Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-24
From the Daily Nonpareil, Council Bluffs
Iowa, Nov. l6.
,TameS g., RIaiue

The sterling and mastery qualities of a
great man are often brought to the view of
IN admring world more wildly and endur-
ngly in defeat than in victory. The greatest
generals the world ever knew displayed more
military genius in defeat than in success
Napoleon's retreat from Moscow marked him
as the greatest warrior the world ever knew
Washngton's retreat was the marvel of the
military world because of its mastery exc
luton. The political world is no exception
10 the rule. The greatest statesmen and
diplomats that ever trod life'S rostrum carved
their names upon the enduring tablets of the
worlds history amid the dark clouds of ad
versity and defeat. The dazzling and decep-
tive light of political victory defects human
vision and thought from the qualities of the
man to the emoluments of place and power
the political flesh pots of the party. But in
defeat, true manhood, sterling greatness and
grandeur, majestic thought and intellect, the
God-lke royalty that is in the man. rises
above the smoke of battle The sable
cloud turns forth her silver lining on the
night and reveals the fact that the
man is greater than his party and greater and
grander and nobler in his defeat than is his
3
rise above the entsnglements of defeat and
amid his broken, mangled and retreating army
of truth and principle, present to the world
an unbroken helmet of honor and sterling
character turns defeat into victory and com
pells the world TO pay homage to his great
ness. The intellectual giant. ever conscious
of his towering strength, wrapped in the man
tie of honor, virtue and true dignity of char
scter, scorns defeat as an engine of destruc-
ton. Such a man is James G. Blaine. His
defeats through life have resulted in every
instance in his exaltation. He comes forth
from the furnace of fiery opposition and de
feat greater and nobler than when he entered.
In every defeat he marks notch high
err in the worlds history of true great
ness. No defeat has or ever will cause
him to lower his standard of truth and
principle, or trail in the dust the ensign of
his greatness. He comes forth from defeat
aud victory alike. with renewed confidence in
the maintenance and final overthrow OF
error and the erection thereon of the beautiful
temple of justice, equality and dignity of
American citizenship and interests. He is
welded to the governmental thought that this
| is a nation, that every citizen thereof whether
native born or naturalized. is an integral
part of that government, and that he carrie.
with him the royal prerogative to demand
the respect and esteem of all nations and
people. That citizenship of this country is a
passport to all such il any land wherever
Gods sunlight shines upon the stars and
stripes. He demsnds that the American
citizen shall be a peer of kings. because
his idea of the dignity and character
| of American citizenship constitutes ev
e~y one peer of royalty itself
4 He demands that this government
shall he the mart of the world and tina,
/ American interests shall be SO projected A.
/ that the American citizen shall be insured
! the highest prices for labor and production
/ He has an abiding conviction that these
! principles nf government and estimates and
I nobility of American character will yet per-
vail. Standing upon those noble and lofty
/ grounds ten thousand defeats conld not
remove him from his purpose, abate one joi
OF title his abiding conviction in the final
supremacy of the right. or dim the bright
| light and lustre that surround his great
name. Like the great Lincoln and Gar
! field, his name will 90 Gown the ages OF
time FURNISHED and growing Brighter,
lighting the pathway of the true statesmen
of the world. When the moths of time
shall have eaten and honey-combed all
! there is left of a Conkling, Beecher, a
| Curtis or St. John, when time shall have
wiped out the remnants of malice, hatred and
jealousy of these and their confreres, James
g, Blaine. will be idolized as he is now, by
| the best elements of American citizens. He