The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-20

ed. I do not believe that eself-govern- ment with universal suffrage could be maintained long in any northern state, pr in any country in the world. without am pie provision for public education.
 Mr Hoar then discusses the negro question briefly, and expresses the belier that reconstruction has not been fail- ure. concluding with these words;
 Negro Question.
 Let us not be in a hurry. Evils II they be evils, which have existed from the foundation of the world, are not to be cured in the lifetime of a single man. The men of the day of reconstruction were controlled by the irresistible logic of events; by power higher than their own l could see no alternative then and see no alternative now better than which was adopted"
 Senator Hoar thus speaks of James C. Blaine:
 James G. Blaine was a man of many faults and many infirmities. But his life if a part of the history of his country. It will be better for his reputation that the chapter of that history which relates to him shall be written by historian with a full and clear sense of those faults and infirmities, concealing nothing, and ex- 
 nought down in malice. MT. Blaine was a brilliant and able man, lovable, patriot ic. far-seeing, kind. He acted in a great way under great responsibilities. He was wise and prudent when wisdom and pru- dence were demanded. If he had attain ed to the supreme object of his ambition and reached the goal of the Presidency, if his life had been spaired to complete his term, it would have been a most hon orable period in my opinion, in the his- tory of the country. No man has ever lived in this country since Daniel Web ster died, save Mckinley alone, who had so large number of devoted friends and admired in all parts of the country"
 On General Butler.
 The autobiography touches with a sin gularly gentle pen most of the men 1t mentions. There is but one exception and that is when MT. Hoar reaches Benjamin F. Butler A chapter of thirty-four pages in devoted to General Butler. Senator Hoar says:
 "No person can adequately comprehend the political history of Massachusetts for the thirty-five years beginning with 1850, without a knowledge of the charac- ter, career and behavior of Benjamin F. Butler. It is, of course, disagreeable and in most cases it would seem unmanly to speak harshly of a political antagonist who is dead In the presence of the great reconciler, Death. ordinary human con- tentions and angers should be hushed. But, if there is such a thing in the uni verse as moral law, if the distinction be- tween right and wrong be other than a fancy or a dream. the difference be tween General Butler and the men who contend- ed with him belongs not to this life alone. It relates to matters more permanent than human life It enters into the fate of republics, and will endure after the fashion of the world passeth away.
 Buffers Influence.
 I can not tell the story of my life at a most important period without putting on record an estimate of him, and the na- ture of his influence over the youth of the Commonwealth. Besides, it is to be remembered that he took special pains lo write and to leave behind him a book in which he gave his own account of the great controversies in which he engaged,