Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-10-06
SIGNS AND PoRTENTs.
The Points Of Similarity Between Clay
and Blaine.


There is no little similarity between |
the private character, the personal |
gifts, and the public service OF Henry !
Clay and James Blaine. Before the 1
latter had passed from earth, while he |
was still browning hislife oflabor with |
an age OF ease, Mr.. Blaine as unknown !
as in his youth was the Mill Boy of |
the Slashes, was also a resident OF |
Kentucky. While professor at
semi-military school he was a reverent
admirer of the career of the great man
to whom in after years he was FREE
quently to be likened. Clay was
member of congress, he was speaker of
the house, he was secretary of state in
the administration Of Jonn Quincy
Adams, whom he had aided to the
presidency when the election in which
he himself had been e.
candidate was carried to
the house of representatives. He
was United States senator. In the
days when our infant industries were
indeed infants, and asked with seem
ing reason a slight degree of protec.
ton by tariff laid in their behalf, he
was the champion of American indus
try. Greatly liked, Clay was bitterly
opposed, and habits OF play and was
sail-which, less conspicuous, still
plague statesmen-gave him an i'll
name. He shines" said the cynical
Randolph, 'he shines and stinks and
shines like a rotten mackerel by moon
Light
Mr.. Blaine has run the same gamut
of political honors. A member OF con-
gress, he has been speaker of the house.
| He has been senator and secretary
of state, He is the foremost champion
Of the industries no longer infant, but
still crying for protection with all the
vigor of Oliver Twist, whose prayer
was for more. He has all the popular
qualities ascribed to Clay and has be-
come equally party idol. Not a gam
bier, az was charged against his
| prototype, he Is arraigned for Of
lenses more seriously affecting his re-
latiOn to the public as their servant,
and members of congress have said of
him as speaker as Randolph. said of
Mr.. Speaker Clay: mot what you
are, but where you are compels us to
respect you.n Brilliant and resource
tul in debate in the halls of congress,
both statesmen were heard with eager
acclaim upon the stump, and the
progress of Clay homeward in stage
coach over the national pike was as
hearty and picturesque in days Of POI
litical excitement as the present cleo
pioneering tour of Mr.. Blaine by rail.
The goal of Clay's ambition was the
White House. For this he struggled
long and ardently. In 1924 his name
first appears in the electoral college,
but the famous union of the Puritan
and the black-leg gave him in the sue
ceedIng year the portfolio of state.
Jackson swept the country in 1928,
and the era of nominating conventions
gave new method to the
representation of candidates
Though the favorite of
the great multitude of his party he
failed of the nomination in 1910 as he
had been unsuccessful in 1876, and with
something of chagTin saw Harrison,
the nominee of his party, borne into
the White House. Harrison died in
the harness before the expiration Of
his term as Garfield died. Tyler cue
ceeded his chief as Arthur succeeded
his. Tyler became candidate for
nomination and failed as Arthur also
failed. In June of IA the long coveted
honor of the nomination fell at last
to the great party leader, who entered
upon the campaign with every augury
oil success. TO the surprise Of the
country the Democrats by the opera
ton of the two-thirds rule devised for
the purpose defeated Van Buren's as
pirations and committed to compare
lively unknown hands the standard Of
their party. Dallas accepted the sec
ond place with Polk reluctantly, for
Clay's election seemed the foTegone
conclusion of campaign in which all
the enthusiasm was for the magnetic
chieftain.
After two failures in national con-
yention Blaine is fairly started toward
the White House. Will the parallel
between the fortune and the fate OF
Clay and Blaine continue to the end
VIII history repeat itself? In the
electoral college OF 1874 Mr.. Accident
Polk received 40 votes 10 Clay's l05,
and the latter retired TO the shades OF
Ashland, again to emerge, 1t is true,
but never as an aspirant for the presi-
dency.
The portends of this parallel meet
Blaine upon his march Toledoward
even as the wierd sisters stopped Mac
beth upon the barren heath at Forres.
Both were fresh with triumph. Mac
beth had fought and won where the
Norwegian banners Haunted the sky.
In the pine woods of Maine the victory
was with the plumed knight. CLAIMS
thou art and Cawdor, cried the sisters.
CLAIMS and CawdOr, cry the portenta.
And shalt be king hereafter, say the
sisters. But the portents cannot
promise even q barren crown. The
signs and omens point Clay's protege
to Clay.
The daily output Of the lumber
mills in TalladeRa county, Ala,
amounts TO 100000 feet. and 80 per
cent. of this amount is cut by themills