The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-02-03


the d-Henl.srkable Career of Re-
lnasE1aE,le RAN Reviewed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-James @.
Blaine died at II o'clock this morning.
His deathbed was surrounded, as it has
beer almost necessarily for weeks, by
those who were nearest and dearest to
him. He passed restless night and
this morning was languid and weak,
but nothing serious was noticed until
shortly before o'clock when a change
for the worse occurred Both physi
clans were hastily summoned and re-
manned 1T the bedside until his death.
Mr.. Blaine was conscious until f5W
moments before death. DR.. Hyatt SAID
that death was due to sheer exhaustion
On the first Monday of December
1853, there met III the hall of the house
of representatives, number Of mea
about SO years pT age who were destined
TO play an important part In national
life. Allison Of Iowa, Window Of Min
nesota. Pendleton of Ohio Randall of
PENNSYLVANIA ana General Garfield
were among them. Bat there was one
who attracted attention from the vet
Grams of the house the Instant he entered
the chamber He was q man OF noble
proportions. Of easy manner and perfect
self reliance. He had splendid crown
OF hair of reddish tinge and full beard
of the same tint His eyes attracted
the attention of every one who saw MN;
there were large, luminous and restless.
Sunset Cox an old member, was at
tracted to this man as soon DIS his eyes
fell upon him. He asked who he was
and said that this man would make his
impress in that chamber. MIR. Cox was
told that this man who had thus attracted
him was a new member from Maine
whose name was Blaine, and Mr.. Ran
dali, who knew him slightly, said: ''He
is native of my own state, was born
near the town of Washington, was {edu-
| Gated in the college there, and after
ward met him IN Philadelphia, where
he was a teacher. have heard of him
in Maine, where he is regarded as man
| of great promise and much political
ability"
Blaine's Impetuosity.
In the next congress, to which Blaine
was elected by practically unanimous
vote. he felt fully equipped for those
struggles which had the speakership
and, beyond question, the presidency in
view. He had the same impetuosity in
the house, the dashing, dramatic man
ner which characterized Sheridan in the
| field, qualities which combined with
I courage and magnanimity are sure to
| command great popularity. These
very qualities made Blaine reckless in
speech at times. He never practiced
oratory as those who desire to win
rhetorical repute do. He wrote few and
rehearsed no speeches. He was mas
ter of good English, ready thinker
upon his feet, although he never spoke
excepting upon a subject with which he
was familiar He possessed capacity
for invective and sarcasm, and he in
dulged in it, and thus there came about
the verbal encounter with Roscoe Conk-
ling, which seems destined to be asso-
ciated by tradition with the fame of
| both of them.
MIR. Blaine as Speaker.
He made superb speaker. When he
was first elected he had hardly entered
the prime of life He was only 80 years
of age. His hair and beard, by an in
herited tendency, were already showing
strealzs of gray, but his complexion was
rudy, his skin as smooth as babes,
and the mysterious and splendid fascina-
ton of his eyes seemed constantly to in
crease with political activity. Hestood
behind the speakers desk superb spec
linen of manly strength. It was invig-
Grating to those in the gallery and to
those upon the floor to look at him.
His First Failure.
He lost the presidential nomination in
1876 when it was almost his. Personal
animosity unquestionably cost him that
prize. The offenSe he had given to
Conkling and anger which he had caused
to arise in tho hearts of men who con-
trolled other delegations led to hasty
combination, which resulted in ballot
that sent Mr.. Blaine to the rear.
Blaine in the Senate.
His political intuitions were illus
trated in another way at this time. He
unquestionably suggested the arrange
ment by which Senator Morrill, of his
state was transferred from the senate
chamber to General Grants cabinet
and Blaine was appointed to Morrill's
seat and afterward elected. He felt that
his day of usefulness in the house was
over. He had made his record, and he
believed that in the comparative quiet
of the senate chamber he would FIND
some rest, and would also be able tt
carry on the politics which had the pres
idential nomination of 1880 in view
Secretary Again.
With something of the serenity of the
, youth of old age Mr.. Blaine entered fol
his second term upon the duties of sec
rotary of state.
} On the 4th of June, 1899, the country
was amazed to learn that Mr.. Blaine
had that day resigned as secretary O
state in brief and very formal note
! without word of explanation, and tina
President Harrison had accepted the res
ignation in the fewest possible words
This is not the place and now is not thu
time to comment or even surmise. Oh
, Sept. 3, 1892, Mr.. Blaine addressed t,
, Chairman joseph 81. Nancy, of tn
. Maine RepG OIican committee, his las
public letter on 7olitics. On the even
, ing of Oct. L, 1912, at Ophir Farm, New
. York, the res:dence of Whitelaw Reid
, he made his last speech.
The Funeral Services.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3n.-The most EN-
inent in the nation stood around tn
, bier of James @. Blaine this mornir
, All business of the nations capital
, suspended during the period when ii
, funeral services were in progress. tn
presence of the president and cabine
and supreme judges and high officials o
) congress and diplomatic corps was no
more significant than the homage of tn
waiting crowds, who In respectful
silence lined the streets through whicl
the funeral cortege passed.
At the grave On. Hamlin read the simpl
: burial service OF the Presbyteria
) church, ard this was followed by an 81
te:nporaneOus prayer. Then came tn