Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-02
Special Correspondence

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President Cleveland.
Especial Correspondence.l
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-You will read a
good deal in the papers about Mr.. Blaine's
timidity when the state of his health is
threatening, how he quickly gives up and
concludes that tue worst is about to happen.
This is often true Of him. But / remember
one occasion on which Mr.. Blaine displayed
a wonderful amount of courage under
most adverse circumstances. 1t was dur
ing the canvass of 1884. Mr.. Blaine had
been out campaigning for several weeks.
He returned to New York, worn out and
sick He had barely strength enough re-
naming to attend big meeting at Cooper
institute that night and to review mon
ster procession. Then he was put to bed,
not to get up, it was believed, for three or
four days Mr.. Blaine was too sick to
sleep, too sick to eat; and after a very bad
night be met two or three Of the campaign
managers at his bedside about noon.
"You will have to rest for three or four
days, Mr.. Blaine" said they, ''and we have
telegraphed to Philadelphia canceling
your engagement there this evening, and
will send some one else as a substitute.
The people will be terribly disappointed,
but under the circumstances nothing else
could be donen
what right had you to do this without
consulting me?" Mr. Blaine demanded,
partly raising himself up in bed and those
big eyes Of his flashing fire. II deny your
right to interfere with my plans without
seeing me-"
"But, Mr.. Blaine, WEB the managers
attempted to explain.
Il will listen to no apologies" retorted
Mr.. Blaine. 1.-The only thing that remains
for you to do is to undo what you have
done. You must wire the people in Phila-
delphia instantly that will be with them
tonight, according to my promise. Send
for Mr.. -, as want him to go to Phila-
delphia with me-"
"But, Mr.. Blaine, have you counted the
cost2 What does the doctor say?"
II don't care what the cost is or what
the doctor says. go to Philadelphia this
afternoon, if it kills me. l think have
the right to do as please in this matter"
The campaign managers saw that Mr.
Blaine was determined, and they had no
alternative but to wire Philadelphia that
the candidate would keep his engagement
Probably II they had consulted him before
telegraphing in the first place, Mr.. Blaine
would have been found only too glad to
CdLCCa bnC CnSdSCLnCub. Dub us iA6 was
aroused by being disposed of without hav.
ing voice in the matter himself, and in
all probability he meant what he said, and
that he would have gone to Philadelphia if
1t had killed him. He did go to Philadel
phia. accompanied by an old friend. He
reached the Continental hotel late in the
afternoon in very bad condition. He had
neither slept nor eaten for forty-eight
hours His travelling companion induced
him to take an opiate, and fortunately this
was followed by two hours of sleep.
Then Mr.. Blaine ate moderate sized,
juicy beefsteak, and at 7:30 in the evening
took his place at the reviewing stand, re
manning there for nearly two hours in the
open air on his feet, and afterward deliver
ing a speech three-quarters Of an hour
long Perhaps this was the best thing
that could have happened to Mr. Blaine
His resentment, the effort. the excitement
probably saved him from serious illness
But while he was in Philadelphia review
ing the professions and making a speech,
the campaign managers in New York were
wringing their hands in despair, expecting
before morning to receive a telegram an
nouncing the serious and possibly fatal
illness of their candidate for the presi-
dency.
ago were printing dispatches from Bar
Harbor to the effect that Mr.. Blaine was
about to die. and Mr.. Blaine was perverse
enough not to do anything of the Sort on
the contrary, quickly recovering his health,
the public said the newspapers were lying.
that there was a conspiracy to skill off
Blaine" in order to remove him from the
list of candidates in 1892. Now, the facts,
as happen to know, are sufficient vindl-
cation of the good faith of the newspapers
in that matter. People who sneer at news
papers as willful circulators of falsehoods
and participators in a conspiracy do not
know anything about the. newspaper bust
ness. They do not know that the con-
slant, the endless struggle among news
paper workers Is for the truth, and that
the man who knowingly writes an untruth
for publication has his head cut off as soon
as his offense is discovered.
Now, in this Blaine matter, some of the
best, most cautious and careful newspaper
correspondents in the country, then at Bar
Harbor, believed Mr. Blaine was dying.
The truth is, that there was one day in
which Mr.. Blaine himself and the members
of his family believed the end was near
On that day--the worst s'bad day'' Mr..
Blaine has had for many years-there was
much weeping in the Stanwood Cottage
Mr.. Blaine's actual condition the CORE
spondents could not arrive at because no
one would give them information. But
they did know that despair reigned in the
household, that bitter tears were being
shed. that the worst was feared Under
such circumstances could the correspond |
ents be blamed for sending out TO the
country that Mr.. Blaine was very sick and |
that his death was feared? Fortunately, |
Mr.. Blaine quickly rallied. His ''bad day' |
passed as quickly as it came.
On this OCCASION, as during the campaign |
Of 1884, Mr.. Blaine's proud spirit seemed to
have something to do with his rapid recov- |
cry. He resented the summary manner in |
which the newspapers disposed of him, and |
the description which one correspondent |
had given of Mr.. Blatne's failing mental |
powers reused his ire to such an extent |
that he went to work to show the country |
as quickly and as conclusively as possible |
how erroneous the reports were. The peo-
pie of America, irrespective of party a1il- |
iation, rejoice most heartily over Mr. |
BIaine's recovery, and if counterirritant
la the shape of campaign committee or a
newspaper correspondent is necessary to |
his well being, the people hope those infu
ences will be always at hand.
One finds among Republicans in all
parts Of the country an expectation that
either Mr.. Blaine or General Harrison will
be the party's candidate for president next |