Los Angeles daily herald., 1884-11-02
where Mr. blaine Failed q
PM Himself on Record,

While, through the Associated
Press dispatches, we have been re-
ceiving accounts of the almost royal
progress of Mr.. Blaine through the
northwest, an occasional note reaches
us which shows how hollow is the ac-
claim for him which has been worked
telegrapically, for three times what it
is worth. Mr.. Blaine is almost as
magnetic as the Georgia girl Lulu
Hurst. Nevertheless, he has not sue
cecded in shutting up the eye OF the
average American citizen, and the
newspaper man of Chicago is amongst
the cagle-visioned people who will
not permit the magnetic eomethcr to
he put upon him. Until few weeks
ago the Chicago Herald was Re-
publican journal, and it echoed every
thing that emanated from Republican
headquarters. 4 change has come
over its dream. II has realized the
ghasily unreality of the present Re-
publican programme and, in its is
sue OF the 25th inst, in anticipation
of the arrival of the Plumed Knight
it propounded the following interrog-
atories to the Republican candidate
for President, accompanied by rehec-
iiAnu x,.i,a,un nj ,,,,I,.ngnI AZ
zens, irrespective of party, will appre-
eiate:
The Republican candidate for the
Presidency will be in Chicago this
evening 1t is loyal city, where
Unionism was aggressive during the
war, and whose citizens contributed
freely of time, money and blood for
the cause OF freedom. 1t is bust
ness city which has close commercial
relations with many Southern States.
II is neither bigoted nor cowardly. 1t
is not afraid OF the South. II rccog-
nizes in the States lying south of the
Ohio and southwest OF the Mississippi
parts of glorious country whose citi-
zens have but to know each other
better to be less hide-bound and
proscriptive. 1t is a poor town in
which to revive sectional issues.
Chicago is young, ambitious, hope
full, energetic, self-reliant. 1t fingers
not at any of the old shrines. THAR
bors no grudges or resentments. 1t
takes a good deal for granted. Its
participation in the war of the rebel
lion was active enough to convince it
that ii ended with the surrender at
Appomattox. No politician or other
alarmist can make it believe that that
war was failure. The country is
united and at peace, and il will no re-
main.
While Chicago is not good town
in which to attempt to stir up the pas
sions of the past, there is one thing
which ii has an interest in and con-
cerning which it would be glad to
have an explanation from no less dis
tinguished a patriot than Mr.. Blaine
himself. 1t is matter of business
and not of sentiment. Chicago would
like to know Mr.. Blaine's position
relative to rebel claims. 1t would
like to know ii he still holds the opin-
ion expressed in his book issued last
spring that the United States Govern
ment had no right to divide the State
of Virginia, and that, having done so
as war measure, it should now in
demnify the State thus damaged. If
he is not in favor of paying this Con-
federate war claim and the thousand
others that would follow in its wake,
Chicago would like to know what he
meant by writing that chapter and by
causing it to be circulated in the
South. These are business PROPOSE
tions having no reference to North or
south. There are not five prominent
men in the South who would to-day
advocate scheme so infamous as that
laid down in Mr.. Blaine's book. 1t
opens up in the most subtle form the
whole field OF war claims. ltamounts
to Il denial OF the right OF the United
States Government to maintain itself
Knowing full well that the intelligent
and patriotic men of the South are
not in favor OF any such project, and
that il carried it would he in spite of
them, the people OF Chicago are not
troubled about the South hayingeverv
right and privilege belonging to it
under the Union freely accorded, but
it would like to know what Mr..
Blaine's attitude is lie is the sus-
pect. He is the only man Of promi-
nence in this country who has had
the audacity TO advocate the payment
OF rebel claim The lust OF money
or power may yet induce Northern
adventurers to demand that for the
South which its own people would
not ask. II Mr. Blaine is paving the
way for Northern advocacy OF rebe
claims We must know it. Ii he is not
let him explain his book.
\ few words on this subject this
evening will be OF more interest in
Chicago and the Northwest than any.
thing else that the Plumed Knight
can say.
The myriad readers of the HERALD
have carefully read the magnetic and
magniloquent speeches Of IngersolIs
White Plumed Knight of Navarro. bu,
we trow they have not encountered a
word from this chivalrous individual
which answers the formal and eIo.