Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-05
When Mr.. Blaine Was Defeated In 1884

Wneu Nj. 6Aainc was 0cNcdNco W 1877
The result OF the presidential election
IN ISS4 was said TO have been terrible
shock to Mr.. Blaine. He felt sure Of the
vote OF New York state up 70 the night
OF election day. He left New York on
Sunday night previous and went TO Maine.
that his presence and influence might roll
I'D a big majority In his own state.
IN spite Of the Rum. Romanism and
Rebellion speecn at the celebrated ban
uuet. he vas assured IL Is said BY Patrick
Ford at the last moment that Is per cent
OF the Irish vote would be his. and that
the deal would 60 through. made with
New York city bosses. He went on his
way rejoicing. and felt as II the race was
really Won
The announcement that he failed TO car
~ New York completely dazed him. He
was not only indignant. but stunned and
confoauded- He demanded a contest IN
New York. He was said 10 be wild by
those nearest 10 him.
He Claimed" New York in a way that
foreboded trouble and not until Jay
Gould sent his telegram OF cOngratulation
90 Mr.. Cleveland did he seem TO appreei-
ate the situation. and his defiant attitude
toned down to one Of gloom and despond-
ency.
He felt as did Henry Clay. when the
Louisiana election returns were received.
and Il Is said his nearest OF kin were much
concerned about him. but after a while
his despondency gave waF TO excessive
bitterness towards certain men I'M HIS own
party. After that time he set himself to
the task OF paying on such men as
Chester A. Arthur Frelinghuysen, Ed
munds. ConkIing and others.
he Immediately moved 10 Washington
city to begin operations. and IL is worthy
blade. but used Il to lively purpose on
those Republican politicians as long as he
lived.
II was well understood for years that
Mr. Blaine held close personal relations
with certain southern Democratic poll
ticians. That alliance dated back to 1850.
when the Hancock ticket was put up. as
many believed. only 10 be slaughtered.
Justice Field was the Democratic eandi-
date who was 10 beat Grant IL the latter
received the nomination from COnkling
ard the old guard OF 306." and IL was the
memory Of that trade and the bitterness
that filled the two factions Of the Repub-
hcan party that made success OF Cleve-
lands race in 1884. Garfield was nominat-
Cd In June. 1881. and IL was Blaine's con-
troll OF Garfield that defeated Grant and
Conkling and there Is a chapter OF secret
history. known TO a few living persons IS
20 how southern Democrats and southern
Republicans worked this matter in
Bla.ne's interest 10 beat Grant.
some UAN X VIII De uncovered anu there
will Be fun knowledge or how and why
neither Sherman OF Grant were selected
in Georgia BY Republican votes and how
Mr.. Blaine went 20 the national Republi-
can convention with quito as strong
following as either Of them. when he was
not considered at all until the black and
tan convention held its meeting down in
Atlanta
But the country can wait until the time
Is rfpe We can all watt
Afr. Blaine in 1854 felt confident he had
the thing dead sure He was BY the side
OF Mr.. Garfield when Guiteau fired his
shot. He became the executor Cas well
as the euiogistl- Of Mr.. Garfeld's political
effects. and he thought he could not be
defeated when he made his final race for
the presidency IN 1854
And Il was a miracle that his plan did
not work. because he held all the trump
cards II seemed. in the play-but the
game was surely lost. and Mr.. Blaine liv-
ed an embittered life towards many mem
bers OF his own party ever afterwards.
charging treachery. He knitted" Conk-
ling. Arthur and Platt at every turn. Ex-
cept that Mr.. Edmunds was as safe I'm
the senate as his Vermont rocks. he would
have been suffered political assassination
under Mr.. Blaine's leadership.
Mr.. Blaine set himself TO work TO de-
feat the Nicaraugan treaty. which carried
Mr.. Frelinghuysan's canal scheme along
with II.
Mr. Blaine killed the Spanish treaty to
smite some other enemy. He put finger
IN the Mexican treaty pie. He inaugural
ed the war on Conkling and kept COnlz-
ling retired 10 private life He used his
nachite shrewdly.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Blaine amused his more
peaceful hours by writing: Twenty
Years IN Congress, and making up his
mind 20 run again IN ISIS but the latter
EFFORT miscarried.
He lost the giittering prize forever.
when In 1854 the state Of New York went
against him. No man ever worked hard
er for an election. and no man ever COW
etsd II more earnestly. He died a disap-
pointed man. who Ike Napoleon at ST
Helena. could always see where he missed
and lost.