Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-05-01

Probably no living man Is so much
talked about In the house smoking rooms
as Mr.. Blaine. There is always a mys-
terry OF some sort about Mr.. Blaine.
Will he run for president, or won't hep
IL he sick, or is he we'll? And so u goes.
The secretary has just one close friend
In the house. Mr.. Hit visits Mr.. Blaine
about seven times week. Blaine has
no secrets from this tried, trusty friend
So OF course Hit is often appealed 10
by his fellow members for some infor-
nation about the secretary OF state. He
doesn't often respond. but few days
ago he sat down on one OF the sofas and
In the presence OF an interested crowd
OF congressman thus explained Mr..
Blalne's position and condition.:
Mr.. Blaine" said Hit, sis not we'll.
He Is not as sick as he thinks he Is, but
he Is not a we'll man. He has his ups
and down. One day he Is like his old
self. His great intellect flashes out glo-
riously, as In the old days. Friends
gather around to listen, perfectly en-
tranced. The very next day. perhaps,
you cant get word out OF him. He 10
so respondent and morose that be seems
incapable OF thinking or expressing him
self. While In the dumps he Is not
much more than 3 big baby. Then he
is no more like the Blaine as the world
knows him than night Is like day. Mrs.
Blaine is naturally much worried about
him, and IL is painful TO see that good.
faithful wife watching her great hus-
band as a mother watches a child and
wondering what she can do for him.
Zone recent day found Mr.. Blaine
In the depths OF the dependency which
often assails him. He wouldn't say .
word. Finally thought / would shock
him into activity, and j began by asking
him what he meant by acting In this
way. There is nothing the matter With
you, said, except that you have lost
your courage. Brace 10. Why did you
go and write that letter Withdrawing
from the presidential race? You had 10
business TO do IT, II you had kept stili
you would have been nominated without
a word OF opposition. You would have
been triumphantly elected. There are
hundreds OF thousands OF Democrats In
this country who would like q cnance 20
vote for you. What do you mean By
throwing away all this power, all this
opportunity TO be useful 70 your party
and your country as II you were mere
bauble"
at this Blaine frightened up and
showed fight. You don't understand ~
at ALL he said. Can't you sec that am
not well and strong? How long do you
suppose would live In the White
House? II isn't the campaign that
dread. / would leave the campaign TO
others. IL is afterward that makes me
shndder and which induced me TO write
that letter. You must remember that i
have been before the country for sixteen
years as = presidential aspIraDt. ] have
been followed by host OF loyal friends.
All this accumulation Of sixteen years
OF obligations would be presented 70 me
for payment the moment put my foot
in the White House. They would come
down on me by droyes. would have
10 see them. Friends such rs they bts0
been could not be put of upon another
No one else could satisfy them. An1
what would be the result OF all thar
How long could ]. in my condition, with
stand an ordeal like that? That 10 the
way Blaine talked, and be meant every
word OF IL. or course you fellows cap
understand how sorry his immediate
friends are that be takes this view a
the matter, but am afraid he viii ROT
change his mind. He lives In constsnf
fear OF his own collapse, and he has sc-
auired the notion that year Ia the
White House would kill him.
"Well, as was saying, / had begun
TO fight a. Blaine 20 rouse him up. i
succeeded. I struck FIRE, and for 40
hour or more be talked as have never
heard any one else talk. Blaine has that
way OF saying the thing which every
one has been thinking. but never knew
how 70 express, Just a. Tom Reed has.
only there Il this difference. There is .
sting In everything Reed says; be always
bites. Blaine Is as gentle - . child. He
loves even his enemies. That man
never bore spite against q living cres-
ture. He Is incapable OF II.
when reused Mr.. Blaine Is to-day -
brilliant man ss ever he was. On this
occasion he and fell % talking OF the
politics OF the past. ! happened 20 met~
ton q cabinet officer OF the Jackson
mlnistration. You are mistaken
Mr.. Blaine, as quick az hash; he
under Van Buren,, and went into
in 1888 I sfterward looked np
record sud found that Mr.. Blaine
right There IL nothing the mater
that prodigious memory OF his.
ton sny one you please who hf
been prominent In the history
country and Blaine will instant
You ell about him. Let him NEE
be knew quarter OF century
he wssicemembsr not oaly the
his fsfs- history and everyth
10 conn h.ion With bin.
yThis free hand picture ~
Of the presept, draw
Hit for his ,lle
thought ~
s-,ys