The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-11

The report that Nh Blaine intended TO
retire u private life was followed a few
hours later by a denial of the truth OF the
report 1t now seems probable that Mr..
Isl n viii remain at the head Of the d.
partment, but viii devolve more of tile de-
tai work on the Assistant Secretary. Il
viii be better for the untry, for the Re
publican party and for Mr.. Harrison that
Sir Blaine remain in the Cabinet if he does
nothing but outline general policy, The re-
cipT0city agreements are so distinctly his
work that his advice is necessary to develop
that policy to It's full extent
Mr.. Blaine is only 81 years old, and the
year 1896 may find him 10 restored health
able and willing to undertake the duties Of
Chief Magistrate; but it very rarely occurs
that a public man, once voluntarily with
drawn from the political arena, resumes
lis position therein after he has reached old
age. 2Ir. Blaine can afford 70 rest his fame
On his record. From the day when he ap-
peared in the first Republican convention
the one that nominated Fremont-tO the
day VIXEN he signed his last dispatch to
Senior MOntt a period Of thTty-siX years.
Le.bas taken q leading part in every affair
in which his country has been engaged.
Whether in shaping war measures ii Con-
gress, or in giving form TO the plans Of re-
construction which followed the war, OF in
controlling debate in the House, he was al
ways foremost among loyal and faithful
public servants. In legislation on finance,
on the preTOEatiye of the President, on our
foreign relations, on the amnesty question,
on The tariff, on the currency, on the Chi
nese question. he always made himself con-
spicuou5ly felt. For many years he has
been a power behind the throne on which
Ee was never permitted to sit. For the past
twenty wears no man in his day and gener-
alton has done so much to shape the Amer
lean mind as James G. Blaine,
Three great men, over whose fame his
tory loves TO dwell, lett equal mark on their
times. and, Ike Blaine, never reached the
goal Of their ambition. John c. Calhoun,
the doc,riuaire, educated the South in pol
tics and filed two terms as Fice-President.
Buc lac never had chance Of attaining the
CHER Office; his craftsmanship scared to
too lofty a height to commend itself TO pop
ular approval.
Daniel Webster's career presents curious
oinis Of similarity to that of Blaine He
was thTty-nine years in public life; Blaine
las been thirty-six He served fourteen
years in Sthe House Of Representatives:
Eiaine's services covered the same period
In 1871. at the age Of 80. he became Secre-
tary Of State under Harrison the elder; in
1859. at the same age Of 50, Blaine became
Secretary OF State under Harrison the
younger. In 1852, in the ripe plenitude Of
his powers, and when he was ackuOWl-
edged TO be the foremost statesman OF the
Union, Webster yainly sought the nOmina-
ton for President; in 1876 the like disap-
pointment befell Blaine, who had the addi-
t'0Dal aggrayation Of knowing that he tow
cred head and shoulders above his rivals.
Henry Clay was five years older than
Webster. though they died within few
weeks Of each other His public career
covered forty years, but at his start in life
he attained the highest emjnenee lie ever
reached. lie served in the Senate before
he entered the House, and was elected
Speaker at the opening Of his first term I'm
the latter body. Like Blaine. he made an
ideal Speaker-quick, clear, decisive, cour-
teous and staunch; like Blaine, lie nodded
mems minds by the force of his intellect;
Ike Blaine, he served a term as Secretary
Of State, and did much to shape American
foreign policy; like Blaine, he set his heart
On the Presidency. In 1924 he ran, but
there was no election by the people, and the
House Of Representatives chose John
Quincy Adams. Twenty years afterward
the personal popularity Of Clay was such
that the Wing convention had no option
whom 20 choose. Clay then stood where
Blaine stood in 1888. lie was nominated
by reclamation without a ballot and was
duly defeated by James K. Polk. He
would have been elected if he had adhered
10 his early convictions on the slavery ques-
ton; bat the local pressure on him was too
strong, and he lost his last chance. He re-
NAMED in public life six years longer, but
his h6sart was broken and power had gone
ont from his hand
ii is very curious indeed to observe how
history repeats tsel.