Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-28

u TIC dtctrr Elp1fc OF American SeAi
sulileiency and If the confirmation ef
The United States In the priinacy of the
sAr.s Americas
AIS AUDACir1.
Danger Never Phased and lie Always
Sought the Combat.
PLANES whole career In congrcss Was
spectacular and dramatic. The genius
Of the man favored display and great
acting. Without doubt Blaine had the
power u grasp = situation. T. extract
from II its dramatic elements and 10
work those elements into scene. In
tits particular American history has NOT
furnished his equal. His audacity al
ways stood him well in hand Time and
again he was brought into collision with
dangerous men and still more dangerous
facts. II may b. doubted whether IN
snch contingencies be ever suffered dis
arrangement. 70 cay nothing Of defeat.
TiIne and again he issued from the most
serious complications. pretending ruin
10 his fortunes. with victory on his crest.
In such contests there Is little doubt that
he was capable Of supplying in his own
cause. by well placed fiction and unmp-
ported defamation, those elements Of
fact which truth withheld. In the crises
Of his career he was wont to shoot the
rapids like skillful and daring boat
man. There were days when his proud
chip and valuable cargo were crowded
hard between scyila and Charybdis. bu.
he always went through with shout
and was answered by the roar Of the sur
rounding seas.
We may here refer at once to Blaine's
personal antagonisms and ever recurring
encounters. No other American states
man Of great rank has had so many and
such serious battles. Some were battles
with men and others with clrcurc-
stances. These cost the gladiator dearly.
IL was his antagonism, DO 1t said. tina.
finally stranded him on tho shores this
side OK the White House. He attacked,
and attacked bitterly, all Of his rivals.
He seemed TO be inspired with the belief
that he must vanquish them and put
them down. AS he rose toward the
speakcrship. and from the speakership
toward .e presidency. he discerned win
clear eye tho facts and the men with
whom he had to contend. There was
Roscoe Conkiing for one. Blaine at
tackled Conkling. and in that hour Men,
esis locked down from the gallery. He
eyed Morton askance. He saw Garfield
with jealousy which became acute IA
Garfield pressed up 10 his flank. His
iinpetuosity knew no bounds at times
IL seemed that lie could not curb him.
self. He flung sarcasnls and ironies and
iavectiyes by the handful. They struck
where they might. His was to be lead
ership by conquest and by the humila-
ton Of the foe.
la Blaine there was, however. strong
minsling Of the calm. the Judicial, tho
conservative method. Strange how just
he could be. TIE house Of representa-
tives never had a better or truer speaker
Ills personality in tho desls was immense.
As Presiding officer he not only won but
merised universal respect. Hi rulings
were impartial His eye had the glance
OF the eagle. and his pose and self posses
son were magnificent. lie was capable
OF justice and trath. He would not
brook such infamy as the caucus occa-
sionally pro?ounded. At one timc no
was well nigh losing the allegiance Of his
party by defiant counter ruling in fa-
vor Of the Democracy. The strange
thing about Blaine was that though he
IN that crisis set himself against the
first force bill with tho determination of
du,y and truth We are still left doubt
fui whether he was inspired with the
belief tina; his ruling was good polite.
for himself CT whether be felt the power
Of tho speakers oath upon his conscience.
IL Blaine attacked his great rivals with
all the resources - his genius. what shall
we say OF the onset upon the political
fos m both houscsY The determinations
Of the war were hot within. There was
one spectacular episode after another.
Did Blaine purposely devise and plan
thsHtuation and tie day of his famous
celiverancess AT any rate he provoked
benjamin Il. Hill and made hun his foil.
jefferson Davis should net be pcnsioned
as Mexican veteran--not indeed because
ho had been president OF the Confetl.
eracy. but because he had been response
bic 70. Anirrsonville and Libbyl That
indeed was bomhsheil Il exploded
and the roar Of it WAS heard 10 CaIifor
MA Ngiuly did the man If Gcorria raj
ly and ceuntsrcharge and as-ail. H..
was vznquisiesl. and the plume Of Blaine
was the ere conspicuous sign seen aboys
the field
The ase following toe civil war rSSs
corrupt That word. n is radical sens.
means broken up and confourdcd. II
times conforncd exactly 20 this DEAN
,soa. The sltiscgs q redundant cur.
rency flowed l1rkfpi through e.efv
channel. Victory had come and brotsh.
power 70 ihe FiefpTg; patriotism IA.
great profit, Hitherto TIE scrutiny ~
TIE AmerTsn pecrie bad Rot bscn acat
Many unseeahis things h1d rtnss.1el
usieefia. and f1aay cihor tAsrzs were
bliaked - They VINO now hal fgsi sway
test fne rsins lous ~ thrown "a the ncci
Ifey had free eln. ilcsnss ag.I sast ~,
postnnity
ntftIes~ .ssSust
why Hissas w. s{sv-, Nsdr p-sl f.sfs
- - Nsfian
- were aaiFfs><ieie 81 sey no~ s,s
~ To- lTefnsrens met - that et4oh 81.
rirt-'.i thcineslses b. wav. rhseh. II n,
positively tAfk were 81 least oi@cur
Nm iahnlesl and dsbhlel arain. Nss
= va. fovrVrr. thsf fhe sharp eyes "a.
ri'asr7 teeNn - psf.tfafe the r-uce<ss
q ~rit n 'tst wprp feorisfiax -
eFtry fi'se lassieEs hesssn - .ssscovr
shaf - 49, f~-.l.--. -. :, ~