New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-29
TITO GREAT LEADERS or MEN.

The death i'm one week Of two such eminent
and typcal Americans as Phillips Brooks and
James G.. Blaine is an event OF no ordinary
significance. Naturally. it suggests an analysis
of the qualities in these two great men winch
gave to them the position Of supreme leader
ship in their respective spheres Of life. super
ficially indeed. they appeared II he WIdeN
apart net merely in their careers. but III their
ideals. 1t was the mission Of Bishop Brooks
TO prepare men for the life TO come. while Mr.
Blaine devoted his cxubcrant genius to the
GREAT problems of >tatccraft relating to tho
bcttcrment of his fellow citizens in this world.
But surely there is a substantial unity under
living this apparent divergence OF aim. Philips
Brooks would have been the first t. reject with
scorn any theory of religion that ignored inc
welfare and happiness OF men IN TINS HE. ana
was over ready to welcome as allies all VINO
in whatever sphere were working Tor inc
progress of the race. On the other hand
the great National policies promoted by MI
Blaine cannot be divorced from the moial
progress of the county. just as truly n
Phillips Brooks but in different way. Mr.
Blaine wrought for the uplifting of the people
Each moulded indellbly the thought of his
generation and the name OF each VIII he re-
corded in shining letters on the scroll OF tho
Nations worthless.
Moreover. when we come f. compare the
personality of the two mon. we find that they
possessed many qualities in common. fach
was lowered with a iarc intellectual insight.
which enabled him to get at the heart OF
question and present il in form 50 luminous
as to compel assent. Each had the power o'
,,,,,Iti,rIns pf npoup bN thp
spell of his personal magnetism. Each was
eager and impulsive u temperament ana
though each possessed an endowment Of geniu,
that lifted him far above his fellows. each was
mos. democratic and appioachablc in manner.
The petty barriers that little men love to erect
around themselves were never found around
the personalities Of Brooks or Blaine II was
TO the service of the people that they devoted
their unique powers. and TO the end OF their
lives they counted il their greatest glory. a,
well as their highest privilege. 10 be and re-
main simple American citizens. The human |
ness OF the two men was indeed ono Of their |
most striking characteristics II was 'hl' quail |
ty which led the churchman to throw himself
with such ardor into the current oil modern |
life. Not even the venerable traditions OF his
Church. linking il to ideals and thoughts OF the |
past. could make him forget tina: he llved IN |
the present. and that Out Of the present must |
be evolved a nOblcr future. similarly II was |
the same sense Of knship with living human |
ty that inspired the statesman IN hl> brilliant |
arccr. lie thought the thought, and reflected |
the ideal, of the people Of his own land and |
pf his own time. No measure OF Sfatccraft |
had any interest for him tina. did not relate |
intimately T. the welfare of the people. He |
lived for the people and with the people and |
his greatest harpnc>, was found in the com
lanOn>hip Of those he loved
II vas foI thee reasons that Phillips Brooks |
md Mr. Blaine were 80 aIdcntly admired while |
living. ard are 50 universally mourncd now |
hat they are dead. 1t happened 10 b,th If
hem to be misicprc."ncd and mi>undcr
,tood BY many Mr.. Elaine especially va,
pursued with Il mllignily Of hate that In,
hardly ra'allol in American history. Bu'
he fame of both rests secure; for il is en-
,hrincd in the hearts Of the American people.
You can deceive all the people Sometime"
,ncc said Abraham Lincoln. " and some OF the
)cople all the fire: but You cannot deceive
III the people all the time The noble i'm
pulses and distinguished services of Phillips
Brooks and james G.. Blaine will be rcmcm
pcred with gratitude by the American people
not so much because they were men Of pro
eminent gcniu, aS because they devoted THEN
ives to the service OF their fcllow-mcn.