Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-01-05

| iohu Wuo iuONiouDlc, anu IlluJ ne WAS
the strongest and most dangerous can
didate of his party. The causes of the
retirement of Mr.. Blaine from the State
Department were in themselves petty,
and their origin may be found, if it is
ever worth while to trace them, in
neither the President nor himself, but
in persons of comparatively small con-
sequence, who excited needless irrita-
tions larger men might have allayed.
1t is sufficient to say that there was no
belated ambition for the Presidency on
the part of Mr.. Blaine. The same rea-
/ sons for personally shrinking from the
; place that prevailed in 1888 continued
to control his mind, and he drifted into
. q position that he did not care for, and
that was distasteful, under a pressure
of circumstances that were not in his
calculations, and that he finally lacked
, interest to control. The death of EN-
mons Blaine, soon after the Minneapo-
, lis Convention, was horrible stroke,
| and his father never rallied to his habit
of cheerfulness afterward, and lost
concern in life. 1t is due the father
and son to say that the political events
that preceded the death of Emmons
had nothing to do with that catastro-
phe; that the story that the young man
died of broken heart was perversely
irrelevant. His last wish expressed at
Minneapolis was that the name of his
father should not go before the conven-
ton at all, and when the first indica-
ton of illness occurred, he was so con-
fident in his strength he neglected to
take the precautions that would have
saved him. Mr.. Blaine passionately
loved his children, and the death of his
daughter, Mrs. Coppinger, and of his
son Walker, gave him the bitterest
grief, while in Walker he lost one who
had become to him a second self, light
ening his labors with intuitive ability
to seize upon suggestions and give
them form. The question of the health
of Mr.. Blaine has long been of such
extended influence that it was impossi-
BILE to guard against its discussion. He
refrained from the Presidency because
he had feeling that the office would
be fatal to him, and the only argument
that received his attention opposed to
his policy of retirement was that it
would be easier to execute than to in
dicate; to decide than to counsel: to
say yes or no than to oppose and per-
suade. So much was said falsely of
Mr.. Blaine S physical condition that he
became unduly sensitive about it, and
we may fear that the knowledge of the
acuteness of his feelings prompted ma
levolence of invention. OF course, Mr..
Blaine did not have the various mala-
dies that have been ascribed to him.
Under repeated shocks his strength de-
clined, in spite of courage that was
unfailing, and care that knew no wea-
riness. Mr.. Blaine's physicians told
him truly until very recently that he
had no organic disease !; but there was
greater matter behind. His vital
force slowly faded. However great
the attention given his lood, he suffered
/ occasionally from nervous dyspepsia.
His long illness, beginning in this city
last year, left him feeble but still reso-
lutte, and with faith that he would re-
gain all the heartiness he had lost.
When he returned to Washington in
October, 81, he was but slightly ema.
ciated, and was near his normal weight
-1S5 pounds. Then came on an as
sault of Influenza 1t was his impress
sion as he passed through New York,
few months ago, that he had fingered
too long in his summer retreat at Bar
Harbor, and had been chilled. He
had at this time bronchial annoyance
and looked to the Potomac climate for
relief, and beyond that to restoration
in the Incompatible air of Southern
California. His overtasked strength be-
gan to yield decisively. His suscepti-
bility to cold increased. He has long
been compelled to protect himself from
changes in temperature. His colds be-
gan to produce fevers, and fever is fire
that burns up the fuel that maintains
life. Yesterday there was another sig
nal of his waning powers in heart
weakness, and now the millions who
love him are expectant of the speedy
news that the man whose mark upon
his day and generation attests the rari-
ty and splendor of his gifts as states
man is no more; and those who have
had the privilege of knowing him will
recollect that there was in md of him
an attractiveness that caused forget
fulness of the austerities and severi-
ties of public life, and forever romem-
Der how excellent was his friendship
and how ample and admirable his af-
fections.
Teacher-Are there any classes in
Republic like oursS Boy-Only two.
sTwo?" "Yes'm: them wot's got
pull an them wot ain t. Good News.
Pronounced Hopeless, Yet Saved.
From letter written by Mrs. Ada
z; Hurd, of Groton, S. d., we quote: