The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-02-05
THE oREooNAEAND BLAINE.


The Oregonian's argument that Blaine
was a brilliant creature Of circumstances
whose name will not live. is absolutely
indefenslble. Blaine was great In every
sense of the word. Why was he grea
man? is the Oregonian's hidden inquiry
What did he do that he should rank Will
Clay, Webster and Calhoun? Well, he
does rank with them, compares favorably
with them, will be remembered as Ions
as they are. Why? Well, what did Clay
do? He was the author of series OF
compromises, and all were futile. He
WAS one of the commissioners OF the
treaty of Ghent. His name was In hiF
day Identified with the cause Of home
industries. Webster was the expoundei
of the constitution, and made few
great speeches--two Bunker Hill oration'
--and left reputation Of massive power
He had the national instinct and a fin,
literary faculty The latter Clay has not
Calhoun was a severely dissatisfied man
and the finisher II not the author OF
false and dangerous theory Of the gov
ernment of the United States He was
the architect Of the machine Of the slavi
power that sought. first, the control o
the general government, and the balanc'
-, call a.af
Webster were In all things contrasts anc
opposed. The armies on either side dur
ing the war OF the states were their log
ical representatives. 1t was Webster!
brain that formulated the American ia
tional sentiment that prevailed, steadyinl
public opinion during the war; and tina
shown in the crowning mercy Of Apo
mattox. Webster is firm in his pride
place, and who cares to remember tina
the giant had the faults Of u giant? H
gave his strength to his country. an
that is his glory. Take the speeches Q
Blaine before the people in 1884. ar,
there is but one series of public utteranc
es from our foremost men that are to b
compared with them, and those are Pres
dent Harrison's in his tour across tn
continent. Take Blaine's Bering Sea cor
respondence, and II ranks with tn,
greatest OF webster's papers as secretar,
OF state. Take Blaine's volumes Of Twen
ty Years In Congress" and name tn
public man who has produced an equal,
solid. admirable and durable work, full
of all cxcellencles, and a monumental
structure. Take Blaine's Paris review OF
Cleveland's tarFff reform message. and
say whether the reelection OF Cleveland
four years later has answered It. Take
Blaine's speeches during the Harrison
campaign. and see how broad the road
he blazed for that victory, Take Blalnes
letters refusing to be q candidate for
the presidency, when he had but to say
the word to be nominated by acclamation
and compare them with the presidential |
epistles OF Henry Clay. Blaine rejected
what clay demanded What did Blaine
do? He was. along with John Sherman
responsible for the defeat OF the third
term presidential movement, even when
II was in the name Of Grant. and II has
been given to but few men in any age or
country to do republican government a
better Drawer. grander service. What has
he donei He has impaired to the repub.
lies on the American continent the idea
OF a common interest In the worlds af
fairs He has advanced this cause far
more than all the American statesmen
who have preceded him. ana has given