The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-12
Up. RAILROAD TIME TABLE.
James Gillespie Blaine, Republican
Nominee for President.

On the fourth ballot In the republican
national convention last Friday after
noon, JAMES G. BLAINE, of Maine, re-
ceiyed that which he has untiringly and
increasingly worked for since lo72-the
republican nomination for President
of the United States.
And now that he is nominated the
republican party will for the first time
become acquainted with the man who
has laid hold of the popular heart
through his specious eloquence, his
bold, pretentious manner, his superb
cial brightness and the magnetism OF his
aggressive spirit, and not through quail
tiles which should belong to deep, far
seeing statesman, nor through the rich
ness and beauty of noble manhood.
Blaine is purely asurface man, sharp,
shrewd and INSCRIPTIONS. lie is Ill
politics for what he can make. lie has
always been the plant tool of mOnopo-
lists, working for their interests as
against the interests of the people. In
this regard he embodies the worst fea-
lures of American politics-machlne
methods, selfshness and dishonesty.
Recognizing this fact, such able .repub-
lican journals as the New York Times
and Harper's Weekly persistently warned
the republicans against nominating
BLAINE, saying that his election was
an impossibility. But the glamor of his
magnifcence enveloped the republicans.
and they listened not to the NEsToRs
of their party. That warning viii be
literally fulfilled, and the nomination
has come to Mr.. BLAINE too late to re-
alize the utmost height of his pre-
sumptuous ambition.
AS a statesman, in the true meaning
of that word, Mr.. BLAINE ranks no
higher than DENNIsKEARNEY. BLAINE
is an agitator, a brilliant agitator, it
may be. but nothing more. If any one
can point out an action of real states
manship coming from Mr.. BLAINE, we
should be glad to have him do it.
In 1862 he entered Congress. Unlike
many other prominent men in politics
at that time, Mr.. BLAINE did not go to
the front. No title such as Major,
Colonel or General serves as handle to
his name. He was brave only in the
rear, and his fighting was done with the
tongue. His nomination has relegated
the bloody shirt to the wash tub, and
the principal strength of the republican
party has gone into soap suds.
But in 1874, the year when the dem
ocrats first got control of the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES, Mr.. BLAINE came to
the front in a series of brave, manly
and terrific oratorical onslaughts against
the rebels. The hates and passions and
all that was ignoble in the hearts OF
men were famed to flame by the utter
ances of a man who never smeled gum
powder. but who was deSignedly posing
before the people of the north as the
brave defender of their country against
the evil intentions of resurrected Con
federacy. He did more than all othel
influences combined to keep alive the
sectional bitterness, and as result Of
his cowardice and duplicity he came
very near securing the nomination il
1876.
Mr.. BLAINE has had occasion to dis
play his craftsmanship. Entering Gen
GARFIELD's cabinet as Secretary o.
State, he became at once an mruly anC
disorderly factor. His first act was u
array CoNKLING, GRANT and the othel
stalwart leaders against the administra
ton, and as a direct and palpaple re
suit of this difficulty came GUITEAI
with his murderous pistol. In his deal
ings with foreign powers he was no les
unfortunate. His visionary idea was t.
extend an American protectorate owe
the republics of South America, and t.
complicate this country in the hostil,
affairs of Chill and Peru. His effort
were ignorant, ridiculous and evel
ludicrous, and made him the laughing
stock of his own country and the ma
lions of Europe. In his discussion o
the Panama canal project with LorC
GRANVILLE, he placed himself in al
absurd position by betraying his ignOr
ance of the existence of the CLAYTON
BULwER treaty-a treaty which wa
necessarily the basis of discussion.
The republicans have nominated
man for President who believes in tn
machine method of politics, a MAJ
whose ambition is narrow and selfish
man who has and will Subordinat
great public interests to selfish end
and self-aggrandisement, man VIII
entered Congress in 1852 a poor ma
and is to-day worth millions, a ma
who is ignorant Of the first principles o
true craftsmanship and man who vii
be beaten at the polls by the democrati
nominee for President. This is dem
ocrStic year, and the nomination of MI
BLAINE adds force and truth to th
statement.