The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-10-13
TALK ABOUT BIG MEN.
HOW Mr.. BLAINE RESENTED THE
INTERFERENCE OF FRIENDS.
Word in Favor of the Newspaper Cor
respondent - President Harrison and
His Businesslike ways-A Story of Ex-
President Cleveland.
Especial Correspondence

OnC OCCdSlOA OA MI DldlAC GU
a wonderful amount of courage under
most adverse circumstances. 1t was dur.
ing the canvass of 1884 Mr.. Blaine had
been out campaigning for several weeks.
He returned to New York, worn out and
sick He had barely strength enough re
naming to attend big meeting at Cooper
institute that night and to review mon
ster procession. Then he was put to bed
not to get up, it was believed, for three OF
four days. Mr.. Blaine was too sick to
sleep, too sick TO eat; and after very bad
night be met two or three of the campaign
managers at his bedside about noon.
"You will have to rest for three or four
days, Mr. Blaine" said they, "and we have
telegraphed to Philadelphia canoeling
your engagement there this evening, and
will send some one else as a substitute.
The people will be terribly disappointed,
but under the circumstances nothing else
could be done"
''What right had you to do this without
consulting me2" Mr.. Blaine demanded,
partly raising himself up in bed and those
big eyes of his flashing fire. Il deny your
right to interfere with my plans without
seeing me-"
'But, Mr.. Blaine, WEI the managers
attempted to explain.
81 will listen to no apologies" retorted
Mr.. Blaine. 1.-THE only thing that remains
for you to do is to undo what you have
done. You must wire the people in Phila-
delphia instantly that will be with them
tonight, according to my promise. Send
for Mr. -, as want him to go to Phila-
delphia with me-"
"But, Mr.. Blaine, have you counted the
cost? What does the doctor say?"
81 don't care what the cost is or what
the doctor says. 60 to Philadelphia this
afternoon, If it kills me. l think have
the right to do as please in this matter.
The campaign managers saw that Mr.
Blaine was determined, and they had no
alternative but to wire Philadelphia that
the candidate would keep his engagement
Probably if they had consulted him before
telegraphing in the first place, Mr.. Blaine
would have been found only too glad to
cancel the engagement. But his ire was
aroused by being disposed of without hav-
ing a voice in the matter himself, and in
all probability he meant what he said, and
that he would have gone to Philadelphia if
it had killed him. He did go to Philadel-
phia, accompanied by an old friend. He
reached the Continental hotel late in the
afternoon in very bad condition. He had
neither slept nor eaten for forty ght
hours. His travelling companion induced
him to take an opiate, and fortunately this
was followed by two hours of sleep.
Then Mr.. Blaine ate moderate sized,
juicy beefsteak, and at 7:30 in the evening
took his place at the reviewing stand, re
naming there for nearly two hours in the
open air on his feet, and afterward deliver
ing a speech three-quarters of an hour
long. Perhaps this was the best thing
that could have happened to Mr. Blaine
His resentment, the effort, tie excitement
probably saved him from serious illness.
But while he was in Philadelphia review
ing the professions and making a speech,
the campaign managers in New York were
wringing their hands in despair, expecting
before morning to receive telegram an
nouncing the serious and possibly fatal
illness of their candidate for the presi-
dency.
When the newspapers couple of months
ago were printing dispatches from Bar
Harbor to the effect that Mr.. Blaine was
about to die, and Mr.. Blaine was perverse
enough not to do anything of the sort. on
the contrary, quickly recovering his health,
the public said the newspapers were lying,
that there was a conspiracy to ''kill off
Blaine" in order to remove him from the
list of candidates in 1892 Now, the facts,
as happen to know, are sufficient Vindl-
cation of the good faith of the newspapers
in that matter People who sneer at news.
papers as willful circulators Of falsehoods
and participators in a conspiracy do net
IT, L. H.
ness. They do not know that the con-
slant, the endless struggle among news
paper workers is for the truth, and that
the man who knowingly writes an untruth
for publication has his head cut off as soon
SIS his offense is discovered.
Now, in this Blaine matter, some Of the
best, most cautious and careful newspaper
correspondents in the country, then at Bar
Harbor, believed Mr.. Blaine was dying.
The truth is, that there was one day in
which Mr.. Blaine himself and the members
of his family believed the end was near
On that day-the worst dad day" Mr..
Blaine has had for many years-there was
much weeping in the Stanwood Cottage
Mr.. Blaine's actual condition the CORE
spondents could not arrive at, because no
one would give them information But
they did know that despair reigned in the
household that bitter tears were being
shed, that the worst was feared. Under
such circumstances could the correspond
ents be blamed for sending out 70 the
that Mr.. Blaine was very sick and
that his death was feared? Fortunately,
Mr.. Blaine quickly rallied. His ''bad day"
passed as quickly as it came.
On this occasion, as during the campaign
of 1884, Mr.. Blaines proud spirit seemed to
have something TO do with his rapid recov-
cry. He resented the summary manner in
which the newspapers disposed of him, and
the description which one correspondent
had given of Mr.. Bsine's failing mental
powers reused his ire to such an extent
that he went TO work to show the country
as quickly and as conclusively as possible
how erroneous the reports were. The peo-
pie of America, irrespective of party afil-
iation, rejoice most heartily over Mr.
Blaine's recovery, and if counteFirritant
IN the shape of a campaign committee or a
newspaper correspondent is necessary to
his well being. the people hope those infu |
ences will De always at hand.
One finds among Republicans in all |
parts of tie country an expectation that
either Mr.. Blaine or General Harrison Will Z
be the party's candidate for president next /.
year. While the president has not, of
course, attained the phenomenal popular |
lty enjoyed by Mr. Blaine, the men who /
have had occasion to watch him closest tell (
me be has been a remarkable man in the (
presidential chair. For q man who keeps
pretty well in his own hands the strings OF /
government be has made surprisingly few 4
mistakes He has intrusted fewer details 4
10 subOrdinstes than most presidents. and 4