The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-23
BLAINE'S CONDITION
1t Is Positively Stated He is Fail
ing Mentally.
SECRETARY TRACY DENIES THIS
His Actions, According to the Story, Impress
Those Who Meet Him as Strange
An Illustration.

Especial to THE Observation-Disclosures Dispatch
NEW YORK, May 22.-The Herald pub
fishes the following this friday
from its Washington CORES
pondent: The facts about MIR. Blaine's
physical condition have not been
told. On the contrary they have been per-
concealed. The plain truth is
that Mr.. Blaine is confirmed invalid and
his intimate friends fear collapse of his
faculties that will at once shock and dis
tress the public. | am aware this state
ment will be INN ediately rejected by Mr..
Blalne'S party organ, but it is nevertheless
true IN every respect, and only the sup
preston Of it at this time would be just
cause of censure. Politicians who know
the facts of Mr.. Blaines condition and
have long known them, are using his
name and reputation as stalking horses for
shameless one that he may fall by the way
side before they reach the goal of their
purposes.
The President is fully aware that in all
human probability Mr.. Blaine will not be
found much longer at his place in the ad-
mlnistratlon. 1t is but simple Justice to
say the President acts upon this knowl-
edge as becomes his position. He is full of
personal sympathy for the invalid states
141oL, anu VI SOllClIuUS UudU Ills REMNANT OIL
possible public service should be marked
by whatever is most gratifying to the in
valid's feelings and conductive to his per-
manent reputation, and 1t may be accepted
as solid that some superssrviceable syco-
phants who hang upon the skirts of the
President have recently heard some manly
American sentiment uttered by him re-
garding his premier. AT the department
OF state for good thirteen months past, the
procedure Of business has been so shaped
as to accommodate itself to the frailty of
Mr.. Blaine's health, and the necessity of
nursing his powers to the utmost. Mr..
Blaine is gracious master, and there is
full reciprocality of sympathy for him on
the side of his subordinates and of ap-
probation by him of their continued con-
sideration.
Mr.. Blaine's feverish ardor has not per-
mitted him to apportion the labors of his
department among his assistants, in de-
gree common to the ministers of foreign
affairs in Europe. He has attempted per
sonally to deal with them one and all. A
single experience may serve as type.
The envoy of foreign power is charged
with an important negotiation to be car
rled on at Washington. Hemeets the sec
rotary of state by appointment from time
to time at the latter's private residence.
These appointments are hard to effect in
the rush and competition for the secretary's
ear and are frequently changed and post
poned Dy reason of exigencies on the part
OF Mr.. Blaine. The conference secured,
MIR. Blaine flashes and sparkles for fifteen
or twenty min uteS, and then on sudden
becomes sile |, moody and hypochondrias.
He ID i'll D. lse and evidently seems to be
alone: He rreads indisposition, oyerwork, a
pressing engagement or appointment with
the President. His visitor rises to leave.
Mr.. Blaine rises with him, accompanies
him to the door and dismisses him with
both grace and courtesy leaving, however,
the conviction upon the mind of the depart
ing guest that the new and brief show of
vitality could not have kept alive another
two minutes. When next they come to-
gether the same experience is repeated
with the added embarrassment that Mr.
Blalne's limit OF vitality is largely con
sumed in bringing his mind to bear upon
what had been previously discussed.
have excellent reason to believe the
confidential dispatches of the heads of lega-
ton at Washington to their governments
during the last year or more have repeat
eddy ascribed to Mr.. Blaine's falling physi-
cal powers the inability of diplomatists
here to make satisfactory progress with
their business. Not alone from gentlemen
of foreign legations, but from political and
personal friends came this story. The
diagnosis is uniform and universal that Mr..
Blaine's intellect has passed into a stage
wherein it flashes and then dies away till
rekindled after large interval of repose.
but it never more burns with steadiness
Like victim OF narcotics he exhibits
nothing between nervous impetuosity and
nervous lassitude.
Speaking only to day of what is herein
recited 10 one of the nearest, truest and
most serviceable of Mr.. Blaine's friends
and associates, put direction to him. ION
your honor, is not this all truel" He bent
his head downward for half minute, then
raising 1t answered: Don't ask me, don't
ask me; its something can't talk about.n
One more remark l give verbatim.
Shortly before Mr. Blaine went on his
present visit to New York he and his
family were socially visited by an old friend
utterly devoid of personal interest in poll
tics and opposed to the political sentiment
to mr.. pBlaine. This gentleman l met at
noon after his departure from Mr.. Blaine,s
house He was full of his visit. 81 called
on Mr.. Blaine to-day, and his appearance
shocked me. He looks like a uIar who
hasn't year to live, and his mind seems
all breaking up. He talks away for a few
minutes seemingly interested and chatting
about old times and friends, and then ne
appeared of a sudden to lose interest in all
that he had been gossiping SO brightly
about He was so manifestly deslrous to
be by himself that without the least feeling
of offense l babe him good bye, which
scarcely reused him, and made my way to
another part of the house,