The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-09
THE DRIFT TOWARD BLAINE.

not only to his family and wide circle of
devoted personal friends, but also TO the
great Republican party, in which
he has been the most potential
individuality for twenty years past.
There are possibly several men
among the party chiefs who equal
him in pure, cold. intellectual strength,
but there is no man that ap-
proaches him in personal force, popularity
to the fact that Mr.. Blaine is at
once man of political genius
and surprising social charm. He
has been compared to Henry Clay, but
Clay had less tact in dealing with his
party than Mr.. Blaine, and was sometimes
betrayed into a passionate display of AFRO
gance and imperi BUSINESS that interfered
with his influence and success at critical
moments. Mr.. Blaine is as indomitable
% Clay, and less prone TO forget that all
things come at last to him who waits.
In 1876, at Cincinnati, Mr.. Blaine was
by large plurality the strongest candi-
date before the convention; so strong that
nothing but a combination, at the last
moment, of the forces of Conkling,
Morton, Bristow and Sherman defeat
ed him and tossed the prize into
the lap of colorless candidate.
In 1880 Mr.. Blaine was strong enough to
nearly secure plurality even against the
mighty name of Grant, and finally forced
the nomination OF his warm partisan and
friend Garfield. In 1884 Mr.. Blaine easily
secured the nomination, and was beaten
through the loss of New York,
for which the detection of Sena-
tor Edmunds was responsible. Cleveland
carried the state by 1,o47 plurality. 1t is
safe TO assume that the obstinate, conspic-
nous refusal of Senator Edmunds to speak
for the national ticket at home or abroad,
or to even write a letter in support
Of it, cost Mr.. Blaine at least
1000 votes in the Empire state; it is
probable that it lost him 5000.
While refusing to speak for Mr.. Blaine,
Senator Edmunds voted for him, going
from New York to Bennington to cast
his ballot I'm public manner. If
Mr.. Blaine was good enough to vote for. he
certainly was good enough to speak for.
and Senator Edmunds' action resembled
nothing so much as that of the fellow who
said, Gentlemen, you will please remem-
Der that did send flowers to the funeral
although. confess, / did not join you in
weeping at the grave"
The opposition Of Senator Edmunds.
which undoubtedly lost Mr.. Blaine New
York and consequently the election in
1884, was vicious blow from the camp of
the Republican party, but while Senator
Edmunds still lives he is not likely to
harm Mr.. Blaine in future, for the reason
that the personal malevolence of Mr.. Ed
munds is SO clearly understood today that
he is no longer powerful for party mis-
chief Mr.. Edmunds Is better under
stood than he was in 1884, and Mr..
Blaine is no longer misunderstood, and
Mr.. Edmunds. not Mr.. Blaine, is the suf-
ferer in consequence. Mr.. Edmunds' in
fiuence has steadily decreased with the
party since he successfully exerted him.
self from within the Republican camp TO
secure the election of Democratic Presi-
dent in 1854, while that of Mr..
Blaine has so steadily increased that
he could have had the nomination by ac-
clamation for President in 1883 had he not
refused the use of his name. Mr.. Ed
rrunds stabbed Mr.. Blaine under the fifth
rib by his silence in 1884, but today the
people are stabbing Mr.. Edmunds in turn
by their cheers for Mr. Blaine and their
silent indifference to the impending retire.
ment of Edmunds from public life.
Mr.. Blaine was never so strong in the
admiration and respect of the ablest men
of both parties as he is today. When he
took the portfolio of the State Department
the Mugwumps all predicted that he
would prove utterly unequal TO his diplo-
matte responsibilities, but he has succeeded
so splendidly that he is congratulated not
only by all leading Republicans, but by the
ahlest diplomats of the Democratic party,
sx-Secretary Bayard aud George Ticknor
Curtis. Even our Democratic ex-minister to
England, K. j. Phelps, who went to Eng
land expecting TO be able TO scott at Blaine.
has returned TO pray for him and bear wit
ness to the admirable ability of his
administration of our foreign affairs. The
credit of our successful reciprocity policy
Justly belongs TO Mr.. Blame, with whom
It originated and by whom it was reso-
lutely pressed for adoption even when it
had but languid support from the Repub-
ioan leaders in the House, and from the
administration. On the strength alone of
the high reputation which he has won,
nnce he became secretary of state, for the
administration Mr.. Blaine Is easily its
most popular representative: he is the
only one of the old Republican leaders
Who retains the affection and admiration
Of the disafected Republican farmers in
Kansas, Nebraska. Illinois, Wisconsin,
Minnesota and Michigan. These dis
Affected farmers look with rather a sour
ace upon President Harrison: they con-
sede that he is a lawyer of superior ability
hat he has made himself the
Industrious executive of an able
and clean administration. but
.hey are earnestly. however illogically. of
he opinion that President Harrison is not
rs sympathetic in his political temper nor
ais personal manners as Mr.. Blaine.
These farmers impute 70 Presiden; Har-
.is0n all the blame for the defeat of free
ilver. while at the same time they Justly
1--WE Blaine all the credit for reciprocity
md its injection into the tariff policy of
he party. The result is that while Mr..
Harrison Is held in respect as an able and
Upright executive, nothing Is more certain