Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-12-31
MIR. BLAINE On LOGAN.
THE Greatest of the Nolunteer Officers of
the Union Army"


AUGUSTA, Me, Dec. GA reporter
called at Mr. B!ane's residence soon after
the Intelligence Of Gen. Logan's death
reached this city. Mr.. Blaine had left his
chamber aud hal come down to his Ii
brary for the first time. He said the an
nouncemcnt had come to him without his
being in the least degree prepared for it.
He had heard. only in the forenoon that
Gen LoJan's condition was critical.
Mr.. Blaine discussed Gen. Logan's char
acteristcs freely. He had not personally
knowh the general before the war and
had met him for the first time when Gen.
Logan came to Washington from his com
mHnd IN the field. II think it was some
time during The winter of 1881 that by
mere accLent | entered Mr.. Lincoln ;
room Just as Gen. Logan VAS leaving.
The president introduced me to the gen
eral aud we had Il very brief tax. | re
member, that after Gen Logan had re
tired, the president eulOSlzed MN very
highly adding that it was very fortunate,
when So many generals had fallen far be
low expectation, to find few that mad
gone tar beyond expectation, and in the
latter class he gave Mr.. Logan eminent
rank"
"But am not the one to speak of Gen.
Logan's military rank. That can be far
more fittingy done by his brother officers
and by the thousands of veterans who are
at TINS moment III tears over the death OF
their beloved leader in war and THEN
watChtul and constant friend III peace.
History has, | think, definitely assigned
Ge Il Logan his military rank, the high
est Of the volunteer officers in the army of
of the union
MY close acquaintance with General
Logan continued MI Blaine, date
from his entrance upon his duties as rep
re~entativeat-large from Illinois in the
fortieth Congress. From that time onward
our relations came to be friendly and in
innate. There never was an unkiud word
between us and 50 far IL ! know neither
had an unkind thought of the other.
say this knowing all ii conveys and know
ing also all it cOntradIcts.' Mr. Blaine
described Gen. Logan as "a man of i'm
mense force in Il legislative body.
His will was unbendlng His courage,
10th moral and physical, was of the
highest order. | never knew a more fear
less man. In debate Gen. Logan was
aggressive and effective. His best pre-
pared and longest sustained argument
was the speech he made in the Senate
during the forty sixth Congress against
the restoration of FItZ John Porter to the
army. IhcspeeCh occupied Il part of three
days and WAS marNellOu>ly sustained
throughout Gen Logan had great feel
ing IN that case ana had put vast deal OF
study IN it,
Gen. Logan was a most interchangeable
worker His close relations with the
volunteer soldlcry of the country involved
an immense correspondence and an i'm
mense labor-in addition to the labor i'm
posed upon him as II leading senator from
such a large State as Illinois. He was n
punctual, faithful man and but for his
constitution of iron he could not have
gone through all the work that was put
upon him
Gen Logan's loss to the republican
party is beyond computation His per
sonai following in the party was very
great and among the veterans he had al
most the solid body. As party leader
Gen. Logan was singularly direct, manly
and candid. The shock OF his death is
| sudden and the sorrow it brings is so keen
that no full analysis of this rel .arkablt
man can be given at this time. There has
! | think, been no man in this country VIII,
| has combined the two careers of a soldier
and aastatesman i'll so eminent degree a.
Gen. Logan.