Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-28
MEMPHIS APPEAL
WEDNESDAY,, !: FEBRUARY %. 1883
OH, THAT MINE ENEMY WOULD
WRITE HOOk.

break il he thought he would never be
president Of the United States. LII nursing
that dream he wrongs himself. Like Henry
Clay, he will always have enthusiastic
friends, and like Clay, he will never be
elected president. Blaine was a great
leader in the House OF Representative, but
in any other realm he is failure. He is
ambitious and prolific in resources; he will
be = conspicuous figure in politics until he
hss been finally and forever consigned TO
the limbo Of decayed and bankrupted poll
ticians. In bis desperation he has resorted
to a strategic movement which will drive
the last nail in his political cofin. A special
dispatch from Washington says: "ExSsna-
tor Blaine was at the capitol to day in con-
ference with Senators Allison, Sherman and
several Others. A friend of BlsIue's said
that they were talking about Blaine's forth
coming book, TtSe1,ty Yeais IN Congress. He
said: Blaine is very busy on that work now.
He is working hard and is making consi der
able progress. You would be surprised to
know how much be is sought after now. People
who were openly against him short time
ago are now very anxious 10 make friends
with him. This sudden change from cold
meas and indifference TO warmth and friend
ship commenced Just as soon as it was known
that Blaine was going to write book. 1t
has got abroad that Blaine's book will make
mighty interesting reading. He will have
good deaifto say about public men, and
naturally these public men are somewhat
anxious that he should deal with them
kindly" This book will no doubt be spicy
crease and intensity the antagonisms to
Blaine and make his nomination and cleo
ton to the presidency an utter impossibility.
The strongest candidates for the presidency
are negative men-men without records, and
especially men without enmities and entirely
free from The factions that divide parties.
Thomas Fl. Renton's immense book Thirty
Years IN he Sendte-rrodueed storm of
Indignation. He made himself toe hercules
that beat down Federaiism-ths Atlas upon
whose broad shoulders Jsckson's administers
ton rested 10 tranquil security for eight
JCdiGs AAto NohAAy NOutQ nave DSSn LOle-
rated, but there was no excuse for revivipg
and perpetusting the hatreds of his malig-
nant nature, and his ISLANDERS OF the living
and the dead produced storm Of indigna-
tion which followed him TO the grave. Ben
toms defamation Of his dead rivsl-John G.
Calhoun-was 80 cruel and hyeua-like that
the late James Phelan, Of this city, under
took the defense of the great South Carolina
statesman, and in an able, elosuen, letter 10
the Washington Union assaulted Benton
and exposed bis slauders With all the in
vectiye and scathing bitterness of "Junius."
Mr.. Phelsn's terrible exposure of Bsuton's
misrepresentation, and eloquent defense of
the friend whose memory had been aspersed,
created such sensation throughout the coun-
try that it penetrated the rhinooeros hide OF
Benton, and he made feeble and unsatis-
factory reply. james G. Blaine in his
1ioenty Years in Congress, will array against
himself new crop of enemies, and revive
the slumbering malignancy of old ones
He will discover in the end that he cannot
direct the whirlwnd Of his own creation.
The man who uudertakes 10 impale his enc
mics in book will find himself hoisted ON
his own petard. Blaine is rich, surrounded
with all the Injuries Of life. His high eocial
qualities have made him many friends and
admirers, and he hss every opportunity for
spending the remnant Of his days in serenity.
But the publication OF the book he is pre-
pairing will bring upon him many woes. 1t
will keep him in hot water the
balance of his life. 1t will place
him on the defensive and he will have 10
make many explanations. The popularity
of Blaine has ebbed and flowed, but it will
only ebb for the future, as the folly he pro-
poses will make him many bitter and uu-
scrupulous euemies. His merits and his
faults are patent, but his merits will be for
gotten in blunder which will oversh adow
and forever dwarf his better nature. All
men are agreed as TO the qualities of
Blaine's intellect and heart; no one denies
his splendid talents or bis generous nature.
But all sensible men are also agreed that in
writing and publishing his 7trsnty Years in
Congress he is committing not only political
suicide, but entailing upon himself sorrows
that viii alloy life which if true 10 itself
would sci in splendid tranquility.