The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-02-15
Secretaries Blaine and Tracy.


The heat and excitement of active
politics have tendency to create mis-
understandings, bitternesses, estrange-
ments and prejudices among men. They
twist and warp the common judgment,
which regards awry the motives and
deeds OF great contentious leaders who,
profoundly imhued with a belief in the
integrity of Meir respective parties
principles, seek to render them domi-
nant and controlling forces by all means
offensive as well as defensive. 1t has
always happened that the more sincere,
powerful and aggressive the political
leader was the greater the number of
the enemies he made. A truly great
leader, contending greatly for the
political principles which to HIM SCENE
best, Mr.. Blaine has inspired the pre-
JUDGE and invited the antagonism Of
those who disagreed with him. But
how much his countrymen, even his
political opponents, really honor and
love the man has been demonstrated
within the last month by the earnest,
generous sympathy which they, from
Maine to New Mexico, have given him
because of the profound losses and sor-
rows which have befallen HIM through
the death of his beloved son and
daughter, these sad events following
each other closely. In the presence of
loss and grief such as his all his coun-
trymen have shown themselves his
friends and neighbors. They have put
aside all prejudIces, and in their places
is that broad, human feeling of common
fraternity which honors alike the giver
and recipient. The large, genial and
responsive nature of the Secretary of
State, his magnificent services as a
statesman and his prominence as his
party's leader have won to his side
multitudinous friends and admirers.
To-day, in his bereavement, all these
stand close to him, offering him their
heartiest sympathy, and while his loss
has strengthened the friendly ties of all
those who before we're friendly, it has
softened or removed the prejudices of
those who were not of them. 1t is the
country itself that mourns with MIR.
Blaine standing in the gloom of his
stricken home.
The awful calamity which befell Mr..
Tracy, the Secretary of the Navy, on
the sd instant, and which bereft him
of devoted wife and loving daughter,
and which placed in dire peril the lives
of another daughter and his grand
daughter, as we'll as his own, has made
HIM the object OF universal sympathy.
The whole nation condoles with him !;
he was one who, choosing quieter,
smoother road in politics than his Illus
trious colleague, Mr.. Blaine, had even
no partizan opponents. He was scarcely
known as leader. His fame rested
rather upon his distinction as jurist
and lawyer, as broad and generous
minded, public spirited citizen. He did
not, as Mr.. Blame did, put on his
armor, 60 to the forefront, and there
aggressively give and take great blows
as party chieftain. An earnest, con-
sistent Republican always, he supported
his party's principles, but not as COM
bative leader. Sorely stricken and be-
reaved, the general esteem of his coun-
trymen becomes common sympathy,
and his loss and grief invite universal
coincidence. A wise, honorable man,
useful, patriotic citizen, a faithful,
efficient, liberal minded servant of the
people, the people IN the time of his
affliction testify by their sympathy the
profundity of their regard for him.
PHILADELPHIA Ledger.