Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-16
From the New York Tribune.
Adams and Blaine.
WHAT EACH THINKS OF TIE OTHER.
SOME UNCoMMoNLY LIVELY POLITICAL READ
ING LETTERS OLD AND NEW.
ApANls,s Ill OPINION OF BLAINE.

ING LETTERS OLD AND NEW.
ADANS'S ILL OPINION OF BLAINE.
Herq Il /aterrieu ,eiM Charles Francis Adams,
Nay l2h.
Il was evident from Mr. Adams expressed views
that he IS a very ardent admIrer of Mr.. Blame,
but in discoursiug upon the OF that would be
President he was very moderate both in tone
and language. There was letter which wrote
to ohio during the last campaign" said Mr.
Adams, Gin which deprecated the condition OF
country where a man VIGOROUSLY corrupt came so
near receiving the Presidential nomination as did
one of the leading candidates OF the Cincinnati
Convention. Mr. Blaine, on noticing this letter,
came out with statement in which he made no
al usion whatever to the subject matter contained
in my communication, but contented himself by
abusing me for some opposition | manifested IT,
ward him IN Congress twenty years ago.
IL must say that think Mr.. Hayes occupies
very hard po-itOn-s most difficult one-and one
which | would not desire TO hold under SIMILAR
circumstance IA far as the man Is concerned
believe i'm an upright and honest one, but he has
got a very hard task before him. In reference TO
his southern policy think it is one which Is more
liable to innte TO the benefit OF the democrats than
to the republicans for he 10 be pursuing the
same course which not only the democrats but all
honest and patriotic citizens have for long time
favored. OF course, 1t is not what such men as
Blaine and Butler will delight over, therefore,
am not surprised that they and their kind are la
bic TO find fault with him.
A HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF
BLAlNES.
HIS CANDID OPINION or THE ADAMS FAMILY.
ROOT AND BRANCH, WITH INCIDENTAL REt-
FRENCR TO THE ADAMS HIRN-BLOWEK.
lWAsHlNGToN, u, c., Dec. 10, 1879.
My DEAR FRIEND Il shall no, lose my patienc
with you. but another letter of same purpoft fom
any one else will certainly try my temper, which
has already been put to the test by two similar
raids upon it.
met Bowlcs Of the Springfield Republican few
weeks since in Maine, on his return from Moose
head l. AXE tour and rode with him for day Bos
Towards. lie improved the occasion by assuring
me that | had no chance for the Presidency. but
that | might do great thing for myself and
my country by openly espousing the cause OF
Charles Francis Adams. Shortly afterwards Chas.
Nordhofi wrote tne same thing in substance on
both points. urging me to see Adams at once,
ally myself with HIM, aud make myself chief OF
his party" From Nordhof, whom / ike, this
mild nonsense NAV be tolerated; but from BOwles,
whom nobody likes, it is quite unendurable. re-
piled to Nordhof in writing as | did to Bowles IN
conversation, without mincing my words and |
shall do you the same favor l assured Nordhoh
that he could not have a lower estimate Of my per-
sonal prospects than had myself; that in fact the
subject never entered my mind as one OF serious
promise, and | am sure told you at Saratoga IN
August last that my nomination was not within the
scope OF remote proba bites-scarcely oil posslbi'-
let me down without hurting. for really never
felt that | was up.
But the cant and the nonsense which Bowles
and Nordhof and yourself put forward about
Adams as the coming man both amu;e aud enrage
me. When he comes the republican party Is gone.
1t would not be Adams fall but his rise that would
ruin No Adams ever yet he AIDED party with
out taking the life out of 1t. Old John-in many
spects the best of them-took the Federal party
in 1876, when it had the talent, the character, the
natflOtlc
and prejudces of the country all largely In It's IA
vor and in four years he so entirely destroyed II
that it never reappeared, except as ghost where
with to Tighten two succeeding generations OF
statesmen. A large part Of the quarter century
that he lived after he retired from the Presidency
was spent in queruous Efforts to throw he re-
spousIbIly OF his failures on the friends OF Ham
ilton and the eleven other contrary Jurymen.
John Quincy Adams was equally unfortunate
with the republican party of his day. When he
was inaugurated in 1926 there was no other po-
cal organization IN the country, and wise leader
OF men and of parties would have found no diff
Guilty in harmOnzlng the personal ieuds which
were permitted 10 grow into such fearful magnl-
tude and acquire such destructive force. Indeed,
the administration of the second Adams SO entire
ly wrecked the great republican party when Mon
roe left, that ii never was heard from again except
under an alias Had John Quincy Adams died the
day he left the Presidency, he would never nave
filed the prominent place to which he is entitled in
our history. lie would simply have been known
a child of political fonune-always in ethce. no
matter which party was in power-head OF an Adj
ministration which was remarkable only Tor It's
failures, author of diary conspicuous only Tor IT'S
maliguity, sire to a son unsse enough to publish
| it. The last IL years of his life, spent IN the
House of Representatives, all but one year in the
! Opposition, developed those qualities and gave
him those opportunities which secured him his
fame. 1t is in that field alone that the present
| generation know him, and Mr.. Seward, when he
wrote the biography of the 'Old Man Eloquent
| (he never was eloquent when young), devoted
more space to his service in the House than 10 all
the preceding history of his official life which
may be said to have begun about the time he was
weaned. As an executive he was as utter fail
ure as his father.
Don't talk to me then. ] pray you, about nomi
mating Charles Francis Adams our candidate
for the Presidency unless you mean death for us
without resurrection. The republican party can
be beaten under some candidates in 1876 and still
have a future but if it should win with Adams it
would never breathe again. The day of his inau
guration would be the day of its fuHeral. lie is
not the equal in talen, of his father grandath-
| er, and though have q very slight personal ac-
quaintance with him judge him TO have plent
| ia! supply of those qualities which made the two
Adamses the conspicuous failures among our ear
~ Presidents and great lack of those character
istics which with all their faults and failures as
Executives, still made them justly illustious in
our annals.
The Presidents who were great leaders of men
and of parties have been success full Presidents
Washin lton and Jefferson among the early Pres.
dents, Jackson and Lincoln at later periods, are
the most shining examples. Among the men who
possessed in pre-eminent degree the talent and
aptitude for the station Hamilton, Dewitt
Clinton, Henry Clay, Seward, and Stephen A.
Douglass. But in not a single quality of any one
of them can you find the least counterpart in
Charles Francis Adams. Stat magai noainis
uns5ra. And only the shadow
Very sincerely yours, j. G.. BLAINE
NEW PUBLICA TONS.