The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-14
BLAINE AND ARTHUR.
interesting "Reminiscences of Hens y
WaftersOn Concerning Them.

(From the Louisville Courier Journal
One balmy night in February or early
March Of 1884, coming away from little
dinner party with an old Democratic
personal friend, the two took walk in
the adjacent KaIorama region, and Mr.
Blaine began to unbosom himself. He
dwelt upon the happiness the writing
his book which was then in medals res,
was giving him; he grew eloquent as his
won't was about literature and journal
ism, and the utter hatefulness OF politics
he was true disciple OF Webster and
Clay-and, in the exuberanoe Of that
stalwart and affectionate effusion which
was the bloom and beauty of his nature,
as it was his strength, he exclaimed:
You cannot know the happiness 1t is to
be aloof from these deals and diclxers, to
bs nay own man among my own books,
and to live another life, yet living anew,
with these old Wing ana Democratic
wol th1es grew up to love and hate, but
to yenerate. At pause in the stream
CT exaltation which flowed from him, his
younger companion said: "Mr. Blaine,
you Jalk like dreamer ana a poet.
Five years ago, passing half day togeth-
er in a comp artment Of the Pennsylvania
Limited coming over from New York to
Washington, you were talking the same
way. Yet a few months later, you had
your breeches stuffed in your boots, your
sleeves rolled up to the armpits, and,
knock down and drag out, were giving
us Democrats more than we were able to
give you back. I thought myself lucky
that you did not get me in Jail - He
waved the interpOSitiOn aside. t'YOu are
like all the rest, - he vehemently ex-
claimed ''YOu will not understand me-
Then my personal honor was involved.
l was Obliged to fight / fought uphill
as you knOW-for I was a sick man-and
l fought that particular fight to a finish
But 1 am not obliged to fight now. The
time for you and your people has come.
One party cannot win always, and ex-
cept in a single contingency the day Of
the Republican party has come to lose.
There is one more victory for US with a
war candidate, Gen. Sherman and Gen.
Sherman alone, can insure the Republi-
cans the next Presidential election. 1
have written him to that effect and if
you will come around and breakfast with
us tomorrow morning l will read you
my letter. -
The Democratic friend did this Mr..
Blaine S letter to Mr. Sherman has since
DSeu 4Aichuo pubi1Cs Dub O6us Ou6I1llau
reply-Which came a rev days later, and
which Mr.. Blaine's Democratic COM
panion of the suburban walk was permit
ted also to read-has never been printed
The nearest to it is the letter to Mr.
DoOlittle, printed by The North Ameri-
can Review. Gen. Sherman letter to
Mr.. Blaine was q 'cOrker.'' Written in
the close intimacy of domestic connection
and lifelong friendship, the old warrior
''let himself out" He would not have
the presidency ION gold plate" He
would not lower him self to the 'rascals''
who were in that line of business to be
emperor Of the universe - And a good
deal additional Of the same sort of a more
directly personal description that will
never be printed.
Mr.. Blains made one mistake, Mr..
Arthur could have been elected by the
Republicans in 1884. He was a man of
genius. He had the gift Of charm. He
was free trader. II was a Nationalist
He was a patriot and q gentleman. Had
he been retained as President he would
have reorganized parties on the new lines
His rejection by his own party cost him
his life while he was yet handsome,
graceful and comparatively young man.
But he left a sweet aroma behind him in
the White House; the memory of a charm
ing presence in himself, and the tradition
OF a man of action in local affairs who
transferred to the head of all affairs-was
equal to the greatest exigencies A noble
man, indeed, was Chester Alan Arthur
and when the history of his time is writ
ten-whRt he did and especially what be
did not dO-the verdict OF the world will
so record him.