Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-09-27
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aDNEsDAY EvEN'a. SEPT. ~. lsez
Blafpess Latest Stroke.

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WEDNESDAY EvEN'0. SEPT. ~. 1862
Blafne's Latest Stroke.
Mr.. Blaine is, next to Ben Butler, the
most irrepressible man in American pol
itics and the fullest of resources. They
resemble one another, too, perhaps In the
carelessness of the color of the means to
their ends. Mr.. Blaine's judgment is
not always of the best and he may not
have made strong coup in lis latest
bid for power but it is certainly one
brilliantly adapted to secure him friends
in u section of the country where his
friends have not been SO far very many.
He proposes to capture the solid Repub-
lican South aud does it by suggesting
the transfer of the burthen of its debt to
the national shoulders. What the men
of Maine may think of this is doubtful,
but there is no question about the popu-
larity of the idea in Virginia and all the
other Southern states. It is naturally
refreshing to the Southern hearts, that
have lost so much by the late un-
pleasantness, to find a man in the
far North aud one from the ranks Of
their political foes, who is ready to SYM
pathize with them in Mr.. Blaine's prac-
tical way. They will not he likely to
stop TO question his motives and to con-
slider whether lie is moved by his phil
anthropy or that sense Of justice to
which he ascribes his action, and not
rather by the selfish desire to gain for
himself popularity with these and the
political strength which will accompany
the votes he may soon have occasion to
ask them for.
Mr.. Blaine sees the Democratic party
in its disposition to be just to the South
ern people and goes good deal better
than it would venture to 60 by proposing
to he very generous. If any Democratic
politician of note had made any such
proposition as that of which Mr.. Blaine
has delivered himself, to load up on the
nation the debt of Virginia., he would
have been laughed at for his folly, and
his party would have suffered at the Re-
publican outcry that would have been
raised. At once it would have been de-
clared that this was but an initiatory
movement to the payment of the rebel
bonds, which long served the Republi
can orators as bugaboo to hold up be-
fore tie Northern people rs 4 conse-
quence of Democratic advent to power.
But Mr.. Blaine being a Republican the
Republican guns are spiked !; and his
proposition is able to take its place upon
its merits for the consideration of the
people, with the certainty that the
Southern portion of them will be solid
for it, and the further certainty that
if it is seen to I've a source of
strength to Half. Breed Republicanism
that faction will accept it. Democrats
can afford to await the developments,
content that Mr.. Blaine shall have every
opportunity to determine the national
popularity of his idea.
He has been invited to Richmond by
General Wickham, the straightout Re-
publican president of the Virginia agri'
cultural fair, to deliver the annual ad.
dress at the exhibition of the associa.
tion few days before the election. 1t is
the straightout Republicans of that state,
as distinguished from the Malone CO.
alitionists, whose cause MIR. Blaine
champions, and in whose behalfhe made
his late deliverance. The administra-
tion has joined itself to Malone and
given him full control of the fed
eral offices of Virginia, with which
to sustain himself. Mr.. Blaine per force
takes the other side and enters the lists
in the style of the plumed knight, in
defense Of the weaker party; not being
attracted, however, by the weakness Of
his client, but driven to his position by
the fact that his enemy is on the other
side. 1t does seem, from present appear.
ances, as though the knight has made a
brilliant stroke of strategy, and the result
of it will he awaited with great interest.
Evidently We are on the eve of new
things, and of general shaking up of
parties, principles and politicians of
strange severances and strange alliances.
With Blaine eentered as Southern cham
pion there will he a chance for jeff Davis
as Northern knight.