Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-04-07
THE GREESBACK HEREsY

In 1867, while Mr.. Blaine was abb
sent in Europe, the theory of paying
the public debt in greenbacks was
started in Ohio by Mr.. Pendleton and
in Massachusetts by Gen. Butler. just
after his return in the autumn, at a
special or adjourned session of Con-
gress in November, Mr.. Blaine as
saulted the proposition in a speech of
great research, logic and force. 1t
thus happened that he was the first
man in either branch of Congress who
spoke against the financial heresy that
in subsequent years has engrossed so
much of public attention. From that
time, both in Congress and before the
people, Mr.. Blaine has been indefati-
gable in bringing the public opinion of
the country to the right standard of
financial and National honor Others
may have been more prominent than
he in Congress, bat it is hazarding
little to say that Mr.. Blaine, more
than any other man, has reached the
mind and aroused the Judgment of the
people by addresses from the stump
In his thirty year Mr.. Blaine
was chosen Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and was reelected
for the two succeeding Congress. 1t
has often been said that no man since
Clay's Speakership presided with such
an absolute knowledge of the rules of
the House or with so great mastery
in the rapid, intelligent and faithful
discharge of business. His knowledge
of parliamentary law was instructive
and complete, and his administration
of it so fair that both sides of the House
united at the close of each Congress in
cordial thanks for his impartiality. As
Mr.. Blaine presided over some of the
most exciting scenes and sessions of
the House, the approval he secured is
especially noticeable.
A MEMORABLE EVENT.
Even more marked, at least in the
popular eve, than his career as Speaker,
was Mr.. Blaine's course in the House
| when he returned to the floor at the
close of his Speakership. Few have
forgotten the sudden tilt by which, in
| q day, victorious and exultant Dem
| ocratc majority was changed into a
surprise, subdued and saddened crowd
under Mr.. Blaine's aggressive and un-
expected tactics. The debates of that
memorable session on the proposition
to remove the disabilities of Jefferson
Davis are still fresh in all minds, and
more likely to be appreciated, perhaps,
| to-day, than at any time within the
last three DAYS. Mr.. Blaine's speeches
laid the foundation of success in the
campaign of 1875, though he was not
selected as the standardbearer. The
excitement growing out of this exciting
session with all its attendant events
brought Mr. Blaine more prominently
before the country than any other cit
izen for the time, centered upon him
indeed hostility more malignant and
love more enthusiastic than are often
inspired by public service, and his
failure to be nominated at Cincinnati
was disappointment to the great mass
of Republicans throughout the country.
To thousands in Pennsylvania his de-
feat came as something like personal
grief. On the final ballot Mr. Blaine
had 35l votes, Mr. Hayes had 379,
aud Mr.. Bristow 23, so that Mr. Hayes
only had majority of five. During
the seven ballotings 404 different dele
gates voted for Blaine, but they were
not combined in one ballot
CAMPAIGN OF 1876
After the election of President Hayes,
to which Mr.. Blaine devoted all his
powers, he entered the Senate, taking
his seat in December, 1876. Many
regretted that the able Speaker of the
House, the dashing and brilliant de-
bator in Committee of the Whole,
should, as they expressed it, be shelved
in it Senate Three years have passed,
and it would be hard to name a man
who has been less securely shelved, q
Senator who has moved SO promptly
to the front and stood there SO firmly
as Mr.. Blaine. The Senate contains
large number Of able men and some
skiIlful debaters but in logical, off
hand discussion, in quick perception,
full command Of every resource and
entire forgetfuness of self, it contains
no man superior TO Mr.. Blaine. He
has been called dramatic. He as dra-
matte not because he poses, but be-
cause he is absolutely natural, and
nature is always dramatic. His career
in the Senate is as active as that in
the House He has taken prominent
part in every important debate and
though not fearing to differ from his
party, has always been strong party
man. and is to-day one of the recog-
nized leaders on the Republican side.
PECULIAR TRAITS.
Mr. Blaine is man of good temper
and temperament, though with a GER
tain intellectual vehemence that might
sometimes be mistaken for anger of
strong physique, wonderful powers of
endurance and of frecuperation of great
activity of industry, kindly and frank,
easily approachable, aud ready to aid
all good causes with tongue, pen and
purse His studies have been largely
on political questions and political
history. Everything connected with
the development of the country in
terests him, and he is a dangerous an
tagonist in any matter of American
hstory-especially ofthe United States
since the adoption of the Federal
constitution He is an intense believer
in the American Republic-one and
Observation-Disclosures and watchful for
her honor, her dignity and her right of
eminent domain; ready to brave the