The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-06
TIE PROPHECY OF BLAINE.

LHb fhNI ULtl VE DLAiNE.
Out from the grave of james G..
Blline ctmes the voice OF prophecy re-
peating words that were uttered while
he was yet in the full possession of that
vigorous mentality which placed him far
ahead OF t men of his day. Indeed it
hardly seems as though it was possible
for one to so faithfully outline in every
par, icular the events that have occurred
during Ike last II months. Wen may
one exclaim at this time, "oh, for one
hour Of Blaine
We stand too near this man TO appre-
cate his greatness. II will take gen
Grafton or two before history gives him
his proper place. In his mature years
lie became, as history will concedr, the
most far seeing statesman of his age.
1t was given to him, as to few men. to
look forward into the future aud fore
see the effects that the current events
would inevitably bring forth. He was
closer student of affairs than most
men in public life. Brushing away the
mists of the present he could look ahead
and see whittier we were irending.
He was ambitious, il is true, but it was
ihe ambition of the patriot. His later
years were devoted to a plan for a
greater America that should eventually
embrace the entire Western hemisphere
a grand dream, and yet one not i'm
possible of fuliillment. AS proof Of
this his labors to establish cordial re-
lations between the American govern :
ments afford ample evidence. The Pan
American Congress, the International
ailroad, his interest in all movements
tending to bind all the American nations
together are indications of his design.
His plan for reciprocity had this OBJ
ject ultimately in view. Had Mr..
Blaine's policy been followed by the 5tst
Congress the tariff revision of the Nc
Kinley tariff would have been materially
altered and the disastrous defeat of 1890,
followed by that of 1892, would never
have been encountered by his party.
These may be unpalatable truths but
there is not Republican in the country
who has given candid consideration to
to the great subject of the tariff who is
not compelled to acknowledge their
truthiulness.
Blaine looked ahead. He saw what
was coming and he warned his party
through it's leaders. The time is
coming when the history of those
days will be made public and then
it will be seen that his councils
were dictated solely with the
desire 10 increase the prosperity
of his country and to extend its com
merce and it's influence. 1t is not for
the writer TO enter into any eulogium of
Mr. Blaine but to point out the wonder
ful foresight of the man, that we may
learn a lesson from him, though for him
life's work is over.
James q. Blaine once used the memor-
able words:
countrymen. am an American, ana !
rejoice every day Of my life that am. |
enjoy the general prosperity of my coun-
try, and know that the workingmen of
this land are the best paid. the best fed
aud the best clothed of any laborers on
the face OF the earth. Many
of them have homes of their
own. They are surrounded by all the
comforts, and many OF the luxurics of life.
] shudder, however, at the thought that
the time must come when all this will
be changed. when the general prosperity
OF the country will be destroyed,
when the great body of working
men in this land. who are now
so prosperous will hear their wives
and childen cry for bread that the
lay must come when the great
factories aud manufactures of this land
viii shut down. and where there is now
life and activity there will be the silence
of the tomb. And the reason why this
must be- is this The great Southern
wing OF the Democratic mriv are
determined go establish the doctrine Of
free trade in this lnl. They viii be
assisted by their Northern allies. The
iyht is now on. There Is great body
of visionary. burelucated men. who are
ainplOved day by day iH writing
fee trade ESSAYS aud arguments In
favor OF that doctrine which find their
say into every newspaper m TINS land.