The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-02-01
JAMES c. BLAINE.
Fram the Sew York TTiiunc.


has he been in public life for thirty
vesrs 50 symmetrical vas The develop
Ineut Of his Intellectual powers and 50
;naxhaustible we're the resources Of his
statesmanship. that It is almost impossi-
HE 70 think Of him as lying cold IN
death. To hundreds of thousands %
Americans the melancholy tidings d has
lsss hours viii come with poignant
sense Of personal glief We are not
speaking now Of private friendships
formed during his busy life, but Of the
influence which be exerted over host
offoiIoweFs unknown 10 him, but brought
under the magic spell OF his leadership
aud political genius. When Mr.. Clay
died there we're hundreds Ct earnest men
ike Horace Greeley who felt that they
could never again take interest in Ameri-
can politics. Nov that Mr. BlaiDe's ca
rssr has ended, there are thousands Of
Americans Who will share this feeling.
The secret Of Mr.. Blaine's influence
orer men was revealed by Mr.. DisTaeli in
= sentence from sConingsby," written
when the future Prime Minister was on
ly knoxnas en- aspiring and cynical nov
elis,. "A lesder who can inspire enthu-
siasm. he commands the world Di+ine
faculty Rare and Incompatible priyi-
lege" It was Mr. Disrasli's destiny to
b scome 4 great lea1erand TO hold his
partv together in defeat AMI in victory
without exciting enthusiasm or inspiring
popular confidence, while his lifelong
rival, inferior as 2 political tactician, vas
TO succeed always in touching mems
hearts and stirring the pulses Of his fol-
lowers. Mr.. Blaine, like Mr. Gladstone,
has had the Incompatible gift Of insPir-
ing enthusiasm. No other American
siace Lincoln has commanded in equal
measure the love, confidence and loyal
devotion Of q great political party. Lord
Beaconsfieid, masterfal as was his genius
aad brilliant as were hissneeesses in Ed
ropean diplomacy, could never overcome
q prejudice among his own people against
linn as a Statesman whose instincts and
methods were essentially un-English. BE
remained always an inscrutable figure at
Westminster, distrusted as an alien in
his ideas and politics-aa Eastern ne
cromaneer in prosaie Britain. Mr. Blaine
was loved, trusted and followed because
IN feeling. conviction and instinct he was
known to be an American among Ameri-
cans.
Mr.. Blaine, ike Mr. Gladstone and ey-
cry other aggressive political leader Of
pre-eminent abilities, had bitter enemies.
and they exhausted the resources Of de
flmaiion IN vehement and cynical hos
tility; but they never ventured to cali IN
question the genuineness Of his Ameri-
canism. That was something that pass
e. even N the most heated canvass.
without challenge. It was an Ameri-
canism that smacked Of the soil. i was
50 broad that it covered the resources
AID interests Of the Nation from ocean TO
ocean, and it rose 50 high above the lev
els Of ordinary pnbiio thought as 10 COM
maud future vislas Of continental pres
tise and influence, wherein the American
people would direct the commercial OK
changes Of two hemisphsres and inspire
races ofalien blood with the genius Of
free institutions and pacific progress. It
vas an Americanism keenly sensitive to
infractions oftreaiy engagements, TO wan
ton outrages on the rights Of citizens, and
to insults offered to the Gag. 1t gloTied
IL an industrial independence won by
wise legislation-an independence as
complete as the political liberties con
q1ered by blood and sacrifice a century
ago. i was an Americanism inspired By
an abiding faith in the destiny Of the Ma
iio0 as one OF the chief forces Of ciFilizs-
iioa ordained by Providence for spread
ing light aud the blessings Of pelcs in
the world. Il Ess the breath Of his life
sad She chief resource in exciting the en-
thasiRsm ofAnericans. Nov that be has
fallen, his enemies themselves being the
witnesses, a Nation viii mourn him as
ths greatest American OF his generation.
Mr. Blaine's active years in The House
were passed in the speakers chair, where
he exertej great power as p leader, but
had little opportunity for originating
large legislative measures OF displaying
cfst,iFe impulses asa Statesman. lie was
ia the senate a conspicuous figure, oI
course but his service there was for
shorser period, and under the disadyan
tages Of a junior senator. II his career
had not been rounded ous by memorable
ssrsice in the state Department, he
would have gone 10 his grave with the
reputation Of being leader Of incompa-
rable genius and unrivalei authority
1lt something would havs been lacking
q complete his fame. lie would have
issn remembered = . maichles political
organizer and IS a sturdy champion of
the cause Of Protection, fght;ng in the
open field after Mr. Clay and Dir. Gree
ley had fallen in the defensive trenches
but lis name wonid have been less idsn-
tidsd with an original policy IN National
aiTsifs. Twas reserved for him not on
y 70 eles.rify ths e5aatry witha crown
iaz exhibition OF progressive American
ism. ba. als0 70 leave bshia1 him il the
safe Departments record Of iliustrious
service equlllei oaiy by the fame of
Webster, Marcy AMI seward. and 10 ere
aie an enlightened policy which Is des
tined to enlarge immessurabiy The sphere
Of Amaricsa inalsnce on this con insnt
Toe saesF Al his statecraf as 2 sourion,
and pinchbeck Jingoism long age die5
away. What he has Goae has bsea l.
raise the s.aniarls Of a nericaa diploma
cr an1 10 make it worthy Of pacific an3
progressive nat.oa. At Berlin ani z )me
ne taught military powers to respect tae
dignity and honor Of the repu5lic; g,
London he upheld wiki resolu.e hand
American rights; and IA the Pan-Amsr-
lean Congress he opened the way for 2
new era Of reciprocal trade, foreommuni-
ty of'inlerests in continental policy and
for tie aboiition Of Wlr by compulsory
courts Of arbitration.
The genius Of this rasny-sided man II
Peasi IN the plentitaie Of his political
nn.horifr and r,nrer n-er m .....:l