Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-11-20
j. G. BLAINE And TIE NEXT PRES
IDENCY.

Mu. Blaine is an inevitable factor in
American politics. BY his ability, his sa-
gacity, his aptitude for public affairs, he
has reached distinction and eminence. He
pays the penalty of distinction in the OPP
position, the criticism. the hate, the vitu-
peration of partisan detractors, harped on
by rival statesmen, and party leaders, jeal-
Gus of his fame,and, who, for personal ends
would weaken his influence, diminish his
power, cloud his position, and damage his
popularity with the general public. On the
other hand, he has his reward in the COM
mendation, the confidence, the sincere at
tachment and admiration Of vast num-
Der of the people. II this regard his
position is not unlike that
of Henry Clay, who for so many years was
the idol of great body of the people, and
at the same time was the object of most
viperous abuse on the part of others.
Mr.. Clay's great ambition was to become
president, and his name, often and again,
appeared in national conventions of his
party for nomination to that great Office.
Never did man have more devoted fol-
lowers. In the Harrisburg national con-
vention in 1910, when the fierce contest for
nomination resulted in the selection of
Gen. Harrison, many a strong man wept,
in the bitterness of his disappointment, at
the defeat of Mr.. Clay. Again in 1914 Mr..
Clay sought and obtained the presidential
nomination, only to meet his final over
throw and eclipse as an aspiring states
man. The glittering prize had passed
from his hands, and soured and disap-
pointed, and weakened by the saccummu-
lating weight Of years, no higher public
honors awaited him. He had gained his
greatest distinction, ana fingered on, re-
spected for his brilliant achievements in
the past, but with no higher Iaurels to win,
So of Mr.. Blaine. His presidential sun
has set, while he remains in the
mid vigor of ripe craftsmanship.
Whether Mr.. Blaine realizes this, or not.
it is an undoubted fact. The GLOBE is
not his champion Or apologist. He is
charged with various laches in public
life, but it is not our present purpose to
pursue this open line of criticism. While
there is much in his mode and action
that we cannot approve, we do not hest
tate to acknowledge the great qualities he
undoubtedly possesses.
Having been a contestant for the presi-
d.ntial nomination in two national con-
ventions, his power in that direction is d.
minished. To pursue his efforts
in that direction would be monotonous.
He is credited with the good sense
of saying that he will not be again can
didate for nomination to the presidency.
In this he is not accorded entire sincerity.
His experience in two conventions is, that
prominent contestants in heated effort,
are apt to be set aside for "a dark horse"
He went into the Chicago convention in
1880. as contestant of Grant for third
term, and also in opposition to Sherman
Had Blaines and Sherman's forces united.
either could have received the nomination
over Grant, but the contest was too spirit
ed to admit of that, as neither would 60
over to the third-termers, and hence
Garfield was selected as compromise
candidate. Warned by his experience, it
may be doubtless true that Mr.Blaine will
decline the position of a prominent can
didate for nomination, before the session
of the convention in 1884, in the hope,
that if prominent candidates lock horns in
that convention, he may be made accept
able, as was Garfield, as compromise
candidate. In this we see the willy art of
the politician. Mr.. Blaine's course
gives color to this idea.
While he claims to be
citizen of Maine, he is really not a
resident of that state. He lives in Wash
, ington, though he halls from Maine Like
Mr.. Window, who affects to hail for Min
nesota, for political ends, but has his only
residence in his palatial establishment in
the city of Washington, SO Mr.. Blaine has
his costly establishment erected by him
self at the national capital, aud there he