The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-15
MIR. BLAINE'S ABILITY,
Ex-Collector Robertson Freely Expresses His
Opinion of the Republican Leader.

Opinion of the Republican Leader.
Gath in Minneapolis Tribune.
Said to Collector William FL. Robertson, as
we sat in the retiring parlor close by his room in
the Custom house ediice "Do you think that
Blaine will be nominated again for PRESIDENT"
There is no question that he can get the
nomination if he wants it, Whether he and his
friends will conclude to put him up again is an
other matter. take the same position as to
that that do in the former case | am deter
mined in my acts by the light have at the time
and not by this sort of wisdom, which is subse-
Quent. l think Blaine made the most remarka.
BILE campaign in the history of men. There is
one day when he is said to have made twenty
nine speeches and travelled 800 miles. They
never could take him up in anything he said.
His step was firm, his utterances as prudent as
if he had made but one speech in the whole
campaign"
What do you think of the ACCESSIBILITY of
having brought him to New York state?'
Il take the same views as to that upon all
light we had at the time, it was a wise thing to
do There was circumstance, that of
Burchard, which happened after he came here,
that turned out to be unfortunate Mr.. Blaine
could not have controlled that. Il was the only
error that he made, and, Notwithstanding that
Burchard matter 1 think Mr. Blaine added
strength to his cause after he came to New York
When it was first proposed for him to go out and
appear before the public, did not think that it
was wise. AS he proceeded and gave confidence
to every friend he had. then said let him go
where he pleases.'"
MIR. Robertson, when you went to Washing
ton and sat in Congress with Blaine, what did
you think of him"
II thought he was the ablest man had ever
known. His mind, temperament, industry, in
formation, stature, address. everything com bned
to make him leader among earnest men. He
came nearer the type of Henry Clay than any
other public man have known, without Clay's
arbitrary way. Blaine was not overbearing; he
was considerate of his friends and of counsel
have supported him for President since 1876 and
in 1875 he should have been nominated and
would have been if fair play had prevailed II
our night session had gone on at Cincinnati,
Blaine would have been the nominee, and he
would have been easily elected then. He had to
fight the machine. In 1880 supported him at
Chicago, and Garfield got in, but Blaine became
the chief pillar of his administration. In 1884
he made that admirable race which will compare
in every point with the greatest personal cam
paigns in history"
''What causes Blaine. Mr.. Robertson, to have
so many enemleSF
ut is jealousy. He stands so much above his
critics that they oppose him from envy and
motives of the baser class Not one of those
men who arrogate themselves to be superior to
Blaine is worthy to tie the latchets of his shoes
Said l: "EAve you always found Blaine clear,
frank and upright in his dealings with your
Absolutely so, have never found Blaine to
break his word, to have any double dealing to
be anything but what he shows himself to be-a
quick, bright, thorough public man."
Said |: Don't you think that many of the
public forces of the present day prefer common
place men to men of genius IN public life?"
1T does seem so, think, as look back to nv
first political observations, that it was easier
then for men marked by nature for great careers
to come to the front than now. There is a
caviing, a criticising pulling down of men of
natures mark, which cannot fail to produce dis
appointing results. MIR. Blaine has been said to
be dangerous man; down here in the business
quarter Of the city that was continually harped
upon--that he would get US into foreign war.
can conceive of no greater mistake than a
great nation selecting for its President an inferior
man because it is afraid that its natural leaders
may assert the public rights OF their country
You never see quarrel where you have posi-
tive man on one side. positive man at the
head of a nation prevents wars or foreign col
lisons, his spirit being fully known. You may
have wars where you have weak rulers aud di-