The Irish standard., 1904-08-06
% become vice president of the United

to become vice president Of the United
States twelve years later. Their con-
versation ceased Immediately 1 EN-
tered. They had been having a con-
ference. l thought-the three men,
Blaine, Hobart and Ford. I think SO
today.
Yes. l have something for publica-
ton tonight" said Mr.. Blaine He
pushed a chair for me at the table
please write as dictate" he added,
still standing, while Hobart watched
across at the work.
Besides me on my desk as 1 set
down these recollections lie five small
and time-yellowed pad sheets on which
| wrote at Blaine's dictation that Sun
day night, two days before his defeat
in 1884. There are some erasures and
some interwriting done by Blaine's
hand, and beside these sheets of copy
lies now the pencil which he used. He
hegaa his dictation thus:
"A delegation of Catholics, headed
by Patrick Ford, editor of the Irish
World, called this evening to extend
congratulations to Mr.. Blaine upon the
manner in which he had referred to
Rev. Burchard's infelicitous remark ut
the late meeting of ministers in this
city"
who We're the other members of
the delegation-who. besides Ford:'
| asked. Blaine was annoyed. He
spoke shortly.
Never mind about tllat-continue,
please"
But. Mr.. Blaine, l must have the
names of Mr.. Ford's colleagues. y
Whereat Mr.. Blaine was clearly vexed.
Hobart moved uneasily, glancing from
one to the other With fine tact he
spoke, in that tone of comradeship
which, when deftly used. is very pc.
tent with young reporter.
MIR. Blaine does not care to give
amy other names-it makes no differ
ence to you, my dear boy"
"Pardon me" l urged, sit does
make Il difference. The first question
at the office and next from the public
will be as to the identity of the entire
delegation" Mr.. Blaine spoke quickly,
almost interrupting:
Merely say that Mr.. Blaine gave
out no other names.''
But that does not absolve me-"
persisted. Names are news in this
matter; and, besides, 1 saw Mr.. Ford
coming out from here alone just now
did he remain after the others had
gone, or We're there no others?" MIR.
Blaine's eyes clouded swiftly. He was
tired, anxious, possibly desperate
must he be forever harried by this
wretched business? His breath was
indrawn for an explosion, but the
tactful Hobart lifted restraining
hand, stood up hastily and leaned
across the table.
There, my boy, don't be suspi-
cious," smiled Hobart, ''let it stand
just as it is and hold us responsible
in your report, if necessary" The in
drawn breath escaped from Mr..
Blaine's lips in Il weary sigh. The re-
porter was either cajoled or convinced
it does not now matter which. Nh
Blaine continued the dictation, and l
copy from the sheets beside me what
lie said. He was clamping down his
utterance of the night before at New
Haven, and 1 reproduce it as fine
example of subtle disputation.:
In reply to the atulations Mr.
Blaine reatIirmcd the position he had
taken in his New Haven speech. He
said:
Religious liberty is the absolute
law of our land, freedom of con-
science is the inalienable right of ev-
cry American citizen, native or na-
| turalized. Whoever violates that free
| dom strikes at the foundation of the
! republic. AS Il Protestant l demand
for the Catholic precisely the same
liberty Of action, the same respect for
conscientious belief that l claim for
myself. Perfect religious liberty is the
highest attainment of our free consti-
tuition, and that liberty implies mu-
tual tolerance, respect for each others
| rights of conscience and generous
spirit of Christian charity"
The sophistry of this ingenious die
| ton lies, as we can better see at this
distance from the turmoil of it's birth,
in the fact that it challenges nothing
which DR.. Burclard had said. 1t
sounds bravely to the ear and ap-
pears fair to the eye, but it did not
touch the poison in the three RS. In
deed, DIR. Burchard's card to the public
on the day before had declared just as
roundly for religious freedom and toll
erance.
Had Mr.. Blaine in one sentence de-
nounced the classification Of "Roman-
ism" with Rum and rebellion" the
Nurchard sore would have been in
! stantly cauterized. And the keen
mind of Blaine appreciated this, as is
shown in the next dictation:
mfr. Patrick Ford remarked that
it was a very gratifying circumstance
that in an excited campaign, in which
100000 Republicans were taking
part. this remark Burchard's allitera-