The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-06-26

NalcD the movements OF the PRESIDENT S
opponents. The acquaintance between
Lincoln and Blaine had begun in Illinois
during the Douglas campaign in 1888,
and at that early time the Maine editor
had predicted in the columns of his paper
that Lincoln would be defeated for sen
ator by Douglas, but that he would beat
Douglas for president in 1860. \ copy
of this prophecy Mr.. Lincoln carried in
his memorandum book long after he had
been inaugurated as president. In 1860,
a delegate to the Chicago Convention,
Mr. Blaine had been almost the only
New England man who had supported
Mr.. Lincoln from the start, and it is not
too much to say that it was Mr.. Blaine's
early and firm stand for Lincoln which
opened the way to the first nomination
Of the first martyr President.
HIS CONGRESSIONAL CAREER.
Mr.. Blaine had been a representative
hardly three years before he had won an
equal rank with the ablest Of the mem
bers. II was a body strong in strong
men-Thad Stevens. Ben Butler Bing-
ham. Boutwell,, Conkling. Dawes. George
\. Julian, r. B. Hayes and others made
the Republican delegation a tower of
strength. In the National House OF
Representatives Mr.. Blaine followed the
same even and upward path Of progress
which he had trodden from his entrance
in college to his last day of service in the
Maine Legislature. lie was a member
Of the Thirty eighth, Thirty ninth, For
tieth, Forty first, Forty second, and
Forty third Congresses. He was speaker
of the House during the Forty first
Forty second and Forty third Con-
crosses. For the speakership be
had nearly every requirement that
can be demanded. Before he took
up the gavel he had long parliamentary
experience, he had quickness, frmnesS.
knowledge of the rules, of men and
affairs. His assumption of the office was
merely another trial of the powers which
had been equal to every occasion and
they did not fail him now. On July 10,
le16, Mr.. Blaine Was appointed United
| States senator from Maine. to fill the
vacancy caused hy the resignation of
| Lot NJ. Morrill,. who had been appointed
secretary of the treasury. and he was
| subsequently elected for the uneNpired
term, and for the ensuing term which
| expired March ;, lcS3. 1t is impossible
within the brief limits Of this sketch to
even touch upon the varied services rem
| dered toy Mr.. Blaine to his country While
a member of the House and Senate. His
congressional career embraced the most
trying period of his country's history,
! the somble years Of the rebellion. the
| reconstruction period and the rerllous
.b., u 4
Hayes aroused an apparently triumphant
| Democratic party almost to the verge OF
madness. \ good example of Mr.. Blaine S
powers as a debatcr is found in a speech
delivered in the Senate. April II. 1879,
when an effort was made 10y the Demo
Gratis to strike ont the words from sec
tlon Of the Revised Statutes which pro
| vided for the use Of soldiers to keep
peace at the polls. In reply to the
charge that the soldiers were used to
intimidate Southern voters Mr.. Blaine
said
And the entire South has ll55 soldiers to in
timidae, overrun. oppre>> and destroy the
| liberties of II, 200 900 people. III the Southern
| States there are 1903 counties. If you distri
butte the soldiers there is not quite one fol
each county. If you distribute them territora
| l.
territory, so that if you make a territorial dis
| tribution | would remind the honorable Sena
tor from Delaware, if | saw him in his seat
| that the quota for mis- state would be three
"One ragged sergeant and two abreast" as thu
| Old song has it, That is the force ready tc
destroy the liberties of Delaware.
BLAINE, THE STATESMAN.
An examination Of the Congressional
Record VIII show how far astray is the
popular idea of Mr.. Blaine's congression
al career and how much greater he was
as a statesman than as a politician. His
debates covered wide range of the
most complicated subjects, and show
| him TO have been sound in his tinancia
views, practical always and liberal in
his political views. When, in December
l-64, Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, in
troduced a bill in the House to deter
mine the value of legal tender notes and
to compel all persons to take the notes
at their face value, Mr.. Blaine was the
member to expose the absurdity of the
attempt. "The bill" he said, '.aims al
the impossible You cannot make a golC
dollar worth less thar it is or paper
dollar worth more than it is by Congress
Sional declaration"
Mr.. Blaine invented the word "Stal-
wart." but no one was quicker than he
to advise keeping hands off the S0utf
after the close of the war.
In a speech upon the financial condi-
tion of the country, delivered in the
| House March, 1865, Mr.. Blaine said
Nor do | see how any gentleman can consist
emily propose an imitation of the currency i'll the
face OF an express and solemn pledge to The
contrary by Congress. If we were
ever so eager TO pay of our 5-20's in grccnbacks
we are actually stopped by the 800. .00O,0 ,00
pledge. If we disregard that pledge we nigh
Just well trampe upon others and take
short cut at once 10 reputation and nationa
bankruptcy The policy which advocate is t'
bring our entire currency in due season, with
out haste, without rashness, without contrac
tion. without financial CONFUSION. up to The
| specie standard.
June %, 1865 Mr.. Blaine made al
elaborate argument in opposition to thu
proposition to impose a tax upon Gov
ernment bonds. He was one of the mos
conspicuous and able Of the opponents o
the importation of Chinese labor Hi
ablest speeches in the Senate were, prob
ably, those made during the Genev;
award debate, when he successful.
crossed arms with the great legal ath
letes of the Senate Chamber.
In the meantime, Mr.. Blaine's p0pu
larity and prominence had made him
formidable candidate for the presidency
The present is not the first presidential
year in which he has been the people
candidate, opposed by the organization
of the party. On the first ballot at th
Cincinnati Convention Of 1876 he rcceiv
ed 2s5 votes, lacking only 93 votes OF
nomination. ON the seventh ballot hi
vote rose to :}45, or :'3 votes less than
majority. But for an unfortunate sun
stroke on hot July day he would proba
bly, have been nominated. AS it was, hi
friends looked forward to his nomination
on the next ballot with confidence.
HIS RELATIONS WITH GARFIELD.
In the Chicago Convention Of 1880 Mr.
Blaine received 2S4 votes on tie frs
ballot, and at no time during the Ion,
contest did his vote fall below 27O unit
the friends of Blaine nominated Garfield
Again Mr.. Blaine was to perform tn
second martyr President a service great
er in degree than that which he hat
done for Lincoln at the second Nationa
Convention of the Republican party, bu
similar to it. In Lincoln's case he open
ed the way to the nomination. He mad
the nomination of Garfield possible b
throwing his strength to him at the prop
er moment And his relations with Gar