Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-08-14
The Milk In the CocOanut.

1t is only a short time ago that the
Harper brothers had a very high opinion
of James G. Blaine. When they heard
that he was preparing to publish his
book, Twenty Years in Congress-, :"
they desired to be his publishers. On
the 18th of March, 1888, j. w. Harper,
Jr., the head of the firm, wrote a letter
to a friend in washington requesting
him to see Mr.. Blaine on the subject,
and to assure hisn that "the Harper
Brothers would be glad to be considered
in the matter" The followin. is an ex-
tract from Mr.. Harpers letter:
"With the instinct of a publisher ac-
customed to deal with the people rather
than with privileged classes, l recog-
nized the fact that there is no mani iv-
ing more closely ia sympathy with the
people than Mr.. Blaine. l keep not
unframed finger on the popular pulse,
which in our vigorous American life,
is generally healthy, and | am sure that
it beats strongly in admiration and al
lection for man who has been ahsolu-
tely fearless in his patriotism. Mr..
Weeds "reminiscences will be interesting
as the record of an acute observer, but
| am sure that Mr.. Blaines narrative
will hold the American people, because
it will be human, real, flesh and blood,
the record, not of a Machiavellian OBJ
server, but of an active participator
brave fighter and a gallant leader in the
most critical events of our nations his
tory. So, when it comes quite conven-
lent to you, | wish that you would give
Mr. Blaine to understand that while the
doors of Franklin square always stand
wide open to ''them literary fellers,
such as scholars, and poets and novelists,
and evaDgelists, and travellers, the pro-
prietors generally 20 down to the side
walk to welcome the historian of his
own times, and, with uncovered heads,
reverently help him to unload the man
uScript from his triumphal car on the
elevated railroad. Please intimate all
this to Mr.. Blaine. You know how TO
don't gracefully and effectively
1t is only little more than year
since this letter was written. 1t will
he observed that then the head OF the
Harper firm spoke of Mr.. Blaine as a
man who had been absolutely fearless
ia bis patriotism, " and for whom "the
popular pulse beat strongly in admira-
ton. He spoke of him as a brave
fighter and gallant leader in the most
critical events Of cur nations history
The Harper brothers, We're then ready to
go with uncovered heads and Fever
emily help him unload his manuscript"
if he would bring it to FrankliE square.
But Mr.. Blaine concluded to unload it
in Boston. He gave the work to a Bos-
ton house. All the charges that are
now rung against Mr.. Blaine had then
been long before the public and were
as well understood as now. But they
did not weaken the admiration felt for
the fearless patriot at that time by the
Harper brothers. How does it happen
then, that at present, those gentlemen
consider Mr. Blaine such bad man
that they cannot support him for presi-
dent? Does it not seem probable that
if Mr.. Blaine had ''unloaded his manu-
script" at Franklin Square, Harp ers'
Weekly, "the journal OF civilization
would be wildly enthusiast tic for Mr..
Blaine and the Republican cause? Is
it possible that Ola such a slender thread
hang everlasting things?