The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-02-18
Current Events.

Mr.. JAS. u. Blaine Is nOtnlng III NOT sen-
sational His entire career has been sensa-
,ional-meteor.lik brilliant for the time
being with blank following Its flight
and the future historian of the American
people will be able TO dispose of Mr..
i,laines career In very few words, for
few men so we'll known or so long In pub
lie life will have left behind them less OF
substantial benefit to great people than
JAS G. Blaine.
His last effort Is AS great sensation as
any of the more or less successful exploits,
being nothing more or less than his with
urawal as candidate at Chicago for the
republican nomination for the presidency.
Many now profess 10 have anticipated this
nevertheless the country IL surprised. Ills
hold on his party was phenominsl-equal-
ing, if not, indeed, exceeding, the hero
worship inspired by Henry Clay, with
whose career that of Mr.. Blaine has much
in parallel and his denomination In June
next was admittedly foregone conclusion.
Men in such position do not often put
away voluntarily SO great an honor, espec-
ially when they see AS does Mr.. Blaine, or
profess TO see, which Is much the same
thing, that the desired contamination Is
within their grasp. But Is Mr.. Blaine sin
cere? Does he, like Cesar, thrice thrust
aside the crown" only to finally accept IT.
His competitors freely admit that he Is
now out Of the race; so do his intimate
friends; but Mr.. Blaine has 40 often been
insincere, that he cannot now complain II
the world at large LOOK at his letter In the
light of feeler--a prelude 10 u sensational
re.entry of the country at the Golden Gate,
triumphal journal across the mountains
into the Mississippi valley, and reluctant
acceptance of nomination 10y reclamation
in June at Chicago. His fast friend, Mr..
Chauncy Depew, does not see In the letter
the end of Mr.. Blaine's candidacy nor does
the N. Y. Tribune, nor Mr.. Milliken Of
Maine, who represents MIR. Blaine's district
in the house, and Is a close friend nor do
many others acquiesce In the belief that
the withdrawal is final
Mr. Blaine writes from Florence, Italy,
IA b. +. Jones, chairman of the national
republican committee, He says his decis-
ion is founded on personal considerations
entirely. He believes, however, that the
sign of the tines point TO republican
success with harmonious party
OF course, II Blaine be out of the way,
there Is a chance for the lightning To
strike In aIother direction. and the number
Of men In Washington affiXing lightning
rods to their hats Is increasing daily. They
are already TO be counted by the score. II
is not too much TO say that the coming
scramble is preferred to Blaine's race, by q
great body Of republicans, who have for
years considered Mr.. Blaine In the light
somewhat of the Old Man of the Sea, and
now that he Ia gone, these men feel re-
lieved and welcome the chance Of picking
nut man In general shuttle who may be
able 10 win the place, which II was clearly
impossible for Blaine to attain TO. In this
crowd OF aspirants for the vacancy left by
Mr. Blaine are Sherman. Cullom, Allison,
Hawley, Depew, Sheridan, g. W. Childs
Lincoln, Gresham, and many others.
The Blair educational bill passed the
senate on Wednesday last by vote Of 80
ayes to 30 noes. Two years ago the vote
against the bill was only II. The vote was
not party one by any means, though the
majority Of the republicans voted for the
bill, while the democrats were nearly
equally divided. This bill provides for the
expenditure Of 81 1000, 900 during the next
eight years, beginning with $1,000
900 the first year. II Is to be paid TO the
states, who accept the provision, In pro-
portion TO illiterate population, the machin-
cry of the law to be In the hands OF the
Secretary of the Interior. The bill Is sim.
ply scheme Of getting rid OF so much Of
the surplus: and q fraud ON the people.
None Of the states are calling for aid for
their schools. The Nvrth has abundant
means; and the South Is providing It. If
the states do not provide money for educa.
tion themselves, It Is not likely they will
take the trouble to spend gift judiciously
if made Tor that purpose. Experimental
Legislation of this Kind is not democratic
aot that education is net good thing in
Itself, but because It is always wisest and