The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1876-06-22
Tns nefent Of Rrasns.

IT seems 10 nave DecOmo u sebticu Principle,
that when an American statesman arrises to o
conspicuous position as leader, wins the enthu-
siastic admiration of his party, and stands forth
as the great champion of the rights of the peo
nile. he is doomed to become the victim Of jeal-
ousy, and to receive bis reward in ingratitude.
No man, since the time of Henry Clay, has so
won the admiration of the loyal people of the
United States as James G. Blaine. He it was
who rose up and cronfronted the the rebel horde
in the House, unaided and alone, and awakened
the old patriotic fires throughout the length and
breadth of the land. The Republican party fixed
its heart upon him as the next President. From
that day, the whole force of Democratic and reb-
el hate has been hurled against him. Nobly be
combatted it, and could have vanquished it; but
the envious, the jealous, the Malignant in the
Republican party, without the merit or ability to
attain his popularity, opened fire in the rear
and from the brush, to ruin him in the party
whose champion he was. Even when stricken
down BY disease, the effect of the tremendous
strain which his mental and physical forces had
been compelled to endure, these ghouls turned it
into capital against him. If this is the reward
for steadfastness to principle for nerve and valor
in defending the right, it is no wonder that
America is becoming the prey of huckestering
and time-serving demagogues.
In spite of slander and treachery, Blaine would
still have triumphed, had it not been for the
miserable device resorted to in States most fa-
vorable to him, of bringing ont "favorite son"
for President, and electing delegates instructed
to vote for him on the first ballot. In selecting
these delegates for "favorite SOUS" it was so
managed that q large proportion Of the yeriest
political shysters were chosen, who could be
manipulated by corrupt political leaders, to ac-
complish their own ends. In the State of Penn
sylvania alone, sufficient number of these crea-
lures were chosen, who were willing to outrage
the wishes of their constituents, to have nomi-
mated Blaine, had they voted the sentiments of
their party in the State.
Another disadvantage that Blaine had to con-
tend against, was the whole power of the Ad-
ministration. The whole machinery of the Gov
ernment was turned against him, and Cabinet
officers were appointed for the purpose of cor
rupting delegations, and drawing their allegiance
from Blaine. The person who placed Conkling
in nomination, made the point that he was
trusted friend of the Administration. The Puri-
tans of New England, who felt themselves con-
taminated even by taking part in politics, were
there, hail fellows with the most corrupt polti-
clans, to defeat the purest man before the con-
vention. Hawley, of Connecticut, who has be-
come the greatest demagogue in the shortest
time of any public man in ARerica-who hang
on to the Administration through all its corrup-
tion and jobbery, until he was defeated for Gov
enor, and then shelved for Congress, and his
State given over so hopelessly to the Democracy
that there is no probability of its again going
Republican-he was there to purify politics by
defeating Blaine. Bristow was the man; and SO
impressed was Hawley with the necessity of
nominating Bristow, that he refused to give the
''favorite son" of his State single compliment
cry vote. But anybody for the pure Hawley ex-
cept Blaine.
And when all these plans were likely to fail,
and Blaine was constantly on the rise, we find
the Republicans of three great States abandon
ing their man hood, and playing the baby-whin-
ing and snivelling: The three great States
of New York, Ohio, and Indiana, each having
candidate for President, went whining to the diff
ferent delegations, saying, oh, il you nominate
Blaine, we can't carry our States and the party
will be defeated. They knew they were misrep
resenting the real wishes of their people when
they voted against Blaine; but that was the
game they played, unworthy of men. In the end,
the friends of all the candidates combined to de-
feat Blaine, because they were jealous of him, for
his greater popularity.
And thus it is that noble statesmen are sacri-
feed to appease the small souls of jealous rivals,
and third-rate men are given the highest honors,
because they have not made themselves obnox-
ious by doing mighty battle for their principles,
and are available because not great enough to
excite jealousy. In short, it is polite way of
saying they are d-d fools.
We are told that Clay and Webster met the
same fate. of course, they did; but the great
men of the Whig party were not defeated by
slandering each other. In those days, there was
honor and chivalry among the leading politi-
clans. To-day, they are slanderers and assassins.
There were hundreds of thousands of sad hearts
throughout the land, when the result of the Con-
vention was announced. They are still sad, and
it will require some time for them to tone up
their spirits to the pitch of enthusiasm. But
they are the mon to win this battle, and the are
going to do it. They will not whine and say all
is lost because their favorite was not nom mated
They would be more enthusiastic, if they could
rid themselves of lingering misgving, that the
elements that combined to nominate Hayes will
surround him and control him-that it will still
be the Conklings, and the Mortons, and the Cam
erons, who will fatten on the Government pat
ronage, and contine to hold the Republican party
by the throat to strangle it at the next election
rather see a hated rival succeed.