The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-04-08
lAtla1tic Monthly.1
lanes O. RIaiua

of many years of exceptional promi-
nence In republican politics, and of a
fortunate faculty of winning and
keeping friends by personal inter-
course. Mr. Blaine entered Congress
in December, 1868, and for four years
was quiet, observant member, serv-
ing on committees of minor import
ance, for the work of which he had
little taste. He seldom took part in
the debates, but was close student of
the rules, mastering in time all the
tangled detail of legislative practice
and precedent. During his third term
he began to be somewhat conspicuous
IN the business proceedings of the
house, and now and then won atten-
tion for a short, crisp speech that
went straight to the marrow Of the
subject without much rhetoric. All
this time he was making friends and
gaming personal influence among the
better class of members, and in 1869,
when Schuyler Colfax left the speak
er's chair to take the vice-presidency,
the young representative from Maine
was chosen to the vacant place, de-
feating aspirants who had served much
longer in Congress and were much
better known to the country The
qualities which secured him the
speakership are those which will win
for him at Chicago, if he gets it. Peo-
pie help him forward because they
like him. They overlook his faults
and magnify his talents and rejoice to
aid in his advancement, because he
never forgets their faces or names, is
delightfully."- cordial when he meets
them, and always interests them with
an inexhaustible fund of anecdote and
information concerning public men
and affairs. There is no man in public
life who has so large a personal fol-
lowing. He has made speeches in all
the Northern States from Maine to
California, taking part every year in
the state canvasses that were at the
time of most national interest, and
always added to his popularity by
these stumping tours. His stump
speeches cannot be classed as remark
able efforts Of high craftsmanship,
but they express the average common
sense and conscience of the republican
masses, and always deal with the issues
which are uppermost in the public
mind. His speeches in Congress have
been aptly likened to cavalry charges:
they are bold, dashing, and effective.
The opposite party, taken by surprise,
and bewildered by the impetuousness
of the assault, usually retire in con-
fusion; but they soon rally again, and
The battle of argument is generally
won by the heavy artillery aimed by
such men as Edmunds and Garfield.
Mr.. Blaine's character is singular
combination of frankness and secre-
tiveness, of eager impulse and calcu-
lating reserve He is more discreet
Henry Clay,-a more impulsive Mar
tin Van Buren. I think his abilities
as a political organizer and manager
are overrated. lie he had John Sher-
mans cold, unmagnetic nature, he
never would have attained his present
prominence. He has climbed up, not
on the shoulders of Indifferent or un-
willing men, but by the aid of thou
sands Of helping hands. A very i'm
portant element of his strength is the
friendship of newspapers and news
paper men. He was an editor himself
in early life, and owned a lucrative
country newspaper, which he disposed
of when he got fairly embarked in
politics., because he did not think the
two careers would harmonic. The
liking which some journalists have for
him is somewhat singular from the
fact that he never permits himself to
be interviewed. He rather prides
himself on the fact that he can talk
freely with reporters, correspondents,
and editors without being put in
print. They like him because he is
accessible and friendly, and always
tells them something worth printing,
with the sole condition attached that
they will not accredit it to him. His
knowledge of the history Of American
politics is remarkable. He knows the
issues that divided parties at every
presidential election since the founda-
tion of the government, the vote cast
for every candidate, the course o1
every administration, the career Of
every prominent statesman, the com.
position of every cabinet, the peculiar
tiles of every speaker of the house
the causes of the growth and decay oi
political organizations, the attitude o.
every State in every national contest
and thousand other things connected
with the conduct Of the government
and the course of parties and politi
clans. From all this mass of informa
tion, treasured In singularly reten
4;-o ,,,;nJ bo hoe ouol luod n cort ~
philosophy of politics which is Ut
doubt of considerable assistance il
enabling him to foresee the effect o
certain issues upon the public mind
and to trace into the future the cur
rents of public opinion.
Mr.. Blaine belongs to the stalwar
element of the republican party, ant
represents in special degree the ide
that the questions of the war are no
vet definitely closed, and can only b
settled finally and rightly by frmnes
on the part Of the national govern
ment. backed by powerful sentimen
in the North, in enforcing the consti
tutional amendments and protectin!
the equal rights of parties and citizen
in the South. He is far more obiec
tionable to the old slaveholding rebe
element than is General Grant, be
cause he is looked upon as the embod
iment of the most aggressive and rad
ical republican ideas. His strength a
a candidate is not confined to any sec
ton. Indeed, he has more support il
Iowa and in Kansas than in some o
the New England States. In fact, h
is a thoroughly national candidate
with strong backing in every North