The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-02-04
The Personality of the Late Mr.
Blaine.


0lalnC.
From the Baltimore Sun
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-The remarkable
personality of Mr.. Blaine accounts in large
degree for the lengthy notices of his life and
career now filling the columns Of the daily
press. There can be no doubt in the minds
of men of observation and of judgment that
Mr.. Blaine for years occupied q more promi-
nent position toward the public than many
others in official life who were his superiors
in intellect, in attainments, and in all the
qualities which 60 to make up the measure
Of broad, liberal and comprehensive state
manship. There was hurrSh about him,
an audacity which rose to the height of sub
Unity, which carried popular enthusiasm in
wild wave at all times. The people who
estimated the ability and the character OF the
man above all others were those who had
never come in personal contact with him. In
the political conventions of the Republican
party from 1876 down the majority of the
delegates who tossed up their hats and split
their threats in his cause had never laid eyes
upon him, and drew their opinions from his
brilliant and clever speeches, his readiness
and fertility in debate, his aggressiyeness,
and the rare faculty he possessed of never
admitting or appearing to be conscious Of
discontinue in argument, of refntation Of any
had of sticking to and repeating any statement
he made, no matter how incohtestably it was
demonstrated to be without foundation.
Those who knew him best were well aware
he was not ideal man painted in the popular
heart, and much Of the euloginm now passed
upon him is extravagant indeed.
But it can Just be claimed he is entitled 10
rank among the leaders of men in his day,
and among those who have made ndellible
marks upon their times. Omitting Grant
and Sherman, probably no man who has tig
ured on the theatre Of life in the last thirty
years was better known at home or abroad.
What Blaine said in either house of Con.
gress was always devoured with avidity by
newspaper readers, for upon whatever sub
ject he spoke he threw into it a spice and a
flavor always palatable. In fact he was-a
man who delighted in sensations, and he was
never so happy as when stirring up an oppo-
nent, and beamed all over to read eneo-
miums upon hiswit and has talent for repartee.
He was very fond of applying endearing terms
to his associates, and it was no uncommon
thing for him to put his arm around ''my
dear fellow
Yet there were occasions when he was al
hictsd with that failure of memory which at
taches to all politicians of both large and
small degree His admirers have attributed
~ AudiitltS WHICH Hu part III MS
composition. Hundreds of anecdotes have
been told of his wonderful faculty of never
forgetting a name or face. OF course these
stories are related by those who have no per
sonal knowledge of the circumstances. 1t is
astonishing how such AN idea first obtained
credence, for Mr.. Blaine was sngularly def
Gent in this very faculty. Indeed, 1t would
be mentally impossible for a man of his alb
sorbing self-coRsciousness to possess it in
any noticeable degree. In this city, where
the most Of his matured life had been spent,
he was constantly introduced to persons he
had met, not once bat several times. he was
not quite so bad in this respect, as Judge Thur
man, who, when in Washington, frequently,
forgot his own secretary. Mr.. Blaine was
compelled often in the pursuit of his political
ambition to premise more than he could con
veniently perform.
Upon an occasion i'll the Garfield admins
tration an exciting and dramatic scene &C.
Cured between him and man to whom he
was under heavy political obligations. He
had promised this friend certain lucrative
office, but kept putting him off day after day
until the latter, who was entirely destitute of
resources, and to whom the Office meant relief
from starvation for himself and his family,
became desperate He went one morning
into the office of the Secretary Of State and
found Mr.. Blaine alone. He closed and fas
tened the door, and then, in the language of
man driven to despair, but in cool and
measured terms, informed his listener that if
the commission for the Office was not forth
coming within twenty four hours he would
publish to the world over his own signature
the history of the broken and oft-renewed
promises, and of the obligations which had
inspired them. The Secretary sought to
pacify his friend, and suggested little more
waiting. But he would not be satisfied and
babe adieu with his ultimatum. There conld
be no doubt he meant what he said. Ten
minutes after he left the Secretary put on his
hat, walked over to the White House, and
the next morning that commission was IN the
pocket of the man who wanted it. In 1884,
when Mr.. Blaine ran for President, ten prom
Uses weremade for every office of consequence
in the gift Of the Executive. Had he been
elected the chances are there would have
been more than one repetition of the scene of
1881
Mr. Blaine sensational withdrawal from
the position of Secretary of State in June
last, during the session Of the Republican
National Convention, came like a thunder
clap upon the country. But to chosen few,
who knew this hoped 10 be '.coup detat'
was premeditated, it:.was no surprise. The
men who were leading Mr.. Blaines cam
paign at Minneapolis had a perfect under
standing with him before they went there.
Some of them advocated the resignation be-
fore the meeting Of the convention, but Mr..
Blaine thought otherwise. In his view it
would have more effect after the convention
met On the night before Mr.. Blaine sent
in his curt note to the President message
was sent him from Minneapolis from one Of
those in the secret. ''Don't delay step a
moment longer" When the news of the
resignation was received at Minneapolis the
cry was at once raised that it would nominate
Blaine. But it did not. 1t was not the only
carefully conceived and executed climax in
the political career of the man from Maine
that failed to materialize. These closest to
Mr.. Blaine were well aware that his failure
to secure the nomination in 1888 was much
keener disappointment than the disastrous 3i
failure of 1876. The men who managed his
campaign of 1888 were not less chagrined and
broken hearted than he.
Two feet of snow fell at Seattle, Washing
ton, on Monday.
Ten Of Missouri's twenty seven Governors
came from Kentucky.
hog was killed in Coweta county, Ga,
last week. that weighed $40 pounds.
Glory HalIelujah Jones is the imposing
name of Mississippi colored person.
Woodcock's Arcade, at Altoona, Pa, was
damaged by fire Monday to the extent of
$4,000.
In attempting to put out FIRE in his house
St. Adams, Vermont, farmer used five casks
of cider.
The First Presbyterian Church. at Logans
port. Illineis, was destroyed by fire on Sun
day. Loss, $4,000.
Diphtheria and scarlet fever are on the in
crease in Philadelphia. On Monday As rev
cases were reported.
The Monandock Mills stack bonse ut Glare.