The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-09-25
The Danger the Country Escaped

Chicago TIMES, Sept. IL; The veri-
ty of the published accounts of that
extraordinary episode is strongly at
tested by the character of Blaine-the
character of a self-seeking,intriguin
and not scrupulous political adven-
turer and speculator, consumed by a
reckless and devourng ambition.
During almost decade he had steadi-
ly pursued two aims, both selfish:
First to acquire vast wealth; second,
to get the Presidency. Failing to
reach the latter in 1S76,he again failed
in 1880, seeing the prize pass to a
man whose superior talents melted
his envy and dislike. In an evil mos
ment the lucky rival committed the
greatest blunder of his life by reward
ing James G.. Blaine for his support
in the canvass with the post of Chief
Minister, thus placing at the head of
his Cabinet man who Ito repeat the
words of Mr.. Pound) "invaded the
administration with demands of per-
sonal vengeance so virolent as to in
flame the spirit of assassination"
The country did not realize, how
ever, the dangerous lengths to which
the reckless spirit of Blaine might 90
until after Garfield's death; the revela
ton of his astounding diplomacy in
Peru and Mexico, of his mysterious
relation to colossal and fraudulent
guano speculation called the Peruvian
Company, of his suspicious and unex-
planned friendship for the brutal dc
tator of Guatemala, Gen. Barrios-
these among other circumstances,
pointed directly to the conclusion
that in the reckless projects of the
scheming would-be ruler he had not
lost sight Of the pinguid gains of the
daring speculator. In TRUTH the whole
course of Blaine in the Government,
Garfield was that of a man who was
posing as ruler with a spirited poll
cy" and an eye single to "the main
chance" of advancing his private for
tune and personal ambition. That he
would ship-wreck Garield's admins
tration within two years was pre-
diction ventured by the TIMES upon
his entering it. The evidence is now
ample to warrant the conviction that
had Garfield lived, one year would
have sufficed for Blaine to accom-
plish his political breakdown,at proba-
bly, great cost to the nation.
The scheme to depose Garfield was
directly in the line Of Blaine's ilnmor-
al character and reckless programme.
He had begun spirited foreign
policy;;" had initiated an astounding
scheme of bossing and bullying all
the feebler States on this hemisphere
had choice collection of "irons in
the fire." some with expected poiti.
cal glory in them, other with"millions
in them" He anticipated the death
of Garfield and stock time by the
forelock" with a single eye to his
own future. In his looking-gla he
beheld the reflection of the man who
(he did not doubD had made Garfield
President, and whom Carrie ED on that
account had made Premier. If, antici
pating the course of events, he should
render like service to Arthur, coulc
the latter do less than continue him
in the post where his genius for mis-.
chief and appetite for gain could fine
opportunity to let their light shine
among the nations? The chracte
and sound judgement of Mr.. Arthur
we're not then known to Blaine no
hardly to anybody, and there il
scarcely any basis for doubt tina
Blaine cherished the notion that if HI
could keep his place under Arthur h,
could be himself "the bigger man
than President.