New-York tribune., 1884-11-04
OTR GR1ND LEADER.

With the light of victory on their faces the
Republicans go into the final struggle to-day
with proud cons ciousness that their party has
deserved success, and that its great leader has
proved worthy of such party and OF It's noble
cause. All eyes turn to James q. Blaine with
thanks for the magnificent service he ha.
rendered to the Republican cause, and with pro
found admiration for the matchless ability he
has displayed.
II has been peoples canvass. Without an
effort by Mr.. Blaine or his nearest friends, the
nublic concentrated upon him as the man for
the time. When vile ISLANDERS were used to
driye him from the field, he held dignitcd
silence. while the people only rallied around
him the more resolutely. The farest nomina-
ton ever made in National Convention was
followed by free-trade bolt and deluge OF
defamation. But the Republican millions tes-
tilted their faith and their joy by an Outburst Of
enthusiasm never witnessed before. Mr..
Blaines letter of acceptance splendidly justified
their confidence. 1t struck the Keynote OF q
campaign which, ON the Republican SIDE, has
steadily appealed to the reason and the patriot
ism of the American people For months the
vilest falsehoods darkened the air. and Mr..
Blaine uttered no reply. He calmly waited for
the people to show by their votes whether they
Judged him worthy of leadership Maine an-
| swered magnifcently. She branded slander as
if deserved. From that moment Mr.. Blaine has
taken his place at the head OF the Republican
hosts. and has rendered more powerful and
effective service than any other one of the many
splendid champions of Republican principles.
Everywhere he has pleaded for Republican
ideas. never by a single word for himself. In
over 400 speeches, delivered without oppor-
tunity for preparation, before millions OF
voters he has discussed every one OF the lmpof-
| tant issues of the canvass with startling frank
ness. At every point his words have lifted the
discussion to a higher plane, and made more
clear and distinct the Republican appeal to
popular intelligence. More has been done by
these speeches, studied as they have been by
the whole Nation to educate the public mind,
than is done in all the debates of an ordinary
campaien Everywhere he has captivated and
convinced by his manifest sympathy with the
real interests OF the people, and crushed op-
position by the power of his reasoning and his
array of facts. Others have done nObly i'll this
rare campaign of discussion General Logan
especially has vindicated his place on the ticket
bv his power, courage and manly appeal to all
| that Is nODleSt Ill American uisIoiy anu 0Hai
acter. But Mr.. Blaine has been clearly the
foremost, even in this array of champions. The
Republican party thanks him to-day for the
most powerful canvass ever made in such q
| cause.
1t is the most marvellous feature of this mar
vellous display of power, that not one phrase
uttered by Mr. Blaine has given even to malig-
nant foes ap opportunity of criticism. Neither
in his letter of acceptance nor in his many i'm
promptu speeches has a single word occurred
which his foes have tried to use against the Re-
publican cause or any of its defenders. Courte-
GUS to opponents, he has conciliated even where
he has most powerfully assailed. With vile ac-
cusations and passions raging like waves of an
argry sea about him, he has been calm. digni-
fed. true TO himself and his cause, and conf.
dent IN the justice of the American people
The thousand traps that lie at the feet of every
| Presidential candidate who ventures to open his
lips, multiplied here thousand fold by the
base devices Of his foes, Mr.. Blaine has in every
case passed unharmed. He stands to-day more
secure in the confidence and love OF the Amefi-
can people thai any other man has been since
Abraham Lincoln.
Hope gilds the dawn, and yet the day might