The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-03-18
OUR MINISTER OF STATE.

There have been many brilliant IN
men of worldwide reputation the
head of the State Department, but we
doubt If there has been one more capable
of giving tone and brilliancy to that
place than the present Minister, James
G. Blaine. He unites the qualities most
calculated to give luster, ability and
prominence to what has been regarded,
until of late years, the most important
department of the Government. 1t is
not unlikely that, under the administra-
ton of Mr.. Blaine, it will become again in
reality, as well as by tradition, the first
place under the President.
In speaking thus OF Mr.. Blaine, the
Inter Ocean is not unmindful of the fact
that he must come in contact with many
illustrious predecessors. Not to speak
of lesser men, he takes place occupied
in turn by jefferson, Madison, John
Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Martin
Van Buren,, Daniel Webster, James
Buchanan, Lewis Cass, VIM. 81. Sew
ard, and of late years by Hamilton Fish
and VIM. M. Evarts, the one consum-
mate diplomat, and the other one of the
very greatest lawyers of his time.
The records of state are full of the
triumphs of these men, but we doubt if
any one of the number was better fitted
by nature for the peculiar duties of the
position. or more fully qualified by rea-
son of positive requirements and wide
experience. Lord Beaconsfeld makes
the extensive personal acquaintance of q
Secretary Of Foreign Affairs with men
of otherslands one of the most valuable
acquisitions for a Minister in this de-
partment. There are men, no doubt,
who know the eminent chiefs of other
countries better by sight than Mr..
Blaine, but we doubt very much if there
be one who actually understands and
measures these men more accurately
than he does. Besides, he has the
knack of becoming acquainted where it
is policy to make acquaintance, and an
unusual power of popularizing every
thing he touches that few men in the
country possess to an equal degree.
Joining TO this his long and active ex-
perience in political life, his quickness of
perception and the charm of personal
presence that is particularly valuable in
such place, James G. Blaine stands
out as very near model of q minister
of state. Words are given to men, it is
said, to conceal their ideas. If this be
true at all, it is especially true of the
diplomat, and, such being the case, we
will place Mr.. Blaine against the diplo-
matte world with perfect confidence in
his ability to distinguish himself. Not
that he can not be plain and direct
enough when he wishes to be-there are
too many instances of his power in this
direction to leave doubt-but he is
abundantly able to disguise his purpose
when necessary, and at the same time
make himself the most agreeable of COM
panions, and this we understand to be
an important qualification in the sue
cessful conduct of diplomacy.
There are greater orators, greater
lawyers, more profound statesmen, per-
haps, than Mr.. Blaine; but there is
hardly public man in the nation who
has SO much general knowledge as he.
He seems at home upon all subjects,
and is, in its widest sense, q political
cosmopolitan. No man has had warmer
friends, greater admirers, or more en-
thusiastic supporters. He has given
battle squarcly, with audacity, vim and
perseverance, and, though he has twice
failed in reaching the object of his am
bition, the people like the man, and are
proud of him. His nomination, there
fore, will be accepted with general salts
faction, and with the fullest confidence
that, while he remains at the head OF
the State Department, willy men will
have their match, and high-bred courte-
sy and gracious bearing a model ex-
ponent and exemplar. Chicago Inter
Ocean.