The Wilmingtonian., 1884-09-27
BLAINE AND VAN BUREN.

BLAINE AND VAN BUREN.
Mr.. Barnum must labor under painful |
sense of opportunities lost when he reflects
how easy it might have been to have ad-
ded the idealsation of great moral ideas,
in the person of James G. Blaine, to the at
fractions of the Greatest Show on Earth.
But it is all over now: actum est de erercsttt,
and the author Of the Mullgau letters comes
to the front while Jumbo, and the White
Elephant retire iuto oblivion.
Mr.. Blaine and his advisers have proba-
bly, carefully considered the outcome OF
their course, SC far as itaffects the Presiden-
tial prospects of the ex-seeretary of State.
But we do not recognise that it is in keeping
with the dignity of a candidate for the high
est honors country can bestow to pose as
the p incipal ornament of a spectacular en-
teitainment. Neither is it in keeping with
precedent. Prior TO the War il was COM
mon practice for aspiring statesmen to ac-
cept high foreign post, while awaiting the
verdict of their fellow citizens. The Office
of Minister to England has been selected for
the purpose, because it keeps the asprant
out of harm yet in full and honorable view
of grateful country. 1t was in this way
that Mr.. Van Buren resigned the Secretary
IL, q th,,h hat IN hp m
| for the Presidential succession.
And, with this exception Ga vital one),
| there is much in common between the career
| of Mr.. Van Buren, and that of Mr.. Blaine.
| Each of them elected to "stand his own
game.' Like Mr.. Blaine, Van Buren, wrote
confidential letters, and there is the docu-
mentary evidence to show that MIR. Van
Buren, was dsinterestedly solcitous that
the moral character of General Jackson
should be unmpeachable. Fifteen years
ago when the "Reminiscences of James A.
Hamilton" were published, critic wrote:-
t.They are letters written [by Mr.. Van
i
Dental political intercourse, but they are
nevertheless marked by the wariness of the
politician. They are, it must be frankly
said, the letters of a politician intent upon
his own advancement, and as such they
illustrate the essentially unhandsome char
acter of that persouage.-The characteristic
of the politician is self seeking. All ques-
tions, the public welfare itself, are subor-
dinated to party interests, and the bearing
a those interests upon his personal aggrand-
izement. This was certainly true of MIR.
Van Buren,. He was personally kind and
agreeable man, but who eau help wincing
little to think that of all men in the coun-
; try just the man who wrote these letters
should have been selected for Presidents
70 Is not that they propose tfGuds-a IS their
tone aohich is humiliating."
The same critic goes on to tell little
story which is by no means without its sig
nificance at the present epoch. He says
"Some old gentleman in the western part
ot the State, who is anxious to know that
Jackson's moral character is quite correct,
| WIlLeS 10 MT. Ndu bulcuJ VIM oouuS pho
letters to Mr.. Hamilton, and asks him t.
write an answer in his best style. MIR
Hamilton, who had been at the Hermitag
and knew the habits of Jackson's house
y hold, complies, but he mentions the name
f Mr.. Van Buren in tho letter. As the lette
:, may get into print the allusion may in som
way be prejudcia to that gentleman, so h
suggests that it be stricken out, and add
Z, this significant postscript:-P. S.-Doe
d the old gentleman have prayers in his ow
e house? If so, mention it modestly.' Dul
ing all the correspondence in regard t
offices and appointments, Mr.. Hamilton say
~ that Mr.. Van Buren ne Ier made any suf
D gestion whatever in regard to the titnei
ID of candidates.
ir History repeats itself but here is para
lei altogether remarkable. And yet, whi
r. Mr.. Van Buren, was iudiscreet enough t
.ir write confidential letters, he was also wis
he enough not to pose before the public as tt
at bright particular star of the party destir
,,o at time when the very essence of poli'
- consisted In being felt without being see