The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-29
BLAIrE,s ALLEGED BRAIN FAIL
IRE.


A few days ago the New York Herald, on
the strength of dispatches from its sensa-
tional correspondent at Washington City,
published a most lamentable account of
the failure OF Secretary Blaine's mental
powers, and a scarcely less doleful account
of his PHYSICAL condition.
The erstwhile, brilliant and magnetic
leader of men is, according to this author
ity, little better than a mental and physi-
cal wreck, whom Ii Is little less than
monstrous to keep at the helm of state and
Cypress with official duties. "He Is no
longer able to carry on a consecutive train
of reasoning" says the Herald. "For
few minutes" it admits, son meeting peo-
pie, he flashes and sparkles, but on q sud-
den becomes silent, moody and hypochon-
driacal"
IAN old friend" of the Secretary is
quoted, but with studied consideration the
Herald refrains from giving his name,
who draws this piteous picture: "He looks
like a man who hasn't year 10 live, and
his mind seems all breaking up. He talks
away few minutes, seemingly interested.
and chatting about old times and friends,
and then he appears of a sudden to lose
interest in all that he has been gossiping
so brightly about"
If all that the Herald says and pretends
to quote in this connection were accepted
as true. ii would cause many sorrowfui
heart in this broad land, and would be re-
ceived with but thinly-veiled satisfaction
in many foreign capital. But these
statements and quotations are extremely
remindfui of statements and alleged quota
tons and interviews published freely some
thirty years ago in regard TO another popu-
lar favorite. who subsequently, with all of
his alleged weakness and failings, by sheer
force OF ability and prowess reached the
very pinnacle of fame.
And il is remindful of, and suggests as
probably appropriate to this case, the
answer of President Lincoln to those old
time statements and alleged quotations.
As Grant, charged with habitual drunken
ness and with being continually soaked
with whisky, continued to advance and
win victory after victory, while Others kept
calling for reinforcements, falling back,
and accomplishing nothing at fabulous
cost to the government. the great war
President expressed profound regret that
other commanders did not procure some
of Grants whisky.
So, in view of Blaine's masterful con-
duct of negotiations with Great Britain,
Italy, the countries of South Americs,
Spain. and other nations, and the unmis-
taxable evidences of his great influence in
all complicated home affairs, the country
might well pray the disease which has
been paralyzing bis brain and prostrating
his physical powers might become conta-
gious, especially in the editorial sanctums
of certain leading and ponderous news
papers.
Or would the Herald and its echoes have
Us believe that Blaine's matchless diplom-
acy and able expositions of economic
questions have been confined to those
periods when he had spurts of lucidity
| and burts of old-time brilliancy? 1t was
hardly worth the while of Emmons Blaine
and Mrs. Damrosch to contradict the
Herald illumination. His works speak
louder than any language can convey.
The people are not alarmed that Mr..
Blaine is threatended with anything in
the line of brain failure.