Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-11-13
.FoREro1D ny MR. Blaine.
Senator blackburn Tells of Dramati,
Ante-Eiection Incident.

Senator blackburn Tells of n Dramatic
Election Incident.
Washington Pot
Senator Joe Blackburn's face beamed
with pleasure when the subject of his
party's recent remarkable victories was
preached.
In the course of conversation he said :
Is there anything at all saved to the
Republicans?
solitary figure, alone but conspicuous.
"That figure is Mr. Blaine. Always
towering, he now appears peerless in pre-
eminence. He alone emergcs from the
crush of dire disasters, unhurt, unruiiied,
To him his party will look as the only
Moses or Joshua that can lead out from
the mire Of defeat to the solid ground
where footing may vet be gained.
And now that il is all over | will tell
you of scene that | witnessed, in which
Mr. Blaine was the principal actor, ascene
that to me was so full of intensity as to he
almost dramatic, and which will never
fade from my memory. 1t has never been
told before.
"The Mckinley bin had been passed by
the House and was on the calendar of the
Senate, though not yet taken up. 1t was q
particularly warm day in July when Sena-
tors Allison, Hale, and myself sat in the
Senate appropriations committee room,
waiting for Mr. Blaine, with whom we
were to consult, as subcommittee, about
the consular and diplomatic budget. There
was present no one else except the clerk Of
the committee.
mir Blaine finally appeared, and with
him Mr.. Curtis, the accomplished secretary
of the Pan-American Congress. The sec
rotary was rather in neglige costume, as
suited the temperature except as to par
ticularly glossy and irreprouchable silk hat
~. ~, a.
bill, mind you, had nothing to do with
the subject in hand, but, in casual way,
] broached it after the usual greetings had
been exchanged Probably | asked Mr..
Blaine how he liked it. Imagine my sur
prise-and shall say qualification when
he launched forth a torrent of invective
against the act that Mckinley fathered.
Ale said: This bill is ,tn infamy and an
outrage. 1t is the most shameful measure
ever proposed to Il civilized people &c
on with 1t and it will carry our party to
perdition.'
q was feeling considerably interested,
and said: i wish you were in the Senate,
Mr.. Blaine, to announce yourself in such
terms
's'l wish I were he answered; if so, |
would stamp it under my feet and spit
tors Allison and Hale, he snapped his
fingers in the face of each alternately, and
with rising infection said:
g Go on with your dwelling idiocy and
see to what destruction 1t will lead the Re-
publican party. Pass this bill, and in '92
there will not be man in all the party so
beggared as to accept your nomination for
the Presidency
Then he began to dissect the bill merci-
lessly. particularly the sugar schedule.
This he inveighed against with all his
force ] reminded him, that the Senate
had improved upon the laburs Of the House
as regarded sugar; that to protect an
American industry involving the enormous
labor of boring a hole in a maple tree and
boiling the juice, the Senate had agreed to
give the maple sugar growers of New Eng
land a bounty of two cents.
This was the first he had heard Of it,
and he seemed hardly able to credit what
told.
's,It isn't true, he said.
"Allison and Hale confirmed me.
81 suppose this was done at the solicita-
ton Of Morrill, and Edmunds? he in
qured,
''Mr. Allison replied in the affirmative.
1t is good sample of the breadth OF
their craftsmanship, said the secretary.
'tAnd then the climax came. His new
beaver was lying on the table in easy
reach. With sudden blow he brought
his clenched hand down on it with such
force as to mash it tlatter than pancake,
and then, seizing the battered chapeau, he
hurled it against the wall Violently.
never saw such an ebullition, but it only
emphasized the deep earnestness with
which the secretary argued against policy
about which his opinion as then given now
seems prophctic.'
"Wiil lie be the Republican nominee in
opp
Certainly. From now on no other man
will be thought of, and hcnceforth you will
see a still wider divergence on his part
from the course Of the Harrison admins
tration.n