The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-15

Fooled and Forl0rn stutesmnns
Poor Montgomery Blair is constrained to
confess that he is political Don Quixote.
Mr.. Blair is as badly discounted as was
.sthe knight Of the sorrowful countenance"
in his famous tilt with the windmills. Mr..
Blair is member of the Maryland Legisla-
ture, position to which he got himself
elected in the hope of promoting his chances
for the United States Senatorship. The for
tune of Mr. Blair in that respect was no ex-
ception to his constant run OF political Ill
luck. On the final ballot for Sena-
tor he received one vote. Previous
to this modification he had pro-
posed his memorial to Congress for
reopening the Presidential question with
view to help his Senatorial chances. The
result proved that he neither touched
chord in the popular heart Of Maryland
nor expressed the sense of its Legislature
by Offering that incendiary memorial. The
proposed memorial was referred to n COM
mittee that committee made an adverse
report. The adverse report came up for
debate in the Maryland Legislature yester-
day, and Mr.. Blair made a labored speech.
for which he deserves the thanks Of the
country.
If it be asked how so reckless and wrong
headed politician can deserve thanks, the
question is easily answered from the report
of his remarks. Be it known, then, that this
active and fussy intriguer has spent great
deal of time in Washington buttonholing
4 4: oT IN ar
encouraging word for his memorial. What
is the result? Let the persistent Mr.
Blair state it in his own language. lie
said in his speech yesterday 'Ihere was
but one obstacle to Tilden now attaining
the Presidency and that was the delin-
quency of the democracy ITSELF" "a ma
jority of the democrats wished Hayes to
remain in the office" He said that 'the st.
Louis Convention had nominated Tilden
almost by reclamation, but-he spoke it
from personal acknowledgement dozen Con-
gressmen favor Tilden." The country owes
Mr.. Montgomery Blair its gratitude for hav-
ing canvassed the democratic Congressman
and ascertained 'from personal knowledge
that not dozen democrats in the whole
body look with any indulgence on Blairs
insane attempt to reopen the Presidential
question. Had it not been for Blairs fool
ish attempt and notifying rebuffs the
country would not have known what an
overwhelming majority of the democrats in
Congress have dropped Mr.. Tilden and his
claims.
Poor Montgomery Blair where can we
find such another monument Of disap-
pointed expectations2 He was turned out
of President Lincoln's Cabinet, after having
figured for some time as its bete noire.
He then deluded himself with the hope
that he was to be Chief Justice
Taney's successor in the Supreme Court.
The appointment Of Mr. Chase squelched
that vain expectation. The next will O. the
wisp which Mr.. Blair chased was Andrew
Johnson's ''my policy" Those efforts
brought him neither Office nor honor, and
his next venture was to get his brother
nominated tor the Presidency by the Demo-
cratic Convention in 1863 The Brodhead
letter threatening to tear up reconstruction
as Mr.. Blair now threatens to tear up the
Frank Blair the nomination for the Vice
Presidency and foredoomed the ticket to
defeat from the moment it was put in
the field. Montgomery Blairs next
venture was as a jealous advocate Of
Mr.. Greeley's nomination, and every
body knows that he evinced his usual fore
sight and experienced his usual luck. With
his predestined bent to fish in troubled
streams and catch nothing we next find
him starting a paper in Washington last
winter to fight the Electoral Commission,
with result in perfect keeping with his
usual foresight of consequences. Next he
tried to get elected to the United States
Senate, and received one vote on the final
ballot, and, s'last scene of all, !" he confessed
yesterday that after all his industrious lob
bying in Washington he could not find a
dozen Congressman who do not prefer Hayes
to Tilden. Poor Montgomery Blair
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