The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-06-19

NNUHN VIII III AnAAAAN NAlaAl MNN ENAA-
ceded by all, although his enemies
regarded him as often arbitrary and
high handed in the administration Of
his power.
SUCCESS IN RETIREMENT.
Mr.. Blaine is now in the prime Of a
vigorous manhood. He is 81 years Of
age. His once shattered health Is
now completely restored. His eyer
are now as clear and keen as when he
was an impulsive, mischievOus boy,
while his voice is as ringing, deep
and strong as I'm his palmiest days as
an orator. Retired from active poll
tics now for over two years, he has
gained by the change. Instead Of
dropping into Obseurity where falls the
average public man relegated 10 pri-
vate life, he has held his own in the
public mind as no statesman ever has
before without the artificial aid Of
official position. Instead OF resting
In his privacy Mr.. Blaine has, with
the energy Of genius, Immediately
discovered a new field to conquer.
In the hard and untired path Of liter
AZURE he has accomplished In the
brief period Of one year as brilliant
a success as has ever fallen to his lot
in active politics. His political his
tory, the first volume Of which "a now
completed, viii do more TO make his
name memorable than all other acts
Of his public career. RELOCATED 10
private life through no fault Of his
own, through the calamity Of Gar
fields assassination, Mr.. Blaine has
shown such courage, such pluck In
subduing the despair that would have
overwhelmed an ordinary man as to
commend him TO the faint-hearted
forever as the very embodiment Of
courage which acknowledges no de-
feat
Think Of what has been Mr.. Blaine's
loss. In the winter Of 1875 he had
taken q seat in the United States SEN
ate, where he could have remained rs
long as he lived. He had been elected
IN the face Of an accumulation Of every
charge that had ever been brought to
bear against him. The New York
Times and StiR filed their wide col
umns with all the charges that had
ever been brought against him. He
was stigmatiZed as the worst and
most venal Of ali public men. These
papers were sent into Maine by the
bale upon the eve Of the Senatorial
election. What was the result?
The Maine Legislature carefully con-
sldered every charge, revised every
story, and then elected Mr.. Blaine
unanimously. Stirred up 10 the
depth OF indignation at what they
the malignity Of these re-
mOrseless slanderers, the members Of |
the Maine legislature gave Mr.. Blaine
the seal Of their unanimous approval.
OPPOSED TO TRIcKERY.
Mr.. Blaine certainly needs no de- |
tense from the hands OF anyone.
Everything that has been used,RFninst |
him Is so much burned powder. II
should not allude TO this record talk /
II Il were not for the fact that a GER
tain class Of Republicans still persist /
In the fiction Of believing that he Is /
really bad, untrustwOrthy man.
But in order 10 arrive at a correct |
of him one should take his /
entire life as a basis for Judgment. |
No man is perfect. Mr.. Blaine has
made mistakes and he
has been severely punished. But /
there Is no reason why the mistakes
should be dwelt upon as the true in
iicalions Of his character. He has
shown himself to be as independent
In spirit as any great party leader
could have been. II should be re-
nembered Of him that he voted
against the juggling electoral com
mission bill, which was demanded bv
he rigid partisans Of that day. Both
Blaine and COnkling, two Of the
highest types Of the Republicans OF
hat period, opposed that bill.
lt was through Mr.. BlRineis in
iuence that the Force bill, q measure
u his party, was defeated in the
house. While he has always been
oval 20 his party when &c was right.
he has never hesitated 70 assert his I
when It claimed his al
egiance in a course which he could
rot approve.
The best about Mr.. Blaine-and II
8 one that should not be forgotten
s the fact that he Is an American
lie IL Republican In the best sense
4 the word. He Is as much opposed
o orthodox forms in politics for |
orm's sake as IngersOll IL in religion.
There Is nothing for which he has so
incere contempt rs for afIectatiOn Of
ny kind. A great many people have
aid that his removal from the state
department. was the only thing which
ayed this country from being in ,
Olved In a war. There "a nothing In
his talk. 10 Is certain that II he had
ontinued at the head Of this depart
1ent he would have caused the Amer
ean nation b be respected Ia foreign q
For q number Of years the 4
tate department has been dominated
y tOadies and turf-hunters. The
rhine object Of the state department
as been b see how mild and inOGen-
I've i could be 10 the discussion Of
II international questions. Accord
lg 70 Col. Ingersol. Blaine substI- !
ated the eagle fer the owl in the I