Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1886-12-02
TuE PROFFERED HAND.

TIE HAND.
The New York Sun says: Ii the
facts concerning the encounter between
Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Edmunds at
President Arthur's funeral are as re-
ported. we do not see how any disin.
terested person can avoid the conclusion
that Mr.. Blaine made a great mistake.
The mistake is deplorable in the case OF
so polite a gentleman, and almost incom-
prehensible in the case of so polite a man.
The story, in short, is that when MIR.
Blaine entered the parlor of President
Arthur's house i'll Lexington Avenue,
Mr.. Edmunds was sitting on a sofa with
Col. McMichael, and began to take OFT
his gloves. The Vermont statesman
arose, advanced a few steps with out
stretched hand, saying: GOOD morning,
Mr.. Blaine" Mr.. Blaine took no notice
of Mr.. Edmunds, but shook hands with
Col. McMichael. Mr.. Edmunds' face
flushed slightly as he returned to the
sofa after this cut direct.
There are other versions Of the in
cident aioat, but they agree substantially
in regard to the main fact. No doubt
Mr.. Blaine is greatly a%ggrieved at MIR.
Edmunds' attitude toward him during the
canvass of 1884, and particularly at GER
tain expressions contained in letters Of
Mr.. Edmunds published since the cleo.
ton OF Mr., Cleveland. There is quite
as little doubt that Mr.. Blaine and his
friends have reason to be offended at Mr..
Edmunds' course.
Nevertheless, we think that Mr..
Blaine should not have refused Mr.. Ed.
munds' hand when it was offered him.
The occasion was one which called for
forgetfulness of all personal or political
quarrels; respect for the dead required
it. There have been notable instances
OF perfect and lasting reconciliation eff.
fected under similar circumstances be.
tween gentlemen who seemed to be hope.
lessly ~estranged. A generous impulse,
an extended hand, q kind word spoken
on the spur Of the moment in the solemn
presence OF death, have often mended
broken friendships. Such opportunities
are too precious to be rejected, and Ger.
tainly Mr.. Edmunds met Mr.. Blaine
more than half way. A response to the
overture in the same spirit would have
involved no sacrifice of self.respect on
the part of the latter, and no loss of dig
nifty. Is there anybody who would not
have thought better of Mr.. Blaine if he
had met Mr.. Edmunds' extended hand
with the friendly grasp aud the manly
frankness that are so characteristic oil
him in his personal intercourses with
other men?
Moreover, there is nothing IN the
quarrel between tine two most distin'
guished OF New England statesmen
which necessarily precludes a return tt
their earlier relations of amity and po,
litical accord. We dare say that Mr.
Blaine has forgiven, and is now on terms
of friendship with men who, in the bit
terness of party and factional strife
have spoken more harshly of him thai
Mr.. Edmunds ever did. There is F;
vagueness of expression in the letters
which Mr.. Edmunds has written in ex
PLANTATION of his behavior two years age
which leaves the doors open to a bette
understanding. The breach IS by nj
means hopeless.
Perhaps Mr.. Edmunds feels that thi
ia so. perhaps he felt that the funeral o
the highminded and generous gentleman
whom both he and Mr.. Blaine had known
and respected, was a fit occasion for ad
vances toward reconciliation. The init
alive was properly with him. The over
ture certainly came from him. To &C
cept or reject it rested with Mr.. Blaine
1t is not the offender that pardons, buI
the offended. We are sorry that Mr.
Blaine did not take Mr.. Edmunds' hand.
Lewiston, Maine, Journal: 1t has be
anna on uncarkaiu whakhor q parson,