Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-16
JAMES G. BLAINE.
His ENG Life aud Charictor'

That Mr. Blaine was personally the most
popular man In public life since the days or
Henry Clay can hardly be questioned; for
the love and reverence for Abraham LIN
coin have largely grown up since his death,
and as the result OF a calm review Of his
character and work. And yet II we ask |
for the secret of Mr.. Blaine's popularity it
eiudes us. He is regarded as great
leader; but it is not clear in what direction |
he led. He is accounted roprssen totive !
American; and yet it is not clear what
principles in American life no represented.
lie was II magnificent lighter; but IL was by
no means always clear what he was lighting
for. In tho House OF Representatives his
intimate knowledge of parliamentary law
and his quickness of mental action-and lie
was never so alert and full OF resource as III
battle made the contests in which lie led
exciting dramas: but they were little
more than dramas, aud when the curtain
fell tho dead and wounded got up
and walked away ready for another dra-
matte tournament. IL wonli he dilhcult to
recall any speech of Mr.. Blane's that end
al at ouce u political idea or Il political
career, ms did Webster's reply to HaYne; or
one that wrought an enduring influence o.
the destiny of his country, as did Conkiing's
speech in favor Of an electoral commission.
We wonder how many of the readers of
this article can tell what were Mr.. Blaine S
views and what his influence on any OF
the great questions of bis epoch. Did
he favor federal control of the
subjugatsd States or negro suffrage
and If the latter, would BIS have
had that suffrage limitel or unlimited
What were his views aud what his influence
on the impeachment of President johnson
What his influence on the question of au
strictIon If fo,oi.,r immiora,ion s--excent
~, ,e,ar,,. a. T,,i.a 80 10 ca what
i,,1 s. a..n,atio.'g W.. Ia a hi.matollist
or ,,oro-,,ataliis+s ma ba favor fras
ooira,,. - .;Ira.g ~, Ire ,,sa onlv 40 spb
.idior1 min MA In onnrovs mr. dissu-
rro,.a or r,,,or,r,a,t control of r,iIroads
NJ, hia i,'a,o,. ~ fn,,or -, rostrio,iog mr.
of ovtondi,,,r ,bo ,owers of the railroad
,o,,,,,i.,ior II bis own Stota was hs
- - ,atih;.io, ~ onnoso1
-, 80 Do,,I.laa, hi, votos ON
coma ~ ,bo ouastiors could ba unaortbe1
from rho ,.C1ngression,I Record,i nossi-
hlv nis rtter.rcss IN soma Of them Rut il
anf,a,,,. 80. 80 ao,, ,bot hi. inN,e,ca an
thaaa nrotJorn. ~ or national lifa yae
yboI,r disnronor,io,ed tn his foma al n
iaodar m tho ,,rir onastion he was ouick
~ soi,o ,ha ,,oIi.icnl odvontage afforded nv
ra1n IN
,,,os~ara o,l 80 oooort +ba issua which hi,
r,olItinnI' nonouont had offared Int the
oor,,r,, do''I ~ tro,,-uho indssd doas9-
,,,Latho, -. behaved with GarasId and tbs
o,dor ra,,,hIicans i, nrotact,on "a nren,.
-, -, &C., traao or with McL-i,iov
.,d U,rrison in nrotactio, as n nsrmonent
roIicr Uo INV ho rooardsd no the ipven-
for NJ recinrocitv as 81 mama of extending
forsign trade yvh;,a nrotectin1 home mann
facturos and this schema was perhen, the
most stst,.n,onI,lke nro6uct Of his life. but
II ;s orite uncertain wbetbar bs believsd in
raoinroci,v ,n.rolv as =. form of COMMERCIAL
mid, 70 bird tba American contip.nt to-
Gather in cloosr ralstion, or ma the initia-
torv sten ,oyor1 universsl rscinrocitv
le.Jirr On eyentrolIv to frea trade Evan ON
81 nurslv nersoraI n question as whether
be wou,5 acca,t the nomination to the nresi
dorcv or not no one outside of n very small
cirolo NJ friends hoe ev.r heon ahIa to sneak
with certainty the assurance of uttersnoes
on tho srbisct nv the nubl1c nress ON both
sidss ham, in t6s in versa ratio ~ the actual
tnovlsdgp
| ur Rtnira,, ra-.or,l chsractsr and onin
ions ara involved in tho anna sinpnIer oh
souri,y lvas bo noliticallv bonast and
sIsnderad Inv his foes or sslf-seeker
skiI,fnIlv hiding tho evidsrces of his corrun.
| tior > n, this orsstior tba most diverse
! convictions ara sntartained Nv intellieept
man who do MT oftap allow tbem.elves to
| irdgs vithont avidence mr. to substituts
bazv con isctures for wsll-prounded assur
ance
Soma man oro er;,r,os s;mn,v becsuse
tbav are unknown Thair lives are lived in
,riyate biddon fror, tbe nub,c Or il NOT
thar innsr and rssi cbar.ctsrs ara concealed
hsbind an imnanetrahls rassrve But Mr.
blaine lived Observation-Disclosures man more in the
Iieht M man mora in the focu, of public
nraiss and nunlic criticism than he. no man
mora ennorentIv outsnolar and AGGRESSIVE.
no man who sssmed r. the public SO much
n taxa tho nnhlic into his condolences
w, Coo r.. o,;r,,o .s,har tb.n .ttaunt