The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-09
HOW BLAINE RECEIVED THE NEWS.
lie May Not Have Been Prepared for the
Result but He Expected 1t.

Augusta Herald
1t may be proper to note that since Mr..
Blaines arrival last Tuesday at his Augusta
house from Washington he has spent the most
of the time in his library devoting himself to the
prosecution of his historical work lie has also
been enjoying the sweet coutentment ana
quietude of his happy home, with its broad vel
vety lawn and poisoning fruit trees. Nor has
he been unmindful of his constitution. He ram
bles to keep up his health, winch is
vastly better than when he was IN
Washington. He has seemingly been as I'M
concerned at what was going on in Chicago as
he would be here had he not been candidate
for presidential honor His mind was so
estranged or diverted from politics and political
conventions, that pair OF horses that had been
offered him for sale seemed to give him more
congenal and interesting topic of conversation.
Perhaps. also, as a contradiction to certain re
ports telegraphed from here, it is proper to say
that there has been no private wire running into
his house. nor has he been in telegraph com
munication with his friends. as has been re-
ported nor has he given any interviews to
newspapers as has been alleged. During the
visits made him, mostly by his immediate
neighbors, he has studiously refrained from any
expression of opinion concerning his candidacy,
nor has he commented on the proceedings of the
convention He has obtained his information
of the dongs of the convention from the Herald
and other daily newspapers, like the rest OF his
townsmen.
The Plumed Knight was seated on his lawn,
attended by several members of his family and
few personal friends. when the news that the
convention was balloting was received he had
passed good nights sleep tie, had eaten a
good dinner. and was in the best of spirits. lie
had a pleasant word for every one. When he
proceeded to look at the bulletins on the result
of which his political future was depending, he
examined the returns i'll his customary method
zeal way, without showing the slightest
nervousness As he sometimes got up from
his seat and walked to and fro, he betrayed
7ot so much anxiety as | have seen him show
when he had been receiving the returns Of an
election in his own State and forecaStIng
the result One would never have supposed
that he had personal interest in the matter.
He INDUCED in pleasant observations on the
gains and losses in certain States, and when
reading the numerous encouraging messages
that he was constantly receiving from William
Walter Phelps and other of his friends in the
conventions still it was evident to the close
observer that Mr.. Blaine had his ears close to
the ground and anticipated what was in store
for him.
1t is doubtful if ne was prepared for the re
suit, but he looked for it. If Blaine ever had
any doubt of his nomination, it was when his
valued friend, General Sherman, was named as
candidate; but when the emphatic defamation
of that valiant soldier was read in the conven-
ton, that doubt was removed, for Mr.. Blaine
then clearly foresaw that his opponents
could not concentrate upon any other man
to beat him. At any rate, when the
Joyful news of his nomination was received by
him, he still maintained the same composure.
There was only a slight dilation of his big, lus-
trous eyes which bespoke how deeply he felt and
appreciated the great honor conferred upon him.
A few minutes later he betrayed a slight emo
ton as he casually remarked that he owed much
TO the devoted men who had stood by him for so
many years.
In speaking of the result, he said that he felt
all the more gratiied. because it was an honor
that had come to him unsolicited He had not
lifted finger to secure the nomination, nor had
he made any endeavor in any direction to get it.
He had received over seven thousand letters ask
ing him to be a candidate, and had never
answered one of them. Other remarks were
made in spirit worthy of them. Now and then
the conversation turned to other topics as if
nothing had happened. If Mr. Blaine had been
defeated it is not likely that he would have felt
badly over it; and, if General Sherman had re
ceived the prize, it might have pleased Mr..
Blaine AMAZINGLY