The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-04
SEATTLE. SATURDAY,, Fen. &.
THE TEST OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

I. Is not fair or complete test Of a
public mans night to the name Of states
man to measure him by his offensive
power to write his name in legislation
upon the records of congress. Under this
test number of Anne rican statesmen of
high rank ard most vaiuabis public serv-
ice would make but poor showing; the
ability to prevent the passage of vicious
legislation is without question test of
statesmaniike quality. Mr.. Conkling was
statesman of high rank, and he rem
dered very great service to his country,
but he did not create legisia-
ton 30 much as he criticised
1t. anatomzed it. dissected it. and not sell
dom eviscerated il of its vicious quality.
The chief claim OF Senator Eimunts to
the name Of statesman certainly does not
rest on his success in creating and enact
ing iar-reaching legislation. The electoral
commission scheme and the Union Pacific
legislation was the joint work Of Ed
munds and Thurman.
II will be difficult 10 show that Mr..
Biaine's part in tie shaping OF tae recon-
siruction measures and his part in defeat
ing the force bill does not fairly identify
his name as statesman with the fate of
measures of far-reaching national conse-
quence. 1t Is certain that Mr.. Blaine's
speech Of February. 1879. in favor OF re-
stricting Chinese immigration, while Bit
terry ceusured at the East, voiced views
which have since been generally adopted
by the whole country. Mr.. Blaine OPP
posed the Bland silver bill with all the
eloquence and force at his command at a
time when the abies: Democrat in the SEN
ate. Mr.. Thurman, advocated IL, and when
anumber OF Western Republican senator's,
including Allison of Iowa, favored it in
the form of its tinal passage.
John Sherman's own record as q friend
imitation is not more perfect than that of
Er. Blaine's: indeed, Mr.. Blaine from
1867 forward was even more uncompro-
missing in his views and attitude than John
Sherman, who at one time was disposed to
temporize and favor tentative policy.
Mr.. Blaine early urged measures for the
DEVELOPMENT and protection OF American
uHippiuR. anu III 1910 tdVOCdteu THO Hlali
steamship subsidy policy that has been
enacted under Harrison. He forced
reciprocity into tho Mckinley act.
His diplomatic policy has been
Endorsed not only by the leading states
men of our own party, but has been
warmly defended by both ex-Secretary
Bayard and ex-Minister to England
Phelps. II all this work and conduct and
sentiments of thirty years stand for moth
ing but the performance of a mere brisht,
facile, fascinating American politician,
what then is d statesman as severely dis
tinguished from politician, aud who are
the statesmen of Blaine's day and genera.
ton If he is merely Politician
Certainly craftsmanship cannot rest its
chief claim on immortal orasions nor on
supreme success: the purpose of the man,
the sanity OF his methods and the ability
OF his execution. whether he dies victor or
vauqushed, must settle the question of
statesmanIike quality. Measured by what
he tried TO do. by what he did and by how
he did 1t, If Blaine was not an American
statesman then we have had no American
statesman since John Quincy Adams,
Clay and Webster save Lincoln.