Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-01-28
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The Oldest Daily Paper PEb-
Iished in Connecticut.
3 JAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE.
= James Gillespie Blaine, whose last days
i we been extended far beyond the general
Neotation, gave up the long contest yes.
t. " and is at rest. It has been mex
pressibly saddentng to see the conqueror of
all mankind carrying on his slow but sure
siege against the strong fortress of Mr..
Blaine's life; to see the magnificent and ex-
uberant vitality weaken; to gee the proud
and firm step become humble and uncer-
tain; to see the fine color turn to pearly
white; to see the capacity to contend
against adverse fate decrease; to see him
fall occasionally and then with little re-
newed strength begin again the hopeless
contest; to see him fall and find he cannot
rise again; and then to feel the shock of
the last blow dealt by the relentless enemy.
The fight which ended yesterday has lasted
about eight years and has been watched
with intense interest and anxiety ever
since its nature has been generally known.
Mr.. Blsine's career has been one of the
most notable in the country's history.
Much of his public life was lived in stir
ring times, and he was one of the most
conspicuous figures of those times, and
also of the less stirring times that fol-
lowed. He assisted at the birth of the
Republican party. BE was al anti-slavery
man, and, as editor of the Kennebsc Jour
nal, he made himself powerfully felt in
| the beginning of the final struggle between
freedom and slavery. Hs in Augusta and
Samuel Bo~les in Springfield did most
faithful and effective work for the party
of freedom in New England. But he soon
found that he could be successful in public
life and he left his newspaper for the even
more uncertain field of politics He found
here room for the exercise of his splendid
ability, his force and finesse, his thorough
understanding of human nature, his power
to win the admiration and affection of
men, and his readiness In approaching and
using events. His progress was rapid
Four terms in ths Maine legislature, in
two OF which he served as speaker of the
house, gave him valuable training and
uncommon expertness in debate and par
lianentary procedure. Next we find him |
in congress, and among those with him |
was James A, Garfield He soon became |
prominent. He did not follow the leaders |
of the house, but made himeelf leader |
hx,1 1o7I
at the right time. He was not afraid |
to cay what he thought, and he |
did some very intelligent thinking.
BE made his first appearance in
congress in 1863 In 1859 he was chosen |
speaker and became national figure. The |
house has never had better speaker, and |
he administered the Office to the general |
satisfaction of all concerned till the "tidsl |
wave" Of 1874 temporarily drowned the |
Republican party. He then sprsng into |
prominence as "presidentisl timber" and |
he and his warm and skillful supporters |
80 handled the situation that he became
formidable candidate. At the Cincinnati |
convention in 1876 he had the enthusiasm |
and the applause, and almost votes enough,
but his opponents united and Governor
Hayes was nominated. But Mr.. Blaines |
political career WIS not long checked by
this setback. He was soon afterwards ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy caused |
by the resignation of Senator Nor
rill, and the next winter was elected |
for the full term of six years. He |
was hardly as much at home in the senate |
as in the house, but he compelled attention |
there. He attacked the Presidents "south-
ern policy" and held his own in the sena-
torial debates. But the senate did not |
give him the opportunities which he had in |
the house. He managed, however, to hold |
he was again candidate for the presi- |
Dental nomination. He failed again, but |
succeeded in defeating General Grant, and
bringing about the nomination of Garfield,
who made him Secretary of State. He held |
this Office for about seven months, retir-
ing three months after Mr. Arthur became
President he then appeared as a his
torian, publishing the first volume of his
"Twenty Years of Congress-" which had
an enormous sale, but 1t was rather dis
appointing to those who had expected
more remarkable work.
His retirement was only temporary,
and in 1884 he WAS again candidate
for the presidential nomination. He got
the prize with comparative ease this time,
only four ballots being necessary. Then
followed perhaps the most exciting and saw
age campaign that has taken place In this
country. His supporters, with their
"plumed knight" at their head, fought
| with boundless enthusiasm. His oppo-
| nents assailed his character, his public
record, his religion, and his private life.
His candidacy drove soma Republicans
out of their party and drew some Demo
were in sight. Ben Butler helped his old
enemy by becoming the candidate of the
National party. The contest drew to
close with Blaine apparently in the
lead. But it was fated that he should
not be President. Burchard appeared
with his "Rum, Romanism and Rebel
lion," there was a sudden turn in the tide,
and the man who, like Henry Clay, twice
failed to secure the presidential nomina-
ton, and then won it only to lose the cleo
ton, was compelled to face the bitterest
disappointment that can come to an Amer
ican politician and to see his long cher
ished ambition stamped on by the voters.
It was cruel blow and he felt it keenly.
But he apparently recovered from it. He
brought out the second volums of his his
tory, and in 1887 went to Europe. While
there he made what many consider both
the master stroke and the chief mistake of
his political career. The master stroke
was his able and famous reply to the tariff
reform message of President Cleve-
land. This reply undoubtedly marked
out the policy of the Republican
party in the campaign of 1888. His great
mistake, if mistake it was, was in writing
letter saying that he could not accept