Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-04-02
NO. 20
BLAINE ON BUCHANAN.
There Were Two BuchananS--
The Buchanan of December,
1860, and the Buchanan
OF January, 1861.

OF Mr.. Buchanans's conduct in the first
stages of the revolt, the condition of
the popular mind as just described
must be taken into account. The same
influences and expectations that
wrought upon the people were working
also upon him. There were indeed
two Mr. Buchanans in the closing
months of his administration. The
first was Mr.. Buchanan of November
and December, angered by the decision
OF the Presidential election and more
than willing that the North, including
his own State, should be disciplined by
the fright to more conservative views
and TO stricter observance Of which
he considered solemn obligations i'm
posed by the Constitution. If the
Southern threat Of resistance to the
authority of the Union had gone no
farther than this, Mr. Buchanan would
have been readily reconciled to its tenn
perate violence and would probably
have considered it national blessing
in disguise, The second was Mr.. Bu-
chanan of January and February
appalled, by surrounding and increasing
perils, grieved by the conduct of South
ern men whom he had implicitly trust
ed, overwhelmed by the realization of
of the evils which had obviously fol-
lowed his official declarations, hoping
earnestly for the safety of the Union,
and yet more disturbed and narrowed
in his mind than the mass of loval peo-
pie who did not stand so near the dam
ger as he or so accurately measure its
alarming growth. The President Of
December with Cobb and Floyd and
Thompson in his Cabinet, and the
President Of January with Dix and
Stanton and Holt for his councillors.
were radically different men. No
trne estimate of Mr.. Buchanan in the
crisis Of his public career can ever be
reached if this vital distinction can
be overlooked.
1t was Mr.. Buchanan's misfortune
to be called to act in emergency which
demanded will, fortitude and moral
courage. In these qualities he was
deficient He did not possess the ex-
ecutive faculty. His life had been
principally devoted to the practice of
law in the most peaceful of communi-
ties and to service in legislative bodies
where he was borne along by the
force of association. He bad not been
trained to prompt decision; had not
been accustomed to exercise CON-
mand. He was cautious and conserv-
ative to the point of timidity He
possessed ability of a high order and,
though he thought slowly, he could
master the most difficult subject with
comprehensive power. His service of
ten years in the Honse and an equal
period in the Senate was marked by
conscientious devotion to duty. He
did not rank with the ablest members
of either body, but always bore prom
inent part in important discussions and
maintained himself with credit
1t was said of Mr.. Buchanan that he
instinctively dreaded to assume respon-
sibility of any kind. His keenest critic
remarked that in the tentative period
of political issues assumed by his party,
Mr. Buchanan could always be found
two PAGES to the rear, but in the hour
of triumph he marched proudly in the
front rank. He was not gifted with
independence or self-assertion. His
bearing towards Southern statesmen
was derogatory to him as man of
spirit. His tone towards administra-
tious of his own party was so deferen-
tial as almost to imply lack of self-re-
spect. He was not a leader among
men. He was always led. lie was
led by Mason and Soule into the i'm
prudence of signing the Ostend mani
festo; he was led by the Southern
members of his Cabinet into the in
explcable folly and blunder of indors-
ing the Lecompton iniquity; he was
led by disunion Senators into the de-
plorable mistake contained in his last
annual message Fortunately for him
he was led month later by Black and
Holt and Stanton to radical change
Of his compromising position.
1t Mr.. Buchanan had possessed the
unconquerable will Of Jackson or the
stubborn courage of Taylor, he could
have changed the history of the revolt
against the Union. A great opportun-
ity came to him, but he was not equal
to it. Always an admirable adviser
where prudence and caution were the
virtues required, he was fatally want
ing in situation which demanded
prompt action and strong nerve. AS
representative in Congress- as Senator.
as Minister abroad, as Secretary of
State, his career was honorable and
successful. His life was singularly
free from personal fault or short-coming.
He was honest and pure-minded His
fame would have been more enviable
if he had never been elevated to the
Presidency.
The truly valiant dare everything
but doing any other body an injury.
Let adversely strike you and
friends" conveniently forget your ad-
dress.
Learn as if you were to live for
ever; live as if you were to die to-mor-
row
Vanity keeps persons in favor with
themselves who are out of favor with
all others.
In Wisconsin they are trying to
find Il rhyme to "Oshkosh :" and they
will get it, By gosh
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fails. Here's where it greatly differs
from the peach crop of Delaware.
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