The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-01-27

led many to believe that he had organic
disease.
He was, however, capable of auHacity
and courage, and it was be who proposed
to the members of the cabinet during Gar
fields illness that the cabinet should an
pounce to the country that the president
was suffering from such disability as tho
constitution contemplated when it de-
olared that the vice president should in
such cases exercise the duties of the Office.
MIR. Blaine felt that there ought to be no
question about the soundness of this view,
and 1t was his opinion that if General Gar
held recovered he would resume the office
He was overruled, however, by the cabinet
as matter OF public expediency, although
it was admitted thatin case of war or great
emergency it might be necessary to take
such step The Incident, however, is char
ucteristic of the man.
Blaine In Retirement.
During the winter following the assas-
sination OF Garfield those who went to the
congressional library used frequently to
tee a man of quiet manner poring over
old volumes, searching the bookshelves,
wandering about like literary recluse,
and when they recognized him they were
amazed that he who had won so great fame
and was the idol of so many Americans
should bo content to conceal himself in
misty alcoyes and among musty books.
Mr.. Blaine, however, was permitting the
activity of his mind to take another direc-
tlon. He had retired from Arthur's cab
fnet, but could not bo idle and he decided
therefore, to take up the literary pen and
describe political history as he had been
familiar with it. He rejoiced in the work.
1t was the first leisure of tho library and
the study which he had permitted himself
since school days.
When men knew that Blaine was writ
ing this history they said, "Now he will pay
Off grudges, and now he will give us his
opinion of men and events in his character
istic manner" In about two years the first
volume was issued, and it caused amaze
ment. Blaine tho warrior was revealed as
Blaine the true historian. He told his story
in simple literary style, with great lucdity
and with such fairness ms could only have
been expected of a historian of a future
generation. He wrote OF his personal ene-
mics as justly and as kindly as of his
friends, and he made contribution to po-
litcal history which is invaluable. The
sale of the work was enormous, and its
profits made MIR. Blaine very wealthy
man. He said himself that it was only
after the receipts Of the sale of this book
that he realized the luxury of possessing
money.
The pathos of the story of General Grant
writing his memoirs upon his deathbed is
the most sublime of general history. But
1t has seemed to many that there is some-
thing ofpathos in the quiet resignation with
which Mr. Blaine returned to the writing
OF the second volume of his history after his
defeat for the presidency in 1854. He had
lost the prize when change of 600 votes
could have egivenit to him. The alliterative
blunder of Burchard had defeated him in
his moment of victory, and If over politi-
clan went through an experience which was
to test the strength Mr.. Blaine did in those
winter days Of 1884 and 1885.
lie uttered one word of protest and al
most Of despair, and then he took up his
pen again, walking for an hour ortwo each
day over the crusted snow of the Augusta
streets that he might get exercise, and
when friends went there to see him they
found him Blaine the man--resigned, pa
tient, cheerful but with symptoms now
and then of the fire Of genius which burned
within him. When his book was COM
pleted he took his family to Europe and
spent year, and it was while there that,
actiiiHH accordance with tho monitions OF
his physician, he wrote the Florence letter
bidding his friends that they must not look
to him as a presidential candidate for he
could not accept the nomination if it came.
Reluctantly and only after a second warm
ing from him did his friends heed him.
Had he remained passive while abroad he
would have been nominated in 1885,
Secretary Again.
With something of the serenity of the
youth of old age Mr.. Blaine entered for his
second term upon the duties of secretary of
state. His mental genius asserted itself in
that Office again, and while his physical
characteristics and tho ardor of his youth
had been subjected to change the power of
his mind was illustrated. He conducted
most brilliant diplomatic correspondence,
and he formulated the most important com
mercial and financial policy which the gov
eminent had undertaken since the war
with the single exception of tho resumption
of specie payments. He turned the atten-
tion of the politicians from questions bred
of the war to those of the future and gave
promise of commercial prosperity between
the nations of the American continent
IL Is probably upon this achievement that
Mr. Blaine relied for posthumous fame He
said when the politicians went to him urg-
ing him again to be a candidate for presi-
dent; 81 was n candidate once. was given
one opportunity, and never can say word
or do deed again which would look az
though did not regard the verdict at that
time as final.n
On the 4th of June 1892, the country
was amazed to learn that Mr. Blaine had
that day resigned as secretary OF state in
brief and very formal note, without a
word of explanation, and that President
Harrison had accepted the resignation in
the fewest possible words. This is not the
place and now is not the time to comment
or even surmise. On Sept. g. 1853, Mr.
Blaine addressed to Chairman Joseph III.
Manley, of the Maine Republican commit
tee, his last public letter on politics. On
~ evening of Oct. a. 1882, at Ophir Farm,
.sew fork, the residence Of Whitelaw Reid,
he made his last speech.
Social and Domestic.
Those who knew James q. Blaine only as
a public man knew but half of his life. and
that not the moro attractive. His ances, nv
was OF the native American nobility, and
his own family life was OF strangely
varied character, a middle age of unalloyed
happiness being followed by an evening of
almost continuous calamity and sorrow.
The Gillespies and Blanes were people of
before the Revolution, and the
ooiohei bidile VINO was cofnmlSsary gem
eral OF the northern department of Wash
ington's army was the secretary's grand
father Neal Gillespie, his mothers father,
was scholar OF high standing and direct
ed his grandsons studies down to tho time
he entered Washington university. Equal
honor is due the ancestors of Mrs. Blaine,
who was Miss Harriet Stanwood, of fam
Ily that settled in Massachusetts, in the
early days Of that colony, and went thence
TO Maine in the vanguard of its pioneers
In Augusta, where her father, Jacob
5tanwood, lived for many years, Mrs.
Blaine was born In ISIS Her fathnr rrnsn