Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-02-03

the State Department so Blaine. The
friendship between the two had always
been strong and deep-rooted and there
was no better tribute which could
possibly be paid 10 defeated but
friendly rival than this action upon the
part of the newly-elected President
AS Secretary of State he stirred up
things between this country and Eng
land by his position with regard to the
Panama Canal and his demand for the
abrogation of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty. Even at that period he had
plans for q South American policy
which only partially reached compile
ton when his more recent reciprocity"
schemes went into effect His original
desire was to effect confederation be-
tween all the Republics OF North. Cen
trail and South America under the pro-
tecting wing of the United States
With vie ~ to securing this end he
called n congress OF nations to be held
at Washington but IL was revoked by
MIR. Arthur when he assumed the Presi-
dency.
On that fatal July morning in 1881
he rode with President Garfield to the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad station
and was an eye witness to the fatal
crime which sent the assassin Guiteau
TO the gallows, while it deprived the
nation of its head 1t is said that he
never forgot the effect made upon him
by witnessing this terrible sight. Dur
ing the prolonged struggle between life
and death which followed the murder
Gus assault he was constant visitor at
the dying Presidents bedside and he
was chosen by Congress as Garfield's
eulogist. duty which he filled in a
mastery manner. Mr. Arthur was
inaugurated on Sept 10 and in the
following December, as soon as he
could arrange the affairs of the
department, Mr.. blaine resigned
to make place for his successor. William
M. Evarts.
For the first time N twenty-three
years Mr.. Blaine found himself re-
moved from public Office. and strictly
speaking. a private individual again.
He Immediately set to work upon a
labor which he had long planned, but
which he had been too busy to carry
out. This was his book. Twenty
Years in Congress. It's two large
volumes are complete with interest of
the most varied nature, and its first
200 pages are especially valuable as a
resume of the early political history of
this country, as well as n most care
fully minute account of the political
period between the administrations of
Lincoln and Garfield. In 1884 he fin
ally saw his fondest hopes realized
when the National Republican conven-
ton at Chicago nominated him for the
Presidency. lie Immediately set to
work and took most vigorous part
in the campaign. His share of the
work showed an eager desire for
his own success which his evil
dent ambition had always indicated
He was defeated in this election. as
Grover Cleveland carried New York
State by majority of DAT votes, and
the man who was not only perhaps the
cleverest, but certainly the most am
bilious American living, was again
doomed to retire to private life.
Mr.. Blaine was, however. too well
trained a soldier-too battle-stained
veteran In the war of politics-to show
his feelings to the outside world. He
proceeded with the work upon his
book. which was still unfinished, and
in short time had 1t ready for the
press 1t is certainly one of the
most important contributions to the
records of contemporaneous politi-
cal history ever written by an
American ststesl an, and as such de-
serves a high place in the literature OF
this class, not to mention its eminent
value as textbook for students OF
American politics. He spent the years
of 's7-'ss in Europe, having been or
dered there by his doctors, who feared
that carrying the burden of public life
for so many years had seriously inn
paired his physique, which needed rest
and change to enable it TO recover
its former stamina From Paris he
wrote a letter, afterwards published In
the New York Tribune, urging that
the campaign OF 'ss should also be
fought out upon the platform Of pro-
tective tariff. utnH
In September, 1888, Blaine returned
to America with view of leading the
Harrison campaign. His reception in
New York city is the most memora BILE
event of the kind in American history
The king of loyal nation was never
more royalty received. Thousands
upon thousands of people from all
sections of the United States crowded
New York city and that night he talked
to the largest audience ever addressed.
Blaine worked his hardest for Harrison
and his efforts undoubtedly were the
leading factor of Republican success.
Blaine was again placed at the head of
the Department of State.
The most notable events of his last
administration of the State Depart
ment--which was characterized by the
same vigorous foreign policy as be.
fore-were the adjustment of the
troubles with Italy arising from the
wholesale lynching in New Orleans,
the rather prolonged controversy with