The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-22
A TOUCH OF NATURE.


The touch of nature that makes Us all
Of kin elected quick and hearty response
Yesterday when resolution was offered
extending the sympathy of the national
Democratic convention to Mr.. Blaine in
his recent great bereavement. It was an
incident of happy omen at the opening
of great political campaign. Kindness,
for mankind; they belong to no party, but
are venerated and indicated by the man
hood Of both the great political parties of
the country.
As Grant was riding along his lines alone
at Chattanooga the camp of the Union
picket guard stood to arms in answer to
the call. Turn out the guard for the COM
nanding general" Just back of our
picket camp were the guards of the Con-
federate pickets. The Confederate SEN
tinel called, "Turn out the guard
for the commading general" adding,
'General Grant" The Confederate picket
| line in moment frontfaced to the north,
| facing Grant, gave him salute. which he
returned. The spirit of this manly cour-
tesy is always among really high-souled
opponents, whether In war or peace. At
Talavera the English and French troops,
fearfully exhausted by the heat of the
| summers day. came suddenly upon lit
tie brook, stealing its way through the
valley. By tacit consent firing on both
sides ceased. Saxon and Gaul drank has
| tily of the sweet water, bathed hurriedly
their burning brows, briefly exchanged
gay and courteous Acknowledgements of
sach others valor, and then, when all had
| regained their ranks, the battle was re-
newed more fercely than before.
| Confederate officer at Chickamagua
gave the Federal General Lytle's
body special escort of honor. Lytle was
the author of the popular poem II am
| dying, Egypt, dying" and Jas the corpse
was borne along the chivalric Confederate
took off his hat reverently and recited, az
am dying, Egypt, dying" and subse-
quently said: Poetry is neither Union
nor Confederate; it belongs. like love and
courage, to humanity" The high-souled
Confederate was right.
Noble thought; noble sediment; noble
deed has no sex, no cline, no nation, no
party; it is as much the pride and property
of oil who stand for the decent opinions OF
mankind as the air we breathe, the sun
that warns the universe, the rain tina,
mercifully blesses the thirsty earth be.
meath and swells the sweet springs under
| the earth; the breeze that touches the
fevered brow with its cool kiss the world
over. Pericles. the great Athenian, said
"When great man dies the whole world
mourns," but to mourn great man dead
may involve a touch of selfishness which
certainly does not faint sympathy ex
pressed for the domestic sorrows of q grea
s man living. Two men had been estranget
for years; one of them lost his wife by
death; then the other always touched hi.
hat to him when they met. but nevel
spoke; az did not like him any better, bu
took my hat off to his calamity; I re
speeted his grief; l felt for his bereave
ment," was the explanation given.
The Democratic national convention dc
} not like Blaine's Republicanism any bet
ter than they did in 1854, but they wer
not thinking of Blaine, the Republican
partisan; they were thinking of Blaine
the genial man, the loving father; tn
sensitive, brilliant, captivating, high
souled American statesman. who count
. among his warmest personal friend
the best bred, most kindly and accom-
| plished men in the ranks of the Demo
cratic party. Mr. Blaine, like Henry Clay
vas never so poor as to lack troops o
friends in all parties to do him reverence
/ | and We have no doubt he was deepl
{ | touched when this national convention c
D bis political foes rose up and touches
their hats to HIM in sympathy for hi
bitter domestic bereavement. Mr.. Blaine
| like Mr.. Clay, belongs to the class of pull
Q lie men who are said to be immortal, sine
9 ITO live in hearts we leave behind is nc
: to die" In a tender tribute recent
' penned concerning Blaine, Murat Halstea
: said:
q He has changed in growing command of hin
sell; In geutleness of manner; In kindlines
In forgiveness of enemies; In tender estimate
| Of those near him. The changes are all becor
!, | ing his age. his fame. and his dignity. tt
. | msllowfng OF his character is not due to wes
| ness. but IL is an expression of history ar
i philosophy, and this is not the result of his Il
J. | ness, but the logic of his life. the richness
a | hisgenius. No man has been SO pursued wi
!. | hateful preiudiees, falsehoods, aniinositit
- Love is stronger than hate and he knows it.
: By such q man the reverent salute of Il
National Democratic convention Will be
. ksenly appreciated as the salute of Il
Confederate picket post was by that man
u and kindly hero, General Grant.
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