The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-28
Mr.. BIaine's craftsmanship, y


The republican organs are prone to
prate of Mr.. Cleveland's lack of |
craftsmanship. They say he has been
lift d rapidly beyond his capacity, and |
that he has none of the eliments of
sta. esmanship about him. His record
stands before the country as an adj
illustrative officer of marked ability,
while his public policies have been
shaped with an eye to the public well
fare. This much can not be said of
Mr.. Blaine. His public acts have
be, carefully scrutinized, and he has
bern found sadly wanting in all that
m|kes statesman. His purposes as
a public man have been personal,
not popular, and his acts
as a legislator and as cabinet officer
have been directed towards the ac-
comphshment of financial schemes of
profit to himself and those intimately
associated with him in speculative
measures. Mr. Blalne's long expe-
rience as public man has proved his
untitDess for public trusts, while the
short service of Mr.. Cleveland has
shown him TO be alive alone to pub
lie behests, Mr.. Blaine was elected
to congress in 1868. serving continu-
ously in such capacity till he became
secretary of state under President
Garfield in 1881. 1t sseen then thai he
became congressman at time when
statesmen as well as soldiers were in
demand, and yet up to the close OF the
war he left no trace of craftsmanship
on the record. The war over, he had
channels for distinction open to him,
and yet with demand for measures of
wise pacification of sections, the re
establishment Of law and order in dis
turbed states, the reduction of govern
mental expenditures from war to an
economical and honest peace basis, the
publication of administration, the re-
form of the currency and other impor-
tant measures of public safety, he
proved himself incompetent to grapple,
not all, but any Of these impor-
tant subjects, as a statesman;
but he did develop into a
supreme demagogue counting the
prejudices of the worst elements of
society and furthering measures cal
culated alone to defeat all that wise
craftsmanship would dictate. 1t is
asked, what can Mr.. Blsine's friends
point to, during that eventful period,
to prove craftsmanship. Mr. Cleve-
land, it is true, has not had the ex-
perience of his opponent, but his short
public record is brilliant one, show
ing his capacity for the position to
which he now aspires. The New York
Herald says of him: "Mr. Cleveland,
as mayor of Buffalo and as governor
of the state, has shown very Uncom-
mon capacity. His friends and sup
porters have reason for their. pride in
him and confidence in his intelligence,
faithfulness to public trusts, unfalter-
ing firmness and thorough comprehen-
sion of great public questions. They
do not boast vaguely of his brilliant
craftsmanship" but they have done
much better, for they have printed a
detailed statement of his public acts.
every one of which is creditable to his
wisdom and courage, and proof of his
unwavering fidelity to public trusts,
and the sum of which
shows him man safely
to be trusted with the presidency
The plain truth about Mr.. Blaine is,
that he is an artful dodger and dem
agogue. In politics he has never been
great leader, general, but purely a
skirmisher on the outer lines, laying
traps and enveigling the unwary, but
retreating whenever met by COM
peer of discretion and ability. Be
sides being nnentitled to the appella-
ton of distinguished statesman"
which his supporters lavish upon
him, he has merited the name
of "official jobber." The country
was secured against the con-
summation of diabolical personal
purposes by means of official power
| through the fact that his career as
secretary of state was cut short when
President Garfield died. The record
is full of official evidences that of all
men Mr.. Blaine is about the last one
in this country to entrust with the re-
sponsibilities imposed upon a pcesi-
dent of the UniSed States.