Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-10-15
Blaine. the Blainites and BlaIneism.

Some correspondent lately encountered
the redoubtable General Robert Toombs,
of Georgia, at one of the fashionable re-
sorts in the mountains of Virginia. The
general was not on his way to Boston to
call the roll of his slaves at the foot OF
Bunker Hill monument: having, it is under
stood, indefinitely postponed that promised
performance on account OF circumstances
ever which he had no control Still, the
general feels a lively interest in politics,
and delivers himself of more or less good
advice. He wants to see Blaine defeated,
and to that end admonished the newspaper
man as follows:
eLook a-here," said the general, ''don't
you cussed newspaper people make out old
Blaine too plain a case OF thief; because
If Won do.'' said the general, call the thieves
in the country will vote for him, and that
will elect himp'
Tt is not quite so bad case as that, we
feel sure: and yet Mr.. Blaine, with his pc
culiar views of public duty. and his peculiar
record as to public trusts, is less factor OF
vicious opinion than mere incident and
symptom. 1t is a principle clearly pointed
out by many philosophers, but most clear
w by Herbert Spencer in Social States,
that the corruption of any court or of any
public servant at any particular time, is but
the fruition and fulflment of influences
that have their effect in greater or less
degree upon the whole framework Of So
ciety. In the case of Mr.. Blaine, the scan
dial attaching to him is the more intense
because of his confesedly great abilities,
because of the contrast between the reality
of his yenal motives and methods and his
religious professions, his trumpetted pa
triotism, and his magnetic" personality
and last, because his boldness and aggres-
siveness have brought his figure prominent
ly forward and made him enemies neither
few nor feeble. 1t must in justice be urged
that Mr.. Blaine has shown more fragrant
sense of the want of decency, and more
constitutional deficiency of plain homespun
honesty in his abuse of official opportuni-
ties-a more hardened cynicism and appar-
ent inability to realize the enormity of his
transgressions than has been exhibited in
any contemporary delinquent. And yet
ali the same we feel assured that Mr.. Blaine
differs rather in degree than in kind from
many-very many of the leaders of the Re-
publican party who have nearly all, like him
made large fortunes in some unexpected
and mysterious manner, out of 80, 700 per
annum salaries, during and since the war.
How have they managed it? The "little
books of Cakes Ames showed how COlfaX
and MANY another pretended saint gave his
saintship and honor and his public trust for
the love of money. Many others equally
corrupt have never yet been detected and
exposed. 1t was part of Mr. Blaine's luck
and part of Mr.. Blaine's fault that the trap
caught him and let other birds Of prey es-
cape.
Another thing: how are we to account
for the support still given Blame by the
whole body of the radical party, its press
and it's party leaders, except on the theory
that the people he represents and who are
willing to be represented by him, are no
better than he is? These facts were all
partly known at the time of his nomination;
yet the majority of the northern delegates
insisted on having him. Since his nomina-
ton the proof of his infamy has been more
thorough, unanswerable and damning by
new publications of his correspondence
But we hear both him and his claque assert
and insist that the letters contain nothing
that is not entirely consistent with the
most heightened integrity. Really, such a
defence makes us doubt if any Of the fol
lowers of Blaine who have given this ques-
ton square investigation, care whether
he is honest or not, SO he gets the place
which will secure to his satellites the minor
picklngs of official plumber.
But what is the country coming to when
it costs such struggle to keep such men
out of power.-Petersburg Lnder- appeal.