Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-02

of his party. lie advised, but he did not
dictate, and he let his political friends do
the work Of combination to great extent
He would unquestonably have been nomi
mated had he not been compelled to face the
enormous popularity. OF General Grant
which was increased Ivy his trip around the
world, and was made use of with great skill
by the politicians. But though Blaine could
not beat General Grant in the convention
himself, he could name the man who could
beat him, and thus General Garfield became
| the candidate.
Garfield could make no other choice than
! Blaine for secretary of state, but what
! Blaine's career as secretary and Garfeld's
as president would have been of course is
matter of surmise. The impression has al
ways been that Blaine's personality would
have dominated the administration. He
was however, pledged to Garfield to sup
| port him for n denomination.
| Blaine In Emergency.
Mr. Blaine was with General Garfield Mt
| the time he was assassinated, and from the
nervous shock ho then received he never
fully recovered. He had never been the
man physically after the sunstroke of 1876
that he was before. But this fearful expo
ricncc seemed to shatter his nerves more
than that His hair, which had been iron
gray, grew white, as did his beard, and his
complexion became Of that waXy hue which
led many to believe that he had organic
disease
lie was, however capable of audacity
and courage, and it was he who proposed
to the members of the cabinet during Gar
fields illness that the cabinet should an
nounce to the country that the president
was suffering from such disability as the
constitution contemplated when it de
clared 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 it was his opinion that if General Gar
field recovered he would resume the Office.
| He was overruled, however, by the cabinet
as a matter of public eXpediency, although
it was admitted that in case OF war or great
emergency it might be necessary to take
such II step The incident, however, is char
acteristic of the man.
Rlaine In Retirement.
During the winter following the assas-
sination of Garfield those who went to the
congressional library used frequently to
See a man of quiet manner porting over
old volumes, searching the book shelves,
wandering about like a literary recluse,
md when they recognized him they were
amazed that he who had won so great fame
and was the idol of so many Americans
should be content to conceal himself in
misty alcoves and among musty books.
MIR. Blaine, however, was permitting the
activity of his mind to take another direc
ton. He had retired from Arthur's cab
met, but could not be 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 he first leisure Of the 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
of RrudgVs, 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 the warrior was revealed as
Blaine the true historian. He told his story
in simple literary style, with great lucidity
and with such fairness as could only have
been expected of historian of future
generation lie wrote Of his personal enc
mics as justly and as kindly as of his
friends, and lie made a contribution to po-
litical history which is invaluable. The
sale Of the work was enormous, and its
profits made Mr. 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
it has seemed to many chat there is some
thing of pathos i'll the quiet resignation with
which MIR. Blaine returned to tho writing
of the second volume of his history after his
l..g II. l., E,.l
. lost the prize when change of GOO votes
,, could have given it TO him. The alliterativt
= blunder of Burchard had defeated him in
! his moment of vi tory, and if ever polti
T.. clan went through an experience which was
to test the strength Mr.. Blaine did in those
winter days of 1854 and 1885.
He uttered one word of protest and al
"a most OF despair, and then he took up hi;
pen again, walking for an hour or two each
:, day over the crusted snow of the Augusta
u streets that he might set exercise, and
L when friends went there TO sec him they
= found him Blaine the man-resigned, pa
II tent cheerful, but with symptoms now
v and then of the fire of genius which burned
u within him. When his book was com
. peted he tool; his family to Europe ant
II spent year, and it was while there that
- acting in accordance with the mOnitlons o
DIS physician, ne wrote lne L iOrcnct lettc
- bidding his friends that they must not lool
to him as a presidential candidate, for h.
" could not accept the nomination if it came
;, Reluctantly and only after a second warn
ing from him did his friends heed him
u Had he remained passive while abroad 1t
- would have been nominated in lSSo.
Secretary Again.
p With something of the serenity of tn
n youth of old age Mr.. Blaine entered for hi
lie second term upon the duties of secretary o
II state. His mental genius asserted itself il
II that Office again. and while his physical
- characteristics and the ardor of his you'll
=, had been sub ected 20 change the power o
e his mind was illustrated. lie conducted
h most brilliant diplomatic correspondence
Ne and he formulated the most important com
g. mercial and financial policy which the gov
IN eminent had undertaken since the war
is with the single exception of the resumption
le of specie payments He turned the atten
ton Of the politicians from questions bre'
of the war to those of the future and CAV