Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-03-16

unbounded confidence in himself and
in Missourians, with whose capabih-
ties, characteristics. sentiments and
preiudices he was as well acquainted
as any man that aver lived.
On the 30th Of May, 1851, In urging
the president to authorize the enlist
ment of a large number Of Missourians,
be wrote these words, which, in the
light of what happened in the succeed
ing four years. appear amazing. He
said:
1--WE are well able to take care of
ourselves in this state, without assist
ance from elsewhere, II authorized to
raise a sufficient force within the state.
and after that work is done we can take
care of the secessionists from the Ar
kansas line to the gull, along the west
shore of the Mississippi
The most spectacular feature Of the
great Chicago national Republican con-
vention Of 1880 was oonkling's speech
nominating Grant. That masterful ora
ton will be read with rapture by mil
lions yet unborn Il contained a single
sentence which alone made II worthy Of
remembrance. In describing Grant.
Conkling said,
"His fame was born not alone Of
things written and said. but Of the ar
duous greatness of things done"
The phrase 1.-THE arduous greatness OF
things done was original with the
brilliant New Yorker and constitutes q
rich and permanent addition TO u
literature. 1t sticks to the memory like
a bur. II fills a long felt want It ep-
plies to Frank Blair as well as to the
great captain in whose presence the
whole world uncovered. for Blair's tame
rests also largely on ''the arduous great
ness Of things done"
wartime Politics.
A few Incidents out Of a multitude
which might be cited win show the
character of political warfare In Mis-
souri, in the days when Blair was on the
boards
Before the war he went to Hannibal
to make an emancipation speech. A
mob gathered to break up the meeting.
While he was speaking some one hit
him squarely In the forehead with an
egg. he wiped It of with his finger.
tipped II on the ground, and imperturb-
ably proceeded, making not the slight
est allusion to the incident His mar
yelous nerve charmed his audience, hos
tile though il was, and those who had
come to stone him remained to applaud
In the outskirts Of Louisiana, NO.,
stand four immense sugar trees, which.
II the Druidieal religion were in vogue
in the Mississippi valley, would BE- set
aside as objects Of worship by Demo-
Gratis. They form the rne Of a rec
tangle about large enough for a speak
er's platform Beneath their grateful
shadow, with the Father of Waters be-
hind him, the eternal hills In front Of
him, the blue sky above his head, in
the presence Of a great and curious CON
our of people, Frank Blair made the
first Democratic speech delivered In
Missouri after the close of the civil war.
Excitement was intense. Armed men Of
all shades of opinion abounded on every
hand When Blair arose to speak he
unbuckled his pistol belt and coolly laid
two navy revolvers on the table BE
prefaced his remarks as follows;
Fellow citizens, / understand that I
am to be killed here today. ! have Just
come out of four years Of that sort Of
business If there is to be any Of It here.
II had better be attended to before the
speaking begins"
He then proceeded with his speech,
but had not been going more than FIVE
minutes until a man OF gigantic pro-
portions started toward him, shaking
his huge fist and shouting; Hes an
arrant REBEL Take him outl Take him
outr' Blair stopped. looked the man in
the face, crooked his finger at him and
said. You come and take me outl"
which put an end to that episode, for
the man who was yelling. "'Take him
outi'' suddenly realized that Blair's I'm
dex finger which was reckoning him on
would soon be pressing the trigger OF
one Of those pistols IL he did go on. and
he p~rudently declined Blair's cordial in
vitation.
Speaking Under DimeuIties.