to time engrosSed the attention OF
thinkers and statesmen; we do not mean that he
has been waverer, but only that he has general
" allowed others to march in the advance. Yet
Mr.. Blaine has kept himself-perhaps we ought
to say circumstances have kept him-always in the
public mind, and it would be difficult to mention
a politician who has commanded more absolutely
the adhesion Of his own party. He inspires little
sentimental devotion he points to the record of
few great measures; but tested in the sharp trial
Of the campaign, his popular strength proves to be
greater than that of all the other candidates com
bued. lie overcomes the power of the Admins
tration machine when it is turned against him IN
own party, and he almost Wi pes out the traces of
the sntagonstic reform movement which at
time seemed likely, in this centennial year of
frauds and scandals, to carry every thing before it.
There has been no great agitation of popular feel
ing to effect this result 1t is not the consequence
of "Blaine uprising" How it all came about
the shrewdest politicians at less to tell but
there is no mistake in the meaning of his list of
three hundred and odd delegates to the National
Convention.
We doubt whether Mr.. Blaine has ever given
more remarkable illustrations of his kcenness
than during the present session of Congress. He
seems to have perceived from the start that the
vital object ofthe campaign was to capture, not the
loose and free thinking vote, which he probably
could not gen, nor the machine VOTE which was
perhaps not worth getting, but the great multitude
of middle class, ordinary republicans, and he read
the minds of these respectable millions like a
book. lie saw that they had not forgotten the
rebellion quite forgiven the rebels; that they
were half inclined to resent the appearance of
Confederate brigadiers" in Congress; that they
were honestly alarmed at the prospects OF re-
turning democratic ascendency and chagrined to
find their party for the first time in sixteen years
thrown upon the defensive. Moreover he RENE m
bered, what all the other candidates seemed to
forget, that the average American is fond of good
fighting. And so Mr.. Blaine began the winter by
fighting the whole democratic side of the House
of Representatives.
The history of Baine's battles this year Will form
a memorable chapter in the history of Congress.
When he scourged JEFF Davis and exasperated
Ben Hill, and ratified the bleached skeletons of
Andersonville, though many of us deeply deplored
the needless and unpleasant disturbance, we could
not help admilng the courage, assurance, and
readiness with which Mr. Blaine faced his raging
antagonists, and the magnificent air with which at
last he trod victorious over the field of fray.
When the excitement died away it was seen that
Mr. Blaine had won something more than barren
laures. lie had broken and routed the whole
democratic line of battle If there had been any
chance Of CONSTANT and united action on the part
of the majority it gone now and it never
came again. Ever since that remarkable combat
the democracy in the House has stood upon its dc.
fence. Ever since then it has hated Mr.. Blaine
with a iercer hatred than any other man in the
republican ranks. 1t has bent all its energies to
destroy him. As it failed in the Amnesty debates
so it has failed in the Investigations. These last
battles showed more splendid fighting even than
: the first. Reading Of the scene on Monday, one
forgot that the eX-speaker was repelling a charge
against his personal integrity, and saw only the
democratic members Of the committee quailing UNI
der his invective, Proctor Knott convicted him
self of dscredtable suppression of dispatches,
and the galleries in an uproap over the democratic
discontinue.
Politicians will make great mistake if they fail
to take account of this display Of pluck and skill
1t is exactly the sort of exhibition which most
strongly impressess American multtudes and we
shall see in a few days, when the sentiment of the
country begins to show itself. that it has won
thousands of friends for Mr. Blaine, even if it has
not wholly counteracted the distrust created by
the Muligan ncident.-Nep York Tribune.
There has never been time when the export of