Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-08-14
The Milk In the COcOanut.

1t is only a short time ago that the
Harper brothers had 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 liter
to a friend in Washington requesting
him TO see Mr.. Blaine on the subj CT,
and to assure hia that 'the Harper
Brothers would be glad to be considered
liz the matter" The following is an ex-
tract from Mr.. Harper's letter:
with the instinct Of publisher ac-
customed to deal with the people ra ther
than with privileged classes, [ recog-
nized the fact that there is no mani w.
ing more closely ia sympathy with the
people than Mr.. Blaine. 1 keep a not
unframed finger on the popular pulse,
watch in our vigorous American life,
is generally healthy, and an sure that
it beats strongly IN c1mirt o1 and af-
lection for Ian W no has been absolu-
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
1t will be human, real, flesh and blood,
the record, not of a Machiavellian OBJ
server, but of an active participation, a
brave tighter, 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 felIers,' -
such as scholars, and poets, and novelists,
and evapgelists, and travellers, the pro-
prietors generally so down to the side
walk to welcome the historian of bis
own times, and, with uncovered heads,
leverently help him to unload the man
u8crjpt 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
be observed that then the head of the
Harper firm spoke Of Mr.. Blaine as a
man ''who had been absolutely fearless
in his PATRIOTISM, and for whom "the
popular pulse beat strongly in admira-
ton He spoke of him as a ''hrav4
fighter and gallant leader in the most
critical events of our nations hist ory."
The Harper brothers were then ready to
go with uncovered heads" and "rever-
emily help him unload hi; manuscript"
if he would bling it to Franklin 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 we'll 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 a 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 y
would be wildly enthusiast tic for Mr.
Blaine and the Republican cause? Is
it possible that GA such slender thread
hang everlasting things: