Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-28

T.MFS olILrsPIE BLAINE.

JAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE is dead,
and his death is a national loss.
His history inseperably intertwined
with that Of his country and part Of it,
ne was in motive, thought aud action
the true type OF American citizen. The
best known and most famous states
man Of his time, Mr.. BLAINE in his
long and illuStrious career has left
upon the history Of the nation an i'm
press that Will never fade.
To say that he had his faults-and
grave ones-is TO say that Mr.. BLAINE
was human. But, il he had enemies,
bitter and uncompromising far beyond
those which fall to the lot Of most pub
lie men, they were fully balanced by
his millions upon millions Of fixed,
ardent and enthusiastically devoted
friends, whose love for him amounted
to hero worship. He did what few ever
do-lived down bis errors, which, after
all. rs is inevitable in the case OF
such man, were much exag-
gerated. To-day the bitter enemies
Of the active, vigorous BLAINE,
with one accord acknowledge his great
ness, his wisdom, his patriotism, and
Join with sincere regret and sorrow in
mourning his loss. This feeling is not
confined to America, but is felt in
widening circles throughout the civil
lied world, where as statesman he
will stand in history in the rank with
WEBSTER. CLAY and GLADSTONE.
Coming as he did from ancestors
famous for having aided these States
when struggling for national freedom,
his aims and ambitions were those Of
his country, before witch he has been
a prominent figure ever increasing In
Importance from early manhood. In
earlier days a schoolmaster and at the
opening Of his public career an editor,
he devoted long and intensely active
life to the study and practice of poll
tics. Though failing to achieve the
height Of his ambition, the presidency,
he attained the highest success possible
under our institutions. His wonderful
work Twenty Years in Congress"
stands to-day as the best OF contempt
raneous political history.
His acumen in judging men and az
fairs has probably never been surpassed.
But though twice Secretary Of State,
be was each time prevented from eX-
hlbiting his great powers to the full.
The untimely fate of GARFIELD cut
him of before his policy had time to
develop: under HARRISON the disease
which brought him to his grave like
wise prevented the display Of his
tglents
As a politician he was uueQualed in
his generation. A complete master Of
the delicate and Unborn art Of shaping
men to his will, he was able by his
magnetic personality TO win favors
from even his opponents,
Probably the greatest of Mr.. BLAINr's
works, which he leaves unfinished, was
his effort to draw closer relations be-
tween the Americas. In this he has
rendered distinguished service, and his
endeavors to make this ia truth and
fact a new world, which he undertook
to do with such freedom and courage,
will remain an imperishabIe monument
TO his memory.
The product OF emotional patriotism
and Of the bitterness and needs Of the
civil war, ne has passed away when the
war itself has forever ceased to be a
factor in American politics. His posi-
ton was unique and he leaves no one to
take up his mantle. lie passes into his
tory as the most strongly disliked, the
most bitterly disappointed and the most
devotedly beloved man Of his time.
May the great soul Of JAMES GIt-
LEsPrE BLAINE rest in peace.
Go, h,.,,,b ,,o1ritat,oD main i, chest