The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1893-02-03
nuSsCGiaTlON RATs3
JAMES G.. BLAINE

smiled upon them; then in a little
while he sank into unconsciousness
and from tiis into the last eternal
sleep, the transition was with
out shudder or all apparent pang
of suffering. James G. Blaine was
dead and the nation mourned
suchs orrow as it but rarely be-
slowed, and that only upon those
sons she has loved the best.
Born in 1880, Mr, Blaine was
far from being an old man. Ma
ture gave him an excellent con
stitution, and he never under
mined it by any kind Of dissipa-
tion. Whatever form, however,
his fatal disease may have taken,
he cerainiy fell a victim to over,
work. His powers Of concentra-
tion and endurance were wonder
full. His last great labor was in
conducting the correspondence
with the Italian government over
the New Orleans massacre. He
could not recnperate after that
strain. lie had never spared him
self in any public service, and no
persuasion of friends could induce
him to make q new departure
then.
Mr.. Blaine was one Of the great
est secretaries of state this country
ever had, which is saying a great
deal, for the roll OF that Office,
beginning with Jefferson and en-
bracing John Quincy Adams, CLAY,
Webster, Marcy and Seward, is
conspicuously honorable, Mir.
Blaine's reputation as statesman
will largely rest upon his career
in this Office. As d member o.
congress and speaker Of the house
he was a party leader, a politician
of the highest sense Of that term,
but still Il politician. When he
was put ia charge OF the state de
partment he broadened his base
and widened his vision. He then
hadato deal with nations, and not
with parties. The interests in
trusted, to him were those of all
the people eff the United States.
He chad u keen apprcciation3 OF
the difference, and an adaptability
which amounted to genius.
Whatever he had to do James
G. Blaine has always done it so
we'll that it seemed to be the one
thing he was made for. In his
early manhood he achieved state
reputation rs campaign manager.
An eloquent orator and popular
on the stump, he conducted some
OF the most. "a brilliant, Campaigns
of American politics, all the while
keeping his own personality in
the background, and not showing
any impatient haste to superseae
older men in his own state. The
consequence was that he acquired
a hold upon the hearts of.the peo
pie of Maine before he had begun
to be so widely known which moth,
ing could shake.
His national career began with
his election to the speahership in
1869, but the country had very lit
tie appreciation of his superb pow
ers until the first postwar demo
cratic house Of representatives
came into power 1875. AS the
leader OF the minority OH the flooI
of congress he electrified the re.
publican party and won follow
ing of admiration which made him
ever after great party leader
He was the very embodiment oi
republicanism as an aggressive
force. No other leader Of his gen.
Grafton had such a great opportu-
nifty, and he improved it so well
that when at last he was nomina-
ted for the presidency it took q
complication OF disastrous acci-
dents to beat him.
That campaign OF 1854 left MIR.
Blaine with enleebled health. His
refusal to be a candidate in 1888
was due to the shadow of death,
a shadow that steadily darkened
and took more and more definite
ness of shape until now it has given
place to the substance.
1t is difficult to estimate great
political career while the smoke OF
conflict still hangs oTer the field
of battle. Bnt certain it is that
up to the time that Mr.. Blaine
was forced by failing health to
gradually Withdraw himself from
public affairs he was the most po-
tential personality i'll American
politics.
As the dead statesman is follow
ed TO the tomb, candid men oil
whatever partisan belief, are pay