The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-03-02
GEN. BLAIR ANDFATHER DE sMET.

csnaidat. for the United states
Senate.
[From the. Chicago rmes.l
To the casual observer the lives of
these two distinguished men seem so
widely apart that he could scarcely i'm
agine they should ever have come to-
pether. 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 1t 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
at once called upon by the Democratic
party to replace him. While the can
vass was pending he dropped into my
Office one day, as was his custom.
"Good morning, General" said l;
"there is no doubt, understand, of
your election to the Senate"
al think not" he replied, 4" although
there will be opposition from quarters
where least expected it."
"Ah! where is it?''
"Why, Senator Y will oppose
me both with his vote and his influence"
"Any thing personal between you?n
Nothing that | know Of"
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.
l 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 haveno hesitation in giving the rea
sons that govern him. III 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 l, "I'm one of his
boys"
"Would he do you favor?"
"Of course, he would particularly, y"
said l, elf 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"
"Well, 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-"
81 will, General-but you know now
how those Jesuits are. They would
rather play game of base ball with
the nine muses. than interfere in poll
tics"
"Ask him, anyhow" and General
Blair left.
1t was not an hour afterward when
Father De Smet entered. The old man
had risen from a bed of sickness, and
his slow step and worn visage betOken-
ed that a constitution which once was
iron had begun to break under the ac-
cumulated tolls, travels and depriva-
tons of half a century of active life de-
voted to God and his fellOw-man. The
venerable missionary sat down near the
stove and busted himself with the edi-
tOrial columns of the morning paper.
My long acquaintance with him. far
from giving me confidence, made me
somewhat timorous in broaching the
subject. l therefore skirmished, first
about the weather, and then made some
remark about the last election, and the
important duties that would devolve
on the incoming Legislature. He mere
" turned around and smilingly said, in
his fatherly way: "My dear boy, the
less you interest yourself in politics, the
happier will your heart bewhen you are
my age" l was about to drop the sub
iect, when l remembered that / had
promised Gen. Blair to ask his interce-
sion with his friend. l, therefore, re-
piled that l did not feel any interest in
politics at that time, but that desired
to see General Blair elected to the Sen
ate. The moment l said this the old
man put aside his paper and said:
ais General Blair candidate for the
Senate?"
Certainly" said 1.
"Then do most fervently hope he
will succeed; they can send there no
better man."
The interest he manifested surprised
me, and rejoined: "Father, you can
help him, if you will"
ZIP" he returned; al will gladly do
so, but how?"
al understand Senator Y is a
friend of yours. VIII you ask him to
vote for General Blair, and give him his
influence?"
Certainly I win," he replied, and,
taking up his hat, said in parting: 81
will see him at once"
had known Father De Smet init
mately from the time Twas mischiev-
Gus boy at college until that hour, and
had never heard fall from his lips the
faintest indication of interest in public
men or public measures; did not know
that he was even acquainted with Gen
eral Blair, and was as much surprised
at his ready acquiescence in my request
as if he had accepted an invitation to
the theater.
Some time afterward, it may have
been the same day, it was certainly a
very short time after the scene l have
Just described, he came into my store
and his salutation was:
"Senator Y will give his support
and vote to General Blair for the United
States Senate
OF course felt gratified, and there
upon ventured to express my surprise at
the active interest he had displayed in
the matter. Said he:
81 have asked Senator X to vote
for General Blair as special personal
favor to me, and / told him why it
would be a great favor. will now tell
you. In 1868, l think it was, our father
provincial, at my request, had granted
me permission to visit again, after q
long absence, my poor children of the
forest, the Flathead and Blackfeet In
dams. l had fully prepared for the
+Lo