Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-04
A Really Great Man.
A NoS-PARTIsAS TRIBUTE TO MR. BLAINE's
QUALIrIEs As A LEADER.
indianapolis News. !


We have with US to-day one of the biggest
men of his time. The bitterest partisan. it
would seem, should be able to lay aside his
prejudice long enough to feel this fact and
take PRIDE in IT, MIR. Blaine is "a great big
man." Stand him along side of Bismarck,
Gladstone, Ferry, CASTELAR,. and Americans
would have no cause To be other than proud
of the comparison He is refutation in The
ewes of the world that our politics make it
possible for any but third rate men to become
prominent 1t is a memorable thing in
city's annals 10 have such a man for its
guest. 1t is memorable. a. was the visit of
Henry Clay to Indianapolis Forty two years
ago on the fifth of this month, that great man
vas here To days event may recall that
visit TO those who remember it, and TO all
may suggest comparisons between these two
great men of succeeding generations. We
are too near Mr. Blaine, of course, and too
stepped in partisanship TO make such compar
ison. But there is one quality in which Mr..
Blaine bears striking resemblance to Henry
Clay, that was seen long ago, and long ago
acknowledged, even by Mr. Blsine's political
opponents, and that is the quality of personal
magnetism. This phrase is overworked Just
now, and by partisan prejudice, even a
sneer; hut il has, nevertheless. al
ready the solidity of an historical
fact. Mr. Blaine has been for many years
singular in the possession of a personal fol
lowing within his party not due to the exer-
else Of that universally attractive quality
military prowess-but to simply a manifesto
/ ii IN in the ordinary course of public life, as
one among hundreds in ''twenty years in
/ Congress" by which, like Saul. he has come
To stand a head and shoulders above his
Z brethren. Ii is such another example as
/ Henry Clay afforded. and the only example
since then in our public life. Whatsoever
MIR. Blaine's varying fortunes have been
within or without his party, there has always
stood at his back this following. which
stesdfsst, has increased with years
Mention of this seems TO us appropriate
here and now. for Indiana il State
in which no man has warmer friends
( OF more of them among his own party than
! Mr.. Blame, and of the kind of thick and thin
friends that have distinguished Mr.. Blaine
peculiarly in his dsv and generation Indi-
sns's welcome. and that OF Indianapolis to-
day, may have, therefore, this quality added
to that public honor which any people il glad
TO show nnted fellow citizen fellow
CT izen noted upon most sides of public life,
exceptionally brilliant IN debate. a parlis-
mentarlan without peer, tactician
unsurpassed, an executive officer with
the American instinct and abundant
ability for its forcible exercise. In
the interval of busy life a man who can
tread the quiet paths of literature as much at
ease there as the arena of public contention,
and give proof of abilities as signal in the
production of work that wins him a place
in the front ranks of literature and among
that most honorable assemblage of American
historians. Whatever we do for Mr. Blaine
twow weeks from to-day, we can thus look
upon and know him to-day and take pleasure
in knowing him.