The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-28

man in NV position would feel, l invite
the confidence of forty millions OF my
countrvmen while l read thess letters
EzThe demonstration closed with Dram
atic scene. Josiah Caldwell, one OF the
originators of the Little Rock and r ert
Smith railroad. who had full knoWIed9e
the whole transaction, WAS IraEelLns IN
Europe and both sides were seeking 10
communicate with him. After finishing
the reading of the letters Mr.. Blaine turn,
/ od n the chairman of the committee ana
daman6ed to know whether he had receiv-
ed anv dispatch from Mr.. CaldweL. ne
ceiyiur an evasiye answer Ar. blaine as
serted as within his own knowleags lAaG
the chairman had received SucI d 's pc lCn,
Completely and absolutely generating
me from this charge, and you have sup
pressed it,"
In 1875 Mr.. Blaine began his career in
+be senate. which was both as brilliant
and distinguished as it had been IN the
house. He was called from the senate 10
enter President Garfield's cabinet as secre-
tary of state. The death Of Mr.. Uafheid
led TO Mr. Blaine'S retirement from Ihe
cabinet in December, 1882, and from that
date uptil he entered President Harrison 5
cabinet as secretary of state he was IN
r,rivate life except in his campaign Tor
he presidency in 1884. During his retire
e IGent he wrote his Twenty ears IN Cou-
FVess a work OF great historical Ediue'
II was in accordance with his original suS-
gestion and due TO his earnest efforts UhaC
provision was made in the Mckinney Dill
for the reciprocity treaties which nave
proved such prominent features 81 naLloh-
al politicS The samoan difficulties, the
complications arising out OF the IyncDlng
of the Italians at New Orleans ana Jhe
killing of the American seamen at Falpa-
II r Il. Nf VE-h
Blaine was at the head Of the state depart
ment. The events preceding and attend
ing the Minneapolis convention are too
recent almost to need recounung. Mr..
Blaine was induced TO permit his name 10
be used as q candidate aud resigned ms
place in the cabinet. Whether II pubIc
position or private life, he had always re-
mained the central figure IN national al
fairs.
PERSONAL.
Fer nearly thirty years Mr.. Blaine had
been a resident of this city While he
never gave up his home and home lie IN
Maine, be also had a home in this city 4
gentleman. who was intimately acquainted
with Mr. Blaine, said that, IN his opinion,
Mr. Blaine broke himself down by ln-
temperate work and irregular habits OF
eating Mr.. Blaine was high pressure
worker. Whenever he became deeply IN
terested in a subject ais ardent nature LED
him TO work beyond his strength. lie
would shut himself up in his room, would
not allow himself TO be disturbed, and
would not eat, sleep or rest until be had
finished his task lie seemed TO have
adopted the motto which the great cleo
triciaU. Edison, who works IN much the
same manner. gave to youth, Don't
look at the clock" These fits Of labor
would use him up for week. He was not
ordinarily large eater, but he was very
irregular in his eating. In former years
he was fond Of horseback riding and took
considerable exercise, but of late he
showed much dissemination TO bodily eXer-
cise. During the summer he lived on MS
porch at Bar Harbor a great deal Of the
time and seemed to enjoy immensely hay
ing his grandchildren about him to talk
with.
Mr.. Blaine died a rich man, even as
wealth is reckoned in these days. lie was
worth close Oh to a million OF dollars, If
not more than that amount. 1t Is prob
able that if some OF his speculative ln-
vestments could be sold out under advan-
tageOus circumstances that mis- wealth
would place him in the list of millionaires.
His holdings Of coal lands are large, and
with the advancement of the country,
must greatly increase in value, X kept
intact for several years. Mr.. Blaine, by
reason Of his wide popularity and warm
friendship, enjoyed opportunities unusual
TO the average pablo man for making
money. He was associated with number
of men of wealth in various enterprises
and his sagacity and business foresight
kept him from wasting much money on
brilliant but lllusonary speculative
projects.
The visit Of Cardinal Gibbons to Mr..
Blsine's house during his illuess and the
known fact that some members OF his
family tended to CatholiCity. gave ere
dence 10 the report, which had been re-
peatedly stated without contradiction,
that Mr.. Blaine had been taken into the
Catholic church on his deRthbed. Until
the Presbyterian church of TIE Covenant
was built (of which President Harrison Is
a member Mr.. Blaine had been in the
habit of attending the First Congrega-
tional church, situated on the corner Of
Tenth and g streets in the northeast sec
tion of the city. He gave 5000 towards
the building Of the church of the Cove
nant, and when II was ready for Occu-
panCy he rented a pew there.