Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-01-04
HILL AND BLAINE.
THE ONE STATESMAN DEAD, THE
OTHER PROBABLY DYING. -
An Interesting Review of an
Event Which Goes Down Into
History-The Maine Man
and the Georgian.

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Hill is dead and his adversary
Blaine will soon be with him.
These two names suggest a
thrilling chapter of American
forensic warfare.
Amemorable scene was that en-
acted in the American house of
representatives on the 10th of
January, 1875.
1t was a battle of intellectual
giants, and the men who figured
in that fierce logomachy were the
undisputed leaders of theirrespect-
i've parties.
Itwas amemorable occasion and
the eloquent speech of that his
toric day belongs to#the master
pieces of the English tongue.
Georgians delight to recall that
celebrated tilt, for that was the
day when sGeorgia had the floor"
1t was the hour when.her represen.
tatiye was equal to his opportu-
nifty, and rising in his seat, which
was destined from that very. mo-
ment to become historic, he dared
in behalf of the Southern people
to accept the challenge Of the
'sPlumed Knight, ~
Blaine and Hill! Magnificent
gladiators they were and well
equipped for their great tourney.
They represented the civilization of
two great sections and each of them
impersonated the strength and the
prowess of his constituency. It
was another great sectional battle
another engagement between the
North and South. The result of
that contest was in the highest de-
gree important, as settling forever
the dispute between the opposing
parties.
Time has played sad havoc since.
fhen, and while the grass has been
growing silently for more thanla
aas5s1s g .Ye Va of Sanafas
ELL, the stalwart form Of Mr.,
Blaine has slowly yielded to the
blighting influence of time and
sorrow until now it resembles an
old ruin, a astately castle, tottering
upon the brink of dissolution.
The fatal disease which has set
the mark upon Mr.. Rlaine may
spare him for yet a few days in it's
grim pity, but the conviction has
long since flashed over hin own
mind, as we'll as that of the coun-
try, that his path of glory" has
almost reached that dread inevita-
ble-the grave.
He has been a man of great
tribulations and no one in public
life has met with the disappoint-
ments and the heart-breaking sor-
rows that have fallen to the lot Of
Mr.. Blaine, but with that the pres
ent article is little concerned. 1t
is Blaine the magnetic orator, the
champion of the great Republican
party, who was met and overcome
by the eloquence and logic of Ben
Hill, that forms the topic now un-
der consideration.
Congress had been in session for
only few weeks and was the first
Democratic Congress that had ever
met since the war. Mr.. Hill had
qualified as representative and
taken his oath of Office on the 9Th
of December, 1875.
His reputation as a fearless ora
tor and as a brilliant adversary in
debate rested upon his record in
the Confederate Congress.
He had yet to prove himself in
the higher parliament of a re-
united country and while he had
many friends and ardent admirers
who predicted for him a brilliant
career in the American Congress it
remained to be tested by actual ex-
pertinent whether Their esteem was
based upon solid grounds or
whether they were merely senti.
mental opinions that were due to
his agreeable personality.
This occasion was not by any
means slow in arriving, and the
same political providence that had
cast the decision of ballots IN
favor of Mr.. Hill, soon provided
an opportunity for the display of
his magnificent leadership.
It was the memorable occasion
already referred to-the 10th of
January, 1876.
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