The Portland daily press., 1884-11-04
hoods of equal Stiffness this morning, but
nobody's vote viii be influenced by them.
Mr.. Blaine's Return.

-~~NoAAAO - AsOpSAA A1'
Mr.. Blaine will pass through the city at
about noon to-day on his way to his home
in Augusta where he will exercise the
American citizens right of casting his vote.
1t is seven weeks, wanting day, since he
left Augusta to engage in labor and a duty
such as no candidate in America ever before
performed with SO much distinction and sue
cess. Mr. Seymour and Mr.. Greeley when
candidates, and before them, we believe,
Mr.. Douglass, all Democrats, did some
Journeying among the people and made
few speeches. 1t has been customary for
candidates for the Office of Governor to
stump their States advocating the cause of
the party of which they were the representa-
tive for the time being. In England it is
expected that before general election the
party leaders who are in office, or who ex-
pect to be in Office, will go before the people
explaining and advocating their policies;
but never before has there been tour like
this by the Republican candidate which is
completed to-day.
We do not know how far Mr.. Blaine has
travelled, how many audiences he has ad-
dressed, or the number of those who have
assembled to see him and listen to him: but
1t is apparent to all that in every respect The
tour has been as unprecedented in the out
pouriDgs Of the people to do honor to the
candidate as in any other feature of it. 1t
has been demonstrated past doubling that
there is in Mr.. Blaiae's personality and
speech and tame quality of attraction more
potent with the masses of the people than
has been possessed by any other American
living or dead. This is not time to analyze
the springs of that power which friends rec
ognize with admiration, and foes confess
with dread. 1t is clear to all that he is a
natural leader Of men and in this campaign
he has assumed the place and Office of lead
er, made the issues and defined them, and
set forth the argument by which they are
supported in a manner which has made all
other advocates of the Republican party's
cause his followers and subordinates.
If the Republicans are successful in the
election of to-day that success will be due to
Mr.. Blaine's personal efforts more distinctly
self could have so effectively haffled the per-
sonal onslaught of which he has been the
object, and he has done it by the exhibition
of mastery Indifference stronger than CEN
tradiction or indignation. He has resisted
every proVocation to engage in the raging
debate about his personal character and con-
duct and given his energy without reserve
to presenting to the people the public ques-
tions upon which their Judgment as citizens
was challenged by the two parties seeking TO
administer the affairs of the nation for the
next four years.
We have already expressed eur sense of the
supreme tact shown by Mr.. Blaine in the
hundreds of speeches, long and short, he has
made to all sorts of people under various
conditions and circumstances. He has COM
mitted no errors of judgment, displayed no
fault of temper, nor failed on any occasion to
gain the favor of those who listened to his
always pithy, lucid and winning, and often
instructive aud eloquent speech. He has
taught the whole nation to appreciate more
intelligently than before the wonderful pro-
SiOSSs PAOoPOl1bJ dAu SlOly VI buls COuubIy,
and inspired in all hearts prouder patriot
ism. From the beginning tie the end Of this
long tour he has not made long speech.
His talks have all been brief, but weighty
with the results of knowledge and the con-
illusions of thinking, and impressive by their
simplicity of expression and earnest Tone
Mr. Blaine returns to his home from
tour which the circumstances and his own
genius have made famous in our political
annals. When time has made 1t historical 1t
will still be famous,and we may well believe
most famous, in our records. He has &C.
qufred new distinction as an orator, and
augmented his great reputation as popular
| leader To-day he is private citiuan, oil
though his party's candidate. Tomorrow he
will be, as we confidently expect to be able to
announce, the chosen chief magistrate of
these ffty-fve millions of people constituting
the freest, most prosperous and most con-
i tented nation on earth.