San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-01-27
The IiIustrious Statesman Is No
More.

The Iilustrious Statesman Is No
More.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-James G.
Blaine died at IL o'clock this morning.
The announcement caused no sur
prise, as it was foregone conclusion
that his battle with death would be
the final defeat of his life. He was a
sick man when he returned to Wash
ington to settle down for the wins
ter. Death and its bereavements
added more and more to his ailments.
He has grown worse and has contin-
ued on his journey TO the grave as
fast as the days would carry him.
Science and skill hBve furnished him
the weapons OF defense for q compar-
stively long time, bat his death has
finished the fight.
Blaine was a doomed man from
the start and to all intents he has
been q dead man for these many days
past. The end came peacefully, the
secretary passing from an unconscious
state into that OF death. His wife
and children were at his bed side.
An attendant, stationed at the door
of the mansion to answer to the in
qulries of the newspaper reporters
made the sad announcement. The
news spread to the capitol and
throughout the city in few minutes.
1t was every where expected, but
when the announcement came the
impression was more striking than
any that has been created by similar
news, since the death of Abraham
Lincoln.
James G. Blaine, the greatest
American statesman since Lincoln,
and for twenty years the idol of the
Republican party is no more.
No man since the days of the mar
tyred president, Lincoln, was so
universally beloved or so genuinely
represented the American thought
and feeling as did this msn, over
whom today nation mourns irres-
pective of party, or nation. The es-
sen tial greatness of Mr.. Blaine lay in
his great breath of view. his
ingram justice of mind his
essential Americanism and his
wonderful acquaintance with ev-
cry event of American history, every
phase of American life, every ques-
tion of American politics. His death.
though expected, leaves blank that
nothing can fill, and as in the days
that Swallowed the land, when the
immortal Lincoln was murdered, so
today q universal sadn ess overspreads
the nation.
James Gillespie Blaine was too well
known to the American people to
need any extended biographical
sketch at this time. He was born In
West Brownsville, Pa, Jan. Slst, 1880,
and was early engaged in teaching,
married fellow teacher, and all his
life long was deeply interested in all
educational matters. Resigning his
seat at the teachers desk for the pen
of the editor he soon found himself
In the deep waters Of national politics.
From the legislature Of Name to the
national congress for him was
but q step. He was for seven
terms o member of the ma
tional house of Representatives, for
six years of that time speaker. His
career in the senate was but an epl-
sode in his history, but he was ever
the leader of his party, four times
voted for as the nominee of his party
for president and once nominated, he
never succeeded In reaching that
high station. Twice secretary of
state, the most American of all who
ever held that position as the director
OF the foreign affairs of the Republic,
he has left his personal stamp upon the
policy of his government. He
was diplomat of the first
rank, a. publicist of distinction,
the creator of national and inter-
national politics, in all things the
leader, never the autocrat, of his.
party he Is and for a quarter of CEN
tury has been its idol. Added to
this he was an author whose reputa-
ton is as broad as two continents,
and in all the things the American.
Beyond this little need be said. His
illness, his dissppointments, his
family affections which bore heavily
on his great heart, his gallant fight
with the liking of Terrors" are all
known to the people who love him
and in whose hearts is his imperish-
able monument.
Though wanting but a few days of