The Indianapolis journal., 1893-01-28
"REMINISCENCES.
Why Blaine Resigned from the Cabipet-In-
cidents of His Congressional Career.

Why Blaine Resigned from the Cabinet-In-
cidents of His Congressional Career.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-The death of
Mr. Blaine has recalled many inter
esting incidents. A gentleman who was
intimately associated with Mr.. Blaine
said today: AT 12 o'clock OF the day Mr..
Blaine's resignation was given out he had
no idea of resigning from the Cabinet. At
that hour he went home and
found that some one had marked
number Of interviews which
had been telegrsphed from Minneapolis.
and printed in several papers. They sc-
cused Mr. Blaine with betraying the Presi-
dent, and with using his place in the Cabi-
net as cover for conspiracy to defeat
the Presidents and secure the nomination.
The interviews wound upby declaring that
II Mr.. Blaine was an honorable man ne
would have resigned from the
Cabinet. Under the heat OF in
dignation over these interviews Mr.
Blaine wrote his resignation and he has since
told his friends that there were never but two
occasions of difference between himself and the
President, and that they had been fully ex-
planned and satisfactorily settled.
'The ravages OF time or the vicissitudes OF po-
that in House composed of 332 members to-
day, there are but twelve members who
served in the House with Mr.. Blaine in
are: Holman, O'Neill OF Pennsylvania, Harmer,
Hooker. Blount, Burrows. Springer, Forney,
CulbertsonfBland, Henderson OF Illinois. and
Ketcham. The older members or the House
have a fund OF "reminiscences or the dead states
man. They refer TO the memorable fight against
the first force DILL. which was led by Mr. Ran
dall, of Pennsylvania, and endeared that states
man 10 his Democratic friends. But I'm that fight,
says the Republican father O: the House. Mr..
O'Neill, of Pennsylvania Mr.. Randalrs efforts
would crowned
not been for Mr.. Blaine 1t was then when the
Republican majority was a large one and flibus-
Blaine quoted the old prOverD that you may
lead horse to water, but you cannot make him
drink
az saw him march down the aisle like great
mastiff about to pounce upon a little fyce," said
Mr.. James e. Courts, the clerk to the appropria-
tons committee. who had just come to
Washington from Tennessee to begin his
service on the committee with which he is
still connected. Mr.. Courts was speaking of the
dramatic Mulligan episode. HE was at that
time," continued Mr.. Courts, ''the finest picture
of physical manhood ever saw. AS he walked
down the aisle he looked like a great soldier.
He was then about fOrty-fve, his hair was IRON
gray, he seemed the perfect picture OF life and
health, and have never seen such aconsummate
orator in the House, IL was his tremendous dash
and courage as he demanded the attention of the
House that brought the House over TO him. He
looked as II he were going TO wipe out Proctor
Knott, Eppa Hunton and all the others who
were making the fight on him. His apprecia-
ton OF the effect or statement and his sharp
ness was shown by the dramatic method in
which he exclaimed: Il appeal from the judg-
ment of that committee TO the judgment of forty
four millions OF people, The census had been
taken IN 1870, showing less than forty mill
tons of people, and nobody was talking about
the population at that time Mr.. Blaine
peemed TO have the faculty OF bringing facts
home to people in this way and producing q SEN
bad never given q thought. 1 remember Mr..
Blaine's statement OF III 600 900 people started
y running discussion which was taken up in the
newspapers, and the conclusion was reached
that Blaine wac about correct. Mr.. Blaine's
other great appearance in that Congress, which
as he was appointed during the Congress to take
Lot Morrilps place In the Senate, was in his
speech on the general amnesty bill. This bill
was brought in, think, by s. s. Cox, and | re-
member IL was attempted to pass 1t with rush.
Blaine wanted TO except JEFF Davis, and then
occurred the Andersonville incident His way
OF bringing back something people had forgot
ten all about, with vividnesS that produced a
sensation, was shown again in this speech. He
recalled the AndersOnville scenes in a way that
shocked the whole world"
Said one OF the old stenographers of the
House: "Mr. Blaine's career in the House was
marked by many exciting episodes. He first
came into prominence through an angry aterca-
tiOn between himself and Mr. Roscoe Conkling.
then q member in the House from Utica, n. y.
II was in the war period, and Mr.. Blaine made d
bitter attack upon Mr.. Conkling for hav-
Judge advocate while he was drawing pay q
member of Congress- Mr.. Conkling repelled the
attack and indulged in some severe criticisms OF
his antagonist, who in reply spoke derisively of
Mr.. ConklDgs "magnincent turkey -gobbler
strut" The incident excited great public atten-
In IL into that prominence which they each en-
1oyed during the remainder OF their lives.