The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-25
It SERVES HIM RIGHT.
What Republican Newspaper
Thinks Of Blaine's Present At
titude Toward the Party.
He Graves for Notoriety, is Selfish
and Jealous Of Other
Leaders
oha President OvcrrAted His Capacity
When He Thought He Could
Control Blaine

Control Blaine.
When General Harrison was warned that |
IF he made Mr.. Blaine secretary of state his
aggressive ambition, craving for notoriety, |
selfish impatience Of the upbuilding of any
other fame than his own, jealousy of any |
achievement which did not rebound to his
personal credit and general irrepressible
bumptiousness would make trouble for the
administration and the party. he is said to
have answered that he believed that hs
would be able to keep Mr.. Blaine in order,
says the Portland Oregonian. The presi-
dent knows better now. He overrated his
capacity. He has not been able to keep Mr..
Blaine in order. Mr.. Blaine has made just
the trouble for the administration and the
party it was predicted he would make. He
is, incidentally, making good deal of
trouble for the president, which nobody
will regret. He deserves 1t. He should
have known better nearly two years ago.
Mr.. Blaine is able, brilliant, sagacious
patriotic in way. He is not more selfish
than most of men who have succeeded in
public life. The trouble with HIM is that
his selishness is of peculiarly limited,
short-sighted and intolerant order. 1t de-
votes his abilities to the single end of the
advancement of his own fame and interests.
1t furnishes his brilliancy with the black
faint of jealousy. 1t limits his wisdom to
the narrow path in which his own feet are
to tread. II confines his patriotism in
serving his country in just the way which
will increase his own fame and fortune and
no other. It isolates him from that effect
i've co. operation of all wise party leaders to
the end of the common good which is the
real duty of statesmanship, breeding in him
that does not take the form of satellitsm.
The prediction which General Harrison
resented that Mr.. Blaine would try to run
the administration, has been more than JUS
titled. He has tried to run not only the adj
NJ msre cabinet ss officer has tn dc.
tate politics aud shape legislation to the ex-
tent Mr.. Blaine has tried. Mr.. Cleveland
tried the same thing successfully, but Mr..
Cleveland was president. He was success
leader, but he has sought to impose his per-
sonal will and his chosen politics upon con-
gress as confidently as Cleveland. He
has wished to bend the leader and the
speaker of the house to his will as Cleveland
bent Mills and Carlisle. He, cabinet Off
the most dictatorial and self-assertive pres
ident since jackson.
Since the first day Of the session his hand
has been felt in legislation. He has sought
to give to bills pending in either house the
character required to make them a means
failed in this he has endeavored to defeat
them wholly. He tried to get his recproc-
ity notion into the tariff bill. Failing this.
his coterie of supporters ia the senate are
willing to See it lost. He is secretly CON
irving against the elections bill, which
many Republicans openly oppose because
they think it inexpedient and ineffective.
because it lies outside Of his own scheme OF
legislation and threatens to make political
capital for Reed, as the tariff bill would
conception Of politics does not include the
making Of capital for anybody but Blaine.
He has sent to congress, by the hand of
Che president, mighty scheme of legisla-
zion growing out of the Pan-American con-
Eress, embracing reciprocity, international
road, extradition and arbitration. sufficient
tO.occupy its attention continuously for its
whole two years Of life. Some of these sus-
gestions are admirable. and may mature in
time into valuable legislation; but the
country has not been content to accept
shem as paramount to all other claims upon
the time and labor of congress. Mr..
Blaine's offense lies in his desire to super
sede all other legislation with them; to an
tagonize all other measures in their inter
any consideration, and, curiousiy enough
the only important bill which has passed
the senate, where Mr.. Blaine's influence is
most considerable, is the maritime substi
iute. which is directly in line with his own
scheme.
That is to say, the secretaryof state has
ried to cut out legislation for congress te
sonfine it to the lines laid down by himself
md to defeat all measures not prescribed b,
him or in accordance with his programme
This is hardly the ordinary function of the
United States. Mr.. Cleveland did it, bu
Nr. Cleveland was an extraordinar,
president. No one did it before
lin. So far back as Jackson, il
Whose time the country was young, ane
did not know its strength. Andrew
johnson tried it, but he came to grief. 1t j:
a very singular proceeding for secretary o.
state, functionary whose predecessor il
Office. though man of exceptional
ability, great experience and higl
character, was the mere chief cleri
of the late sheriff of Erie county. 1t i.
small wonder that the republican leaders il
congress resent dictatiOn and control from
a quarter so unaccuGt0med. 1t is small
wonder that the party ID divided when
part of it is found willing to support sucl
extraordinary pretensi0ns. 1t is small
wonder that the house and senate are a
loggerheads and that legislation is at
standstill when bills passed by one have t,
be vised by the state department befor
they can be concurred in by the other. And
finally, it is small wonder that the presi
dent is uncomfortable. But it serves hin
right.
Homeseeker's Excursions-189O.
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