Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-28
Mr.. Blaine's Tribute to General
Logan.

Logan.
Az soon q Mr.. Blaine received the intelli
gsnce Of the death Of General Logan be SEN
the following dispatch Of condolences.
Mrs.. General Logan:
The startling nevs q year husbanan death Y 1ns
received. Never until this morning did We receive
An intimation that he was considered in danger;
dare hardly to speak Of my personai sorrow In viev
OF yosr own indispensable grief and Of the genera
LogaA has served with eommaAding ability ane
courage. Mrs. Blaine joins In deepest synpsth,
with you and your children.
A reporter Of the Journal called ss Mr.
Blaine's residence soon after the sad new
vas received.
Mr.. Blaine had left his chamber, aud
though very lame from his recent illness, hae
come down to hi. library for the frst time
He said the announcement had come to hin
without his being in the least degree prepared
for it. He had heard only in the forenoon
that General Lozan's condition was considered
critical.
Mr.. Blaine discussed General Logan
characteristics freely. He had not personally
known the General before the war, and had
met him for the first time when General
Logan came to Washington from his com
mand in the field. 81 think" said Mr.. Blaine
sit was some time Turing the winter OF 1863
that by mere accident entered Mr.. Lincoln's
room just as General Logan was leaving.
The President introduced me to the General
and we had very brief talk. l remember
that after General Logan had retired the
President euloaized him very highly, adding
that 'it was very fortunate, when so many
Generals had fallen far below expectation,
to find . few that had gone far above OK
pectation,' and in the latter class he gave
Logan eminent rank"
But am not the one" said Mr.. Blaine,
"to speak Of Gen. Logan's military rank.
That can be far more fttingly done by his
brother officers, and by the Thousands Of vet
Grams who are at this moment in tears over
the death of their beloved leader in the war
their watchful and constant friend in peace.
History has, l think, definitely assigned Cen
eral Logan his military rank, the highest of
the volunteer officers in the army of the
Union.
My close acquaintance with General Lo-
gam" continued Mr.. Blaine" dates from his
entrance upon his duties as Representative at
large from Illinois in the Fortieth Congress.
He was elected to that post in November,
1866. From that time onward our relations
came to be friendly and intimate. Occasional
statements az to jealousies and rivalries were
without foundation. There never was an un-
kind word between US, and so far as know
neither had an unkind thought of the other.
say this, knowing all it conveys and know
ing also all it contradicts."
Mr.. Blaine described General Logan a. "a
man Of immense force in legislative body -
"His will" said Mr.. Blaine, twas unbend-
ing. His courage, both moral and physical,
was of the highest order. l never knew \
more fearless man. He did not quail before
public opinion, when he had once made up
his mind any more than he did before the
guns of the enemy when he headed a charge
Of his enthusiastic troops" "In debate
said Mr.. Blaine, General Logan was az
gressive and effective. His best prepared
and longest sustained argument was the
speech he made in the Senate during the
Forty-Sixth Congress agains: the restoration
of Fitz John Porter to the army. The speech
occupied, if remember Alright, . part of
three days, and was marvslously sustained
General Logan had great feel
ing in that case and had put = vast deal OF
study in it."
General Logan was q most indefatigable
worker" said Mr.. Blaine. "His close rela-
tons with the volunteer soldiery of the coun.
try involved an immense correspondence and
an immense labor, In addition to the
labor imposed upon him as leading Sen
ator from such large State az Illinois, he
was punctual, faithful man, and but for his
of iron he could not have gone
through all the work that was put upon him "
General Logaus loss to the republican
party" said Mr.. Blaine, sis beyond computs-
tor. His personal following in the party
wa, very great, and among the veterans he
had almost the solid body. As party leader
General Logan was singularly direct,
manly and candid, His personal euergy and
political power were strlkinply shown in his
contest for Senator, perhaps the most memoir
able of the kind ever waged in the United
States"
"The shock of his death 10 sudden, the
sorrow it brings so keen" said Mr.. Blaine,
'that no full analysis of this remarkable man
can be given at this time. Full tributes will
in due time be paid to his character and
services. l have had occasion to say before,
and now repeat, that while there have been
more illustrious military leaders in the
United States, and more ilIustrious leaders in
legislative halls, there has, l think, been no
man in this country who has combined the
two careers in so eminent . degree as
General Logan"