The Wilmingtonian., 1888-07-21
INGERSOLL AND BLAINE.
How the Two Great Friends Became
Bitter Enemies Through Their wives

Bitter Enemies Through Their wives
It has been known for some time that
Ingersoll and Blaine no longer speak as
they pass by. Many causes have been given
for the rupture, but until lately the true
reason has been known only to few. A
well-known Senator, and an old friend of
Ingersoll, related it to-day as he had heard
it from Mrs. Ingersoll. These are her
words:
II have often told Colonel Ingersoll dur
ing the past three years that there was just
one thing that / regretted more than all
others in his political career, and that was
the magnificent speech he delivered for Mr..
Blaine at Cincinnati when he placed MIN in
nomination, and when he used those memoir
able phrases, 'The past rises before me like
a dream The plumed knight and other
expressions you are as familiar with as |
am, no doubt. There is no man living who
is drearer friend and more enthusiastic
friend than Colonel Ingcrsoll His friend
ship for those he admires is unbeunded and
proverbial He loved Mr.. Blaine as he did
brother, and his enthusiasm for him and
his confidence in him led me to be as strong
Blaine woman as he was Blame man.
fairly awakened him at night when he was
preparing his nomination speech. and made
suggestions to him to be used in his eulogy.
Mr.. Blaine was defeated, of course, and
Mr.. Hayes was nominsted. We retained
our admiration and friendship for Mr.. Blaine
until Mr.. Garfield went into the White
House in March, 1881. During the cam
paign which ended in this election of General
Garfield, Colonel Iugersoll did everything
he could to bring about success for the Re-
publican ticket. @..
"You remember there were great posters
made and circulated all over the country
on which were extracts from Colonel Inger-
soils speech, placing in nomination Mr..
| Blaine, and Mr.. Garfield was held up as
the ideal friend of the Plumed Knight.
Colonel Ingersoll delivered speeches and
worked like ward politician. Naturally.
when General Garfield went into the White
House we presumed that we had, at least,
the respect of the President, and that we
Colonel Ingersoll never wanted Federal
Office His ambition lies in other directions
There is not single position within the
gift Of TIC Pest tat he would have nov
OF ever would have had. He wocld rather
be what he is than be President, because
he would not be able to reward his friends
if he were in power, to the extent that ht
would desire, and as a consequence, hi
would be miserable. The Colonel was thu
| first to call upon President Garfield, to con
gratulate him not only upon his success, bu
upon the organization Of his Cabinet. II,
was especially pleased with the selection 0
Mr.. Blaine to be Secretary of State. IL
! thought his Plumed Knight would make
grand premier of the Cabinet. Days fnall
! slipped into weeks, and the weeks 6nall
made two or three months after Presiden
a Garfield went into the White House.
"The Colonel discovered along about thi
time that his receptions at the White Hous
/. were growing cold, and at times he was con
PEELED to wait in the reception room with IL
S masses of people who had no other tina
trivial political or social busines with IL
President. We talked the matter over, an
I told the Colonel that the trouble can
from Mr.. Blaine He would not believe i
but said he would 60 and see Mr.. Balm
He called upon him at his residence or h
private office in the Department of Stat
and while he could discover that there was
70 change in the man, so far as his person
y attitude toward him was concerned, N
IL Blaine patted him on the back, snil
d blandly into his eyes and assured him th
10 he was the same dear and trne friend tb
al he always was, and that he would ma
. him all right at the White House. Inste
VI 81 matters getting better at the VIII
u lerIotse they grew worse. Now discover
~ secret. My personal relations wi
~ '--Fs. Blaine had, up to the time Of n
- Blafue's induction into the Cabinet, be
,e- such as to lead me to expect-not that
81 especially desired tito be received il
p- full membership of the Cabinet society.
90 remembered all at once that there had be
'ef numerous receptions and dinners given
ID people connected with the Cabinet and Il
| had not. received invitations to them.
ga told the Co.onel that Mrs. Blaine was
pm the bottom of all the difficulty. 1t was
as few days until my suspicious were c.
iat firmed, and instantly said that did
as want to associate with any of the lot, 9
hd from that moment have cut the hypocr
as cal crowd. have never said word or
de- an act except in friendship respecting N
zen Blaine, Mrs. CART ED, or either of their b
MAJ bands, and am sure that the same is t
of Colonel IngeIsoll. Now you know v
we were opposed to Mr.. Blaine in Chic