The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-09


Blaine is to take the floor on the Southern
question ia q speech whose general tenor can
easily be anticipated. Weavail ourselves OF
the occasion to offer few words OF advice to
him and other Presidential candidates. Mr..
Blaine's political foresight resembles the
wit of Sir Hudibras. He no doubt possesses
it in great abundance, but he is very spar
ing in its use, practising the wise parsi-
mony of his great prototype, who, though he
had much wit, was very shy of using it,
And so he bore it not about,
As being loath to wear IL out;
Unless on holidays or so.
As men their best apparel do.
Mr.. Blaine seems to belong to that order
Of Christians called muscular. So great is
his necessity for exercise that he mounts
every hobby that falls in his way-his own
or anybody's, for he is not fastidious-and
puts his knightly spurs into its tanks for
the mere pleasure of furious ride, without
seeming to care over what precipice or into
what bog it may plunge him.
Mr. Blaine took the earliest possible occa-
sion to introduce little finder into the
political powder magazine, and it is pos
sible that he may proceed TO apply q match
to the finder. He introduced a resolution
demanding an inquiry into the conduct of
the elections in the Southern States and
this resolution has been considered in
caucus by the republican Senators, and has
received their formal approval. The resolu-
ton comes up on Tuesday, and it is under
stood that Mr.. Blaine will.thereupon sup
port it in a speech.
We do not see any good reason for
this speech. If Mr.. Blaine believes it
necessary to make the inquiry, and
if his party agrees with him, as
they have still the majority in the Senate
they can pass the resolution without q
speech by Mr.. Blaine, and if he were wise
and rightly appreciated the temper of the
country and its strong desire for quiet,
rest, peace, good feeling and its urgent dis
like of further political excitement, he
would content himself with asking for .
vote and leave it to the democrats to
make speeches. A speech by Mr..
Blaine ct this time and on this
resolution of his can have but one pur-
pose--to fan afresh the expiring flames OF
sectional suspicion and hatred. There is
not the least need for speech the resolu-
ton is simple and plain ; the democrats, it
is known, have determined not to oppose
it, but only TO offer simple and proper
amendment making the inquiry general !;
and if the republican Senators are sincere,
and mean only an inquiry in good faith,
they can get this without irritating discus
sions.
All this is SO plain that Mr.. Blaine's COM
ing speech must be regarded, not as an ap-
peal to the Senate for the resolution, but
as an appeal to the North against the
Sotth-as new frebrand. In this light
we take leave to say that Mr.. Blaine is
about to make capital blunder--a
blunder which all his ingenuity will not
be able to cover up. For, in the
first place, the country understands
thoroughly that the frauds and other cleo
tion offences which are said to have been
committed are undergoing judicial investi-
CATION by the Presidents order and at the
hands of federal officers, executing strin-
gent and severe federal laws If there
were no federal election laws, or
no federal officers to execute them,
or if the President were false to
his duty to maintain the laws. then
there might be an excuse for Mr.. Blaine's
Congressional inquiry, though even then,
considering that the democrats are ready to
support the resolution, there would be no
proper occasion for his promised speech.
Dat k<><t ,, nd .a,Nr1-
Gus and indecent in the face Of the fact that
the lawful Judiciary inquiry is now going
on at all points where complaints have been
made of wrongs committed or suffered.
Mr.. Blaine had before him a statesman
like course, and that was to urge his party
to await the results Of the election trials in
the South, and to recommend it to turn its
attention in the meantime to useful legisla-
ton for the whole country. He is a man
Of great influence, and he might use that
influence to allay disturbing issues; to APP
peal to the good sense and Christian spirit
of all. sections; to make himself conspic-
uous as q peacemaker, and, as the benefac-
tor, by good laws and wise policy,
of all parts of the country. He
prefers to get astride Of substan-
TALLY dead question and strive to arouse
new discord in the land. Our advice to
other Presidential candidates is not to help
him. Let him take his course alone and
make what he can of it.
Nothing is more certain than that
the whole country, barring tramps
and politicians, is heartily tired Of
the long continued political turmoil.
There are probably not hundred men in
the whole Union, of the industrious and
producing classes, who would not heartily
rejoice if Congress should now adjourn
without day before Mr.. Blaine begins
his speech. The unexpected quiet Of the
session thus far has drawn expressions Of
pleasure from the press and people every