The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1904-01-29
BLAINE'S BLUNDER.
Failed to Return Gen. Grants
Significant Call During the
1884 Campaign.


had quarrel or even misunder-
standing. Perhaps they understood
each other too we'll. for their relations
were always purely official; never In
innate and scarcely cordial. After
Mr.. Blaine became an active candi-
cate for the Presidency against the
opposition of Grants friends, he was
bitter and resentful. and during the
last two years of Grants Presidency,
never went to the White House
When Blaine was nominated in 81
he and his managers expected no sup
port or even endorsement from the
leaders OF the Grant faction, although
one OF them. Gen. Logan, was put on
the ticket as Vice President with the
hope of claiming them TO the Blaine
car. Mr.. Conkling, however, was
the only prominant Grant man who
refused to support the Republican
ticket. But he did not support Cleve.
land either. He remained silent dur
ing the entirs campaign, although 1t
Is not probable that his attitude af-
iected mauy voters. II was rumored
that he intended to take the stump
against Blaine, and the dates and
places of his speeches were even an
nounced In the newspapers Some OF
his satirical remarks concerning the
Republican ticket were published In
the newspapers and made Blaine
smart.
General Grants attitude was a mat
ter Of great anxiety. Conkllng was
comparatively without influence. but
no man stood higher in the estimation
OF the world and In the affections OF
the American people than Grant, and
his fiaancial troubles about this time
aroused sympathy which has seldom
been expressed by the public for any
man.
In the early summer Of 1884 Mr.
Blaine, having been nominated as the
Republican candidate, stopped in New
York for few days while en- route
from Washington to his home in Au-
gusta, aud went to the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, where he held an almost con-
tinuous reception under the manage
ment OF Senator Elkins and Richard
c. Kerens, of St. Leuis.
One morning, when not only Mr..
Blaine's rooms, but the office and the
corridors OF the hotel were thronged
with politicians and newspaper re-
porters. a grim old soldier stepped out
OF a cab and hobbled through the en-
trance on a pair of clutches. The
crowd separated for him to pass
through, and every hat was lifted
with a respect which was almost rev.
ereuce. A few days before he had
slipped and fallen on the sidewalk,
and his LETT leg was disabled Tor sew
eral months. He took to clutches
readily, however, and while they did
not distract from his dignity they in
terfered considerably with his COM
fort.
Approaching the desk he offered
his card to the clerk and whispered,
"Mr. Blaine"
There was great excitement In Mr.
Blaine's apartment when the bellboy
entered bearing 1t upon tray. Mr..
Blaine and Mr.. Kerens went down to
receive and escort the General up
stairs, and when he arrived Mr.. Blaine
received him with hearty welcome,
for no one could appreciate the signif-
icance and importance Of the visit as
much as he. Gen. Grant remained in
Mr.. Blaine's apartment about fifteen
minutes, discussing ordinary topics
of onversation-the weather, his
lameness, the prospects of'Republican
success and so on-and when he arose
to leave and placed his clutches under
his arm, Mr.. Blaine escorted him to
the elevator and thanked him for the
honor OF his call.
The next morning the newspapers
were full of it. 1t was interpreted as
demonstration OF loyalty on the part
of the greatest man In private life to
the candidate of his party for Presi-
dent, and no doubt reconciled to the
support of the ticket many thousands
of old soldiers who were devoted to
their former commander and distrust-
full of Mr.. Blaine.