The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-01
James q. Blaine.

- AohAO OaAONA hdc Oh0SN viz
career of JAMES G. BLAINE. 1t was re-
markable alike for its success and its fail
ure, remarkable for its seeming greatness
and its real litteness Its success was
wholly in its perennial promise and its
failure in inevitable disappointment.
For thirty years JAMES q. BLAINE was q
national character, and for sixteen years
of that time he was the choice of the vast
majority of his party for president of the
United States. Yet, singularlv enough.
the only time that his party failed to seat
president during those years was when
he was its candidate.
Mr.. BLAINE's admirers have likened him
only resemblance lay IN the fact that he
lived and shaped his course to be presi-
dent and failed of his purpose.
JAMES G.. BLAINE was leader, go called.
yet he never led. At no period OF his ca
reer did he originate movement. The
statute books of the nation. for the whole
period of his service in congress, contain
not a monument 10 his statesmanship.
There is nowhere the Blaine stamp on the
legislation of the land, unless it be on the
reciprocity clause in the Mckinley bill
made OF his suggestion. And in that sug-
gestion he gave more evidence of states
manship, or, more properly, of the higher
order OF politics, than in any other utter
ance or performance of his life
1t is difficult to understand Mr.. BLAINE's
hold upon his party. He had never given
it an issue he had never been among the
first to champion the measures which
later became issues for the party. His
| official acts had been shown to be dictated
by motives of commonest venality. Yet
the masses of the party had chung 10 him
and retained an abiding faith in him. The
Mulligan letters would have damned shy
other man; vet their appearance seemed
rather to strengthen his hold on the
masses of his party
Mr.. BLAINE was a sensationalist. His
every movement was made to catch the
popular eve. He was etninently in
sincere in all things. He was reckless of
statement and wholly regardless OF conse-
| quences except as they had effect on his
| own political or personal fortunes. lie
was In everything contradictory, changing
his position on any and every subject
| with popular drift He had no convic-
| tons which he would advocate against
| the sentiment of the time.
Mr.. BLAINE was at his best as q debater
though in that. as IN everything else. he
/ was needless of results. He WAS a master
/ Il -
| fact to suit his purpose. But he was quick
and witty and satirical, aud always played
| to the galleries" In diplomacy, as Ehown
| by his record in the state department I'M
| der Presidents GARFIELD and HARRISON, he
was fiat failure II Is really q pity
that Mr. BLAINE did not devote his life to
literature His Twenty Years in Con.
gress" proves that be possessed almost
| illimitable possibilities in q literary line
! His styls was superb, mis- use of words
perfect and he possessed power of ex.
preston seldom equalled and never suE
passed.
JAMES G. BLArNE's life was one long dis
appointment not only to himself but to
history For himself he failed in the one
ambition which had shaped his course for
twenty years. For history the story OF
his lie is worthless. It tells of no great
deeds performed, OF no statesmanlike
work begun. It tells of no high sspira
tions for the common good, of no patriotic
reform undertaken. So far as accomplish
ment goes it is blank.
| JAMES g. BLAINE has left no example
for the youth of the land to emulate HI
has not even left success to justify his
course. In his life he accomplished nc
great good in his death he leaves no les
son 10 be learned unless it be that he who
seeks alone the advancement OF self plant
for himself but bitterness and regret