The Portland daily press., 1884-06-16
The Praise Of Good Men.
Rev. Drs. stOrrs and Webb Express Their
High Appreciation of MIR. RIaine,s
Character and Ability.
Rev. DR.. Richard s. Storrs of New York

Rev. DR.. Richard s. Storrs of New York
speaks of Mr.. Blaine as follows:
GAS to Mr.. Blaine have only certain gene
raj Impressions. L never saw him but once
some years since, l think, at a New ENGLAND
dinner in New York. / never met him social
~, and never felt that touch of personal mag
netism which is often attributed to him. but
some OF the attacks made on him have seemed
TO me almost brutal. For example, when he
vas smitten by sunstroke in Washington, in
1876 think, it was openly charged that the
whole thing was pretence that be might
avoid an investigation. Then the man was
hanging on the edge between life and death,
with the changes largely in favor of death.
That seemed to me nearly as base thing as
ever was said. Then, when lately the first
volume of his history was published it was
stigmatiZed as a Campaign document by some
of those opposed to him. / have read it, and
certainly, any statement of that sort seems to
me an absolute Misrepresentation. 1t is writ
ten carefully, very impartially, with large
knowledge of the subject, and with
what strikes me as very remarkable percep-
tion of moral and political tendencies and
determination as to personal character.
Then it has been charged that he has made
millions out of the government, and has be-
come man of enormous wealth through his
connection with public affairs. / believe this
is now universally conceded to be untrue AS
o the atters alleged against him in 1876, ii
i
Impressed at the time by the remark of a
gentleman in whom had great con fidence,
who was not a partisan of Mr. Blaine aud who
came to the conclusion, after great deal of
examination, that while he had been doubtless
lndlScreet In his action and correspondence
and had fairly laid himself open to very dam
aging interpretations, he had really don
nothlng to demand political ostracism or a de-
clsive moral condemnation. The recent letter
Of Walter Phelps, for whom have had high
nf fnr
seemed to confirm that early representation.
do not regard him as an ideal candidate: he
has not been my Candidate; but inasmuch as
the Republican party has nomin atsd him in a
convention fairly chosen, at time when he
quite out of public office, and had f, be so
for more than three years, it seems to me
reasonable to assume that all are wiser than
one, and while personally should have pre-.
terred President Arthur for the Candidate, and
have felt strongly that he had won the right to
be such, [ shall probably, SO far as now see
vote for Mr.. Blaine.
AS to the chances of his election know no
more than | do of the direction in which the
uext school of mossbunkers will be heading
when it passes Montsuk Point. If Gov.
Cleveland should receive the Democratic
nominaton suspect that Mr.. Blame would
have to be elected, if at all, without the vote
# New York. Ii he should be elected shall
have great deal of confidence that his ad-
mlnistratiou ILL., on the whole, be a satisfac-
ry and an honorable one. am extremely
sorry that gentlemen like Mr. Curtis for
whom [ have the warmest regard, feel con-
strained to oppose him as they do because
their influence on him as friends of his admin
istration would De of great value. He may be
sufficiently self-poised to accept suggestions
rom his declared opponents; but am afraid
hat bis Scotch Irish won't help toward this,
and that their political convictions, with
which mainly sympathize, will be less effect
i've with him than they otherwise might have
been. If the worst element of the party
should prevail with him it would be disaster
At the same time he has enough political sa-
gacity, [ think, to know that he wants, as
doubtless he will want, to maize his admins
tration a distinguished and an honorable one
IN the history of the country. It has got to be
done by assisting to secure what the best minds
of the country demand. 1t seems to me. from
reading his book, that he has good deal of
the clear and large historical sense, and that
his ambition will be likely to be, not to make
his administration brilliant or adventurous, SO
much ss to make it at once safe for the coun-
try, honored as before other peoples, and dig
nlfied and eminent in the public annals OF
course may be wholly mistaken in the matter,
out you want my judgment as to probabilities,
and substantially you have got it.
Rev. DR.. E. B. Webb of Boston, formerly
of Augusta, writes the following letter to the
Boston Journal:
The question of my attitude toward Mr..
Blaine is SO often put to me by my friends, and
the assaults upon him are SO often unfounded
and unjust, that am disposed to write word.
And [ know not where any word of mine
would find a more cordial welcome or a wider
reading than in the Boston Journal.
am not going into any political controversy.
And l have no grudges to crafty. Nor will
witningiy wound or wrong any person who,
from Ignorance, or prejudice or distrust, or par
tisan zeal, differs from me.
Still further I do ponfasa that nraha h1u 7
am Influenced in what say, more or less, by
my personal friendship and affection for Mr..
Blame. / was his pastor for many years at
Augusta. / baptized his children. | buried
his dead. Between us there grew up an un-
disguised confidence and a cordial, free inter-
course. But we were never blind to each 9th
er's faults. He never thought Of me as per-
feet, and never thought of him as perfect.
Indeed, think we arc often the most severe
in our judgment upon those whom We esteem
the highest.
Aitsr we left Augusta we saw less of each
other for several years. But last summer en-
joyed the pleasure OF q visit among my former
parishloners, and renewed the old time inti-
macy in Mr.. Blaine's home. We walked to-
gether, read portions of his book together, rode
again over the roads familiar to US both, talked
over all the past, its aims and disappoint-
ments considered the present and guessed the
future. And l am bound to say that after the
fullest and freest conversations, formal and
informal, serious and chaJty, my confidence in
this much abused man IS neither shaken nor
abated. And 1 believe that the attacks made
upon him are as unfounded as they are malic-
ious.
Criticism fair and honorable, of public con-
duct and public men is not to be deprecated.
But let any one recall what has been laid at
Mr.. Blaine's door within the last few weeks
and months, while he has been diligently at
work in his library and it will be seen that
the nsnGuYres, bargains, schemes and plots