The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-15

| His excessive pallor at times and his gen.
| eral appearance have given rise to all
kinds of alarming conjectures:
| I recall that one OF New Gork's great
| est specialists was on board during TINS
| voyage. lie was constantly making OBJ
| servations of Mr.. Blame when the latter
| was on deck although he never spoke TO
| him. One night this specialist was walk
| ing with me. He then spoke OF Mr..
| Blaine, and spoke in the most positive
| terms of his condition. at is alarming,
| said he. HIS eyes and color show me all
| | wish to know. He cannot live SIX
| months, and may die at any moment.
| Any sudden shock will carry him oil.
| should not mention this if the facts
| have not shown the eminent special
| lst to have been wholly wrong. inns was
| four years ago. Since then Mr.. Blaine nos
been called upon to endure repeated
| shocks-none greater than the loss OF ms
eldest son--and yet he is today III good
condition, with many years OF posslo1e
work before him.
He is sngulary refined and clean in his
tastes. He lives very simply. lie mas
never smoked, nor has he been IN tEe
habit OF using liquor III any form. III Is
| only in very recent years that he takes an
occasional glass OF wine. He has never
committed any excuses | saw HIM Tor
three months III the intimacy OF the mar
row confines OF q private car III the cam
that time use coarse word or make an IN
delicate aIlusion, although the visitors
who thronged the car every day were often
very free-talking politicians.
He Is most impressonabie. If he were
always surrounded by the rightness and
brilliancy OF success ! do not believe he
would ever be down in bed with illness.
1t IS his extreme buoyancy OF spirit that
has carried MIN through his many strug-
| giles and disappointment.
He is thoroughly American in his spirit
and really has greater ideas and broader
views concerning this country than almost
any man III IL. lie has been able TO make
them felt in his present position in the
state department. There he Is exception
ally contented and at home. He is one OF
the greatest controversialists of the CEN
fury. His skill in this direction IS
equalled by no man in public life in the
civilized world. Yet under a new situa-
ton calling for exceptional judgment |
would sooner trust the president than Mr..
Blaine. The president has much juster
estimate of men and arrives at mucn
more accurate estimate of his surround
ings. He is much less easily influenced
by tlattery.
Mr. Blaine is, however, so great a man
that he can afford to be criticised. l think
he is often disappointing man to those
who come nearest to him. His mind is so
+ concentrated upon his work, upon his
dreams of power and honor for this coun-
try, that personalities become small in his
sight except as means to an end. People
always object to be considered as mere
pawns in a game, however skillful the
player. So you are always hearing stories
OF disappointment from those who have
basked in the light of Mr. Blaine's smiles,
or who have been brought Tor the first time
under the charming influence of his en-
gaging manner.
Mr.. Blaine is interested in every one
who has a new idea or who can tell him
anything he does not know. He has the
genius OF natural born journalist for
gathering news and for forming correct
conclusions from facts in hand. This
explains his geniality, his happy manner
in turning people inside out. 1t is not his
fault if they think he is interested in them
personally and wishes them every good
fortune. In reality Mr.. Blaine cares less
for people in personal sense than almost
any man l have ever known. This is
through no fault of his. 1t is simply one
of the characteristics of his mental make
up. 1t is this undercurrent of GOODNESS
that has preserved him from breaking
down under unusual strains placed upon
him.
With him the intellectual is always up
permost. 1t is the controlling element of
his life. 1t sometimes sends him to bed
when nothing is the matter with him, or
brings him out of it smiling and buoyant
when the physicians are convinced there
is no hope for him.
Those who knew his attitude in political
affairs when in Europe understood with
out questioning what his position must be
in the coming campaign. When he die
tated the nomination of Mr.. Harrison at
Chicago and took up the work of the state
department he selected what he regarded
as his future life work. The same pride
that dictated his letter from Paris would
have prevented him from entering any
contest against other candidates Honor
would have forbidden his remaining in
the cabinet to work against the renomina-
ton of Mr.. Harrison. He has the strength
and health for the work he has laid out for
himself to do in the state department. He
has no reserve. however, for supporting on
mis- own shoulders the burden of a cam
paign.
He receives nearly every one who comes
to see him with great simplicity. He does
not think it either in accordance with Dig
nifty or good sense 10 reaffirln to every
caller who comes to see him his refusal to
be a candidate.
That he is regarded in Europe as one of
the most potential influences for the adj
vancement of the power of this country on
this continent Is shown by the opposition
to him In countries whose interests are
threatened by any increase in our growth.
No one is so persistently misrepresented
and criticised in the English press. His
retirement from power would be hailed
with delight by every Englishman inter
ested in the vast resources of South Amer
lcan trade L. {. CRAWFORD.
J. Wells, one of -Four negroes who killed u
NJ Justice, white man, for a fancied grievance