The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-29
A VISIT TO BLAINE.
(Coatfnuei from Page 81

ington City,"
"A great deal They are all free to come
here al any time. But Thursday IS the
day specially appointed for their visits
We give up practically the whole OF the
day 10 them. They begin TO come at 10
O'Clock in the morning. for many of them
have the foreign haoit OF taking a very
light early breakfast. Americans, you
know, need substantial breakfast TO be-
gin the work OF the day on.
"Iou receive them. suppose, in the or
der OF their importance ?"
''Oh, no" replied the secretary, laugh
ING. All foreign representatives here are
strictly upon an equal footing. There as
absolutely no other precedence than OF
arrival The one who comes Erst IS the
first TO be received. If the representative
from Haiti gets here one minute before
SIR Julian Pauncefote, Sir Julian must
wait until the gentleman from Haiti has
said his saw
And you are in constant communica-
ton with all of them 20
They don't necessarily come TO me
about any matter OF ordinary business
that can rs well be attended To by subor-
dinate officers; bat on matters OF any I'M
portance they communicate directly With
me, and, as / said, Thursdays are espec-
Tally gwen to them.
do YOU see much of the president"
Yes; the secretary OF state is very near
10 the president, owing TO the nature OF
his duties. They must confer together on
great number of questions. | am, in
fact, the secretary OF the president; not
that / ever do any work IN the White
House, OF course, but it is through the
medium Of this Office that he carries on
communication with foreign govern
ments."
1t seems to me-" said l, that this de-
partment must be the most interesting TO
administer of any in the government"
Well" returned Mr.. Blaine with Is
| smile, Il don't wish TO be understood as
Understanding the charms or certainly
not the Importance of any of the other de-
duties OF the office very pleasant. 1t deals,
necessarily. mainly with questions OF
national policy, and has, perhaps, more
| direct hand than most of the others IN aid
Ing to shape the course of contemporary
history. A number of events Of large i'm
portance are conducted. or take their rise.
here. The relations OF great country IKE
this with other countries are naturally
more striking and picturesque than the
ordinary routine of domestic affairs. But
the treasury is a vast department; SO Is
the interior; so IS the postoffice. They all
have infinite detail, which would be more
irksome to me- The navy has become of
great Importance under Mr.. Tracy. and
the department of justice, under Mr.. Miller,
is large and 10 layman very complicated.
Mr.. Proctor. who has been very efficient
secretary of war, has resigned to accept
| life off1ce-United States senator from Yer
mont The secretary of agriculture, Uncle
Jerry is the most popular man IN the
| cabinet
You have had some great predecessors, !"
remarked, looking at q portrait OF Marcy
hanging on the wall opposite.
Marcy was great man, replied Mr..
| Blaine; land there, at the further end of
| the room, are two fine portraits | want you
to look at" He got up from his chair,
and we walked down the length OF the
| apartment. The secretary is a tall man,
| little less than six feet IN height, and, but
| toned up in his black frock coat, and hold
| ing himself erect, he looked his height.
| That is Lord Ashburton, he said, inoi-
| eating the portrait OF rosy-faced, homely,
| clever EnglishInan, sitting at table with
| his lean, long-hngered hand upon the
! famous treaty. And that" he continued,
| indicating the other-but there was no
need TO name the owner OF that marvellous
| head, and those smouldering unfathom-
! able eyes. Ii was a portrait of Daniel
| Webster, and one OF the best, if not the
/ best that | have ever seen.
II have heard him speak" said Mr..
| Blaine. And here is his contemporary,
| Henry Clay. 1t is fine work of art, and
was bought BY the government st a large
| price, / believe"
| 1t was remarkable head, differing from
/ any likeness OF Clay with which | am ac-
/ euainted, but bearing internal evidences Of
being faithful likeness. Il have listened
| 10 him when he made one Of his most CO.
/ gent speeches" said Mr.. Blaine.
/ How do the contemporary orators of
congress compare with the men Of those
| DAYS in eloquence ?" asked.
| Mr.. Blaine stroked his chin and seemed
| TO be taxing his memory. Il don't know, +"
| he said at last IN a hesitating tone, that
| We have any great orators in congress Just
how, but number Of great debaters.
Another portrait which he pointed ont
| TO me was that Of Seward. with al the
| acutenesS and sagaclty OF the man in IL !;
/ land II You'll come In here, said Mr..
Blaine, IN show you another of him. "
He opened the door Of the further room
| IS ne spoke; 1t was quite small room,
| and al a table sat q man. with his back
| towards Us, writing. There were one or
two clerks in the room with whom the
| secretary exchanged kindly greetings.
Meanwhile, the man at the desk had not
| looked around or appeared TO notice our
| entrance.
He Is deaf" observed Mr. Blaine TO me.
| "but / want to introduce you to M
Adee, and he tapped him on the shoulder.
Very little communication with Mr..
! Adee sufhced to show me that mis- chief
| characterization of him as very able man
| was deserved. Ability glows and spark les
| from his face, and one fancles that his in
! sensibiiity 10 outward sounds but opens
| his inner ear more acutely TO the discourse
| Of bright and penetrating thought. IL is
! good TO have such an ally a. ones back
| and Mr.. Blaine's friendly feeling for his
assistant was obvious.
As We came out / glanced at the clock
! and discovered that had been monopoliz.
| ing the secretary's attention for nearly an
| hour.
Don't ne IN hurry TO go. /" said he.
| There seems to be nothing waiting Tor me
| just now. Ii there is any question that !
can answer / viii do so. -
! There IS one thing that has always been
/ an engaging mystery 10 me. and ! imagine
70 most outside people, ! said. Il would
! ike 10 know what happens 81 cabinet
| meetings. '
Well IN regard 10 cabinet meetings one
/ hardly wishes 10 sneak OF them, for they are
/ regarded a. private, but there IS no harm that
/ ! can see IL saving that they are simply con.
4 ference twice = week, Tuesdays &nC Fridays. be-
: tween the president and lis several secretaries
/ Everything presented there Is regarded a. con
/ ndent8gl. When assembled the president na.
| tGrally communicates Whist he wishes before
& anyone else SPEAKS He "a an extraordinary
man OF business. prompt, decided. ciea-- heate e
/ he wastes No time. ] have rarely heard & man
| more ally or more feTsely discuss public Que--
/ tons. When he is through the several seere
I tarles. IN their order, bring I'd zuvIhIDe from
, their departments that presents general cues
! T0as question which al departments are
ASKED 10 take pSTr IL deciding. Business ID
Z settled promptly, and i affords almost tas
/ Dlty time when the secretaries meet and II
/ cabinet meetings they become very weE az
| QuAintee- More ! would not wish &c say II
/ regard to then
one thius more. Mr.. blaine Hxve guv I'm.
p-pvcmelts suggested themselves 10 YOU tina;
M sHr.f4S ~ ~