Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-25
AT THE EDITORIAL DESK.

course the genius that is in him would
have asserted itself sooner or later; but its
development might have taken an entirely
different course had he remained in Port
land.
Mr.. Blaine's career as statesman is the
development of his career as a politician.
His extraordinary influence in political
management was developed very soon after
he entered politics, and it is due partly to
zeal and enthusiasm which were some
thing phenomenal, at least in the expert
ence of Maine politicians. Apolitical cam
paign with Mr.. Blaine in Maine had all
the elements Of great battle. He was
chairman of the state committee Of his
party for many years, and the work which
he did in that capacity was frequently phe-
nomenal. One one occasion, when des-
perate battle was being fought in Maine,
and the Greenback party seemed likely to
secure supremacy, it was the fortune of
the writer to see Mr.. Blaine as the mana
ger Of campaign. He was probably the
most ubiquitous man who ever took part
in any canvass. He would be seen one
afternoon in Portland, and perhaps the
next morning would be heard from in the
uttermost part of the state. He was in
Aroostook county one day and Penobscot
county the next; he descended upon the en-
envy here and there with the celebrity of the
hosts of the Assyrians. He was no headquar-
ters manager; he carried his headquarters
in his hat and his head. He would spend
half the night in compartment of Sleep
ing car, debating correspondence, aaalyz-
ing reports, studying the weak places in
his own lines and the strong places in the
enemy's, and making drafts upon his re-
sources which were always met. He was
autocratic and yet tactful; he ruled with
; iron when necessary, and with velvet when
it was wise. He was utterly without self
consciousness Not trace of that deadly
mannerism for politician which is called
big head" was apparent in his manner.
His overwhelming personality, that very
quality which afterward made him so con-
spicuous in national affairs, was perhaps
never aftefward so splendidly made mani
fest. His theory of politics was the theory
OF the general in battle; and that is that
success must be won at all hazards short
Of dishonor. He once said that politics
was not gratitude, but that it was power
perhaps the most perfect epigrammatic
description of the science of politics
ever made. 1t was such management as
this, kept up long after he had become a
national figure and even presidential
possibility, that distinguished Mr.. Blaine
as political manager. No man has ever
excelled him in this direction.
Itis not generally known that Mr.. Blaine
Is passi0nately fond of music, but in his
family this disposition has long been rec
ognized and catered to. One Of the most
pleasant illustrations of it occurred few
years ago at the Fifth Avenue hotel, in
New York city Mr.. Blaine had just come
from Washington, and had been assigned
to the apartments in that hotel which are
always reserved for him. In the Office OF
the hotel were gathered many men of in
fuence who had come to call upon him.
Their cards were sent up, but to none of
them did Mr.. Blaine grant an audience He
was tired: he was not in the mood for talking