Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-08-21
From the Plain Dealer.1
What Has Blaine Done !?

We are constantly reminded by the
Blaine organs that the Republican cam
didate is man of vast experience in
public affairs, that he has record as a
public man extending over many years
while Cleveland is comparatively
new man in politics and having no
public record to speak of. "Blaine,"
we are given to understand, sis q great
statesman. He has been in Congress
many years, and has made record for
himself. AS for this man Cleveland,
what has he done that he should DO
made President%' ylI
Now, it is worth while to examine
this claim made in behalf of Blaine.
Granting that he has been In some way
connected with public affairs for twenty
years or more, that he has been in
Congress for almost quarter or cent
ury and that he has been an Office hold
er.nearly all the time since the day he
| was first heard of. 1t is worth while to
inquire what record Blaine has made
for himself in all that time, and with
all his opportunities what he has done
| that he should be made President.
| It is q very serious question for the
| supporters of Blaine. When they are
asked to point out any one great public
act that Blaine has been prominently
identified with, any one useful or bene-
fetal law that he has been instrumental
in having made, any one legislative act
of public utility bearing his name, they
utterly fail and are driven to take
refuge in the generality, ooh Blaine is
great statesman, he was in Congress
twenty years. He has been a great
leader.r a,t.4 ia, 81 4a-4tta
A leader in what? In devising and
having enacted good laws? In Iegisla-
ton intended to benefit the people I?
Has he taken the lead in any great pub
lie enterprises ...e :. g.4.
In none of these. Blaine has been q
partisan leader only. He had led in
political schemes. His quick wit, au-
dacity, boldness and cunning has
brought him naturally to the front
when some purely partisan scheme was
being worked. His speeches in Cong
ress are political speeches. All his acts
have been prompted by partisan con-
siderations and with party ends in view.
He has been politicion and nothing
more and one with whom politics has
been a business to be made pay to the
utmost possible extent.
What has Blaine done in all the years
of his public life? What has Blaine
ever done in his public career that has
benefited the people or the country
What public act of his will stand as his
monument when Blaine himself is u
handful of whitening dust? Let the
Blaine apologists get down from their
lofty generalities about the greatness of
his public career and give a few partic-
ulars. Let us know one public act of
Blaine's for which the country is in
debted to him.
1t is true that Blaine has record.
Doubtless both he and his friends wish
that he hadn't quite SO much as he has.
AS it is it does him little credit. 1t eX-
hibits him as noisy political brawler,
a vulgar demagogue with low instincts
and low associations always "on the
make" always talking and voting on
the side of the most odious monopolies
lobbying for railroad schemes, acting as
the agent of Jay Gould and mixed up
in every scandal that has arisen in ma
tional politics in all this time.
All this the country knows of Blaine,
His record in this regard has become
better known than Blaine would like il
to be, and there is surely nothing in il
that shows Blaine to be man fitted fol
the Presidency or exhibits any reason
why the people should make him Pres
ident; and this is all the record of hi
that anybody knows anything about.
1t is proper, therefore, to inquire. Q
Mr.. Blaine's organs what other recort
Mr.. Blaine has, and what he has don'
that lie should be made President.