Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-28
SATURDAY. JANUARY %. 1873
Death Of Mr.. Blaine.


that was wellnigh crushed out OF him
by the Minneapolis convention.
There was much that was pathetic and
even tragic in bis ending The beginning
Of the last national campaign found HIN
the chief Of the Presidents Cabinet, while
thousands in the Republican ranks wished
him to become the party's presidential
Nominee. He would have been glad to
have beckoncd the nomination TO him,
but he was face 10 face with the know
ledge that after the letter on the subject
which he had written in the early part OF
The year he could not enter the race with
out dsloyalty to his chief. But he was
urged and urged and halted and halted.
Already mis- ill health was seen i'll his IRE
solution. Meanwhile one of his sons ana
many of his intimate friends were IN MIN
nespols at work for bis nomination.
Then being met with scowling looks from
the President and the immediate FRIENDS OF
the President. Mr.. BLAINE resigned his
portfolio in "a tart note. winch ehclted an
equally tart reply of acceptance.
The convention half III doubt whether
MIR. BLAISE would accept If nominated
rejected him and chose Mr.. HsRIusoN 10
run for second term. After that there
was no place IN American politics for the
Pinned Knight" Then dearly-beloved
son of his died Then came the elections
of November the sth, aud lac who had been
born IN politics with the Republican party
seemed destined to gointo the grave whit.
We look back over Mr. BLAINL's career,
filled at times with admiration ana at
other times with the contrary feeling. We
Pat IL his everlasting credit the fact that
rs the Speaker Of the United States House
of Representatives he had the sense OF
lustice and the courage to sustain those
points Of order which were raised by Ar
RANDALL, and which alone saved the south
from the first force Ulll. We put to his
credit the fact that he was the man who
prevented General GRANT from scoring
third term. hh, lac was indeed plumed
knight then GRANT was the idol OF the
North. and many of the northern people,
in their eagorucsS 20 crowd him with honor
and power, were ready to put aside the
unwritten law that no man shall be per
United to servo more than two terms as
President.
A. out of keeping with sucn acts as we
have mentioned we are forced to remem-
Der Mr. BLnVE's violent aud unprovoked
assault upon the character of the Hon.
JryFrRslN DAVIS whilst the general-ani-
nesty biz was under consideration IN the
House m the year 1875; tn" fact that he
ever fouul II necessary to adlure Mr..
MuLIlGAN OF anybody else To- " burn these
letters ana that he did not seem to know
the path Of duty when on the eve OF the
day O. the meeting Of tn Minneapolis
convention an organization was 10y him
permitted to be formed to run HIM against
his chief for the presidential nomination.
The DIsrArcH has never failed TO praise
Mr.. BLAINE where il cOult honestly do so.
With all of his faults he was immeasura-
lly superior to most OF the other leaders
Cf the Republican party since the DAYS OF
Mr.. LINCOLN. With increase Of years
there came to him a better feeling towards
the South. and considering his point of
view he was disposed to be quite fair TO us
in his book, Twenty Years of Congress.
But of course he whose eye was ever upon
the presidency dared not go too far lest he
should estrange the loyal vote of the
North. We, however. recall numerous ill.,
stances where he was IN advance OF his
party in opposing sectional measures. tie
helped Mr. RANDALL to kill the first force
bill, and he openly antagonized the admin
s;ratIo n in his hostility to the last one.
Results show that his Judgment as to what
was good and what bad party policy was
better than Mr.. HARmsoN's or Mr. LODGES.
JAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE was the states
mans full name. He was born IN Pennsyl-
yania IN 1880, and had excellent educa-
tional advantages. One of his teachers
was a brother of Lord LYONS. In 1854 he
removed from Kentucky to Maine.
changing his business from that of teacher
20 that of editor. In 1856 he was dele
gate 70 the first Republican convention.
In 1853 his public life began as member
Of the Legislature.
Now he was successfully launched upon
the sea of politics His subsequent official
life embraced fourteen years III the lower
house of Congress SIX terms as Speaker,
four years IN the United States Senate.
and two broken terms as Secretary OF
State. Aud during this period he was
three times q pronounced candidate aud
once supposed candidate for the presi-
dency. In 1876 CoNKIING and SHERMAN
and all that crew combined against him
and snatched the victory from his
grasp and gave II TO HAYES; IN
1850 ho was opposed by ex-President
GRANT. aud BLAINE finding that he could
not peat GRANT brought in GARFIELD, who
won the nomination and the election; IN
1884 BLAINE got the nomination and was
defeated Ut the polls by CLEVELAND. In
1888 BLAINE declined to become a candi-
date. His course in 1892 is fresh in the
public mind.
MIR. BLAINE first secured the attention of
the public by mis- pen. though he wrote
strongly rather than gracefully. So. too
as an orator ne exerted a magnetism more
By originality and boldness than by cum
ming gestures and sonorous sentences. But
hecould be dramatic at times, and 50 he was
IN the House when he attempted TO break
the force of the impending investigation
IN the MuLIIoAN case by personal ex-
PLANTATION.
lie was undoubtedly masterful man.
His friends he attached 70 him by hooks
of steel aud he knew his enemies and
made them feel the force of his antago-
nism. OF these Mr.. CosKLIso was proba-
bly, the most powerful and unrelenting. He
never forgot Mr.. BLANE's characterization
ofhis turkey -gobbler strut IN the House.
and twice be thwarted Mr.. BLAISE's aspira-
tons for the presidential nomination, and
when that nomination was at last secured
be gave Mr.. BLAINE no sort Of help towards
election. Largely through Mr. BLANr's
influence with President GARFIELD Mr..
CosELixo was led to resign his senator
ship and pass his few remaining years in
tho unfamiliar and uninviting walks Of pri-
vate life. Largely through MIR. Combines
Iong-lastipg enmity Mr. BLAINE failed to
reach the top round Of tho ladder in