Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1884 — GRANT AND BLAINE. [ARTICLE]

GRANT AND BLAINE.

How the Veteran General and the Maine Statesman Met in New York. Mr. Blaine was seated in his rooms with a number of personal and political friends. Suddenly there was a knock at the door, and Mr. Blaine, who had just risen from a seat, stepped forward to open it. A stout, heavy-set man, with gray whiskers and dark-blue eyes, leaning on a pair of crutches, stood at the threshold. It did not take an instant for the crowd to recognize the veteran figure of Gen. Grant. Quick as a flash every man was on his feet. Mr. Blaine stepped forward in delighted surprise, and gras perl th 6 General’s hand with much warmth. Everybody in the room was silent as the two foremost men of their time stood hand in baud in the center of the room. The reception on the part of both was sincere and unaffected, and tears seemed to sparkle in the General’s eyes as he noticed the deference which all so gladly paid him. Leaning on his crutches, the General was led to ah adjoining settee, and there Mr. Blaine and he remained in consultation for nearly an hour. A little boy attached to the National Republican headquarters, who had come over to see the candidate, was sitting at a center-table in the room, on which rested his elbows, while he gazed earnestly at the spectacle before him. Then, turning to a gentleman whom he knew, he said, in a quiet voice: “And that is the man whom Ward robbed?" Altogether the scene was one which those who witnessed it are never likely to forget. Gen. Grant talked hoj>efully and earnestly of . the paospects of Republican succes. To Mr. Blaine he said :■ “They are abusing you as they have abused me, but they will elect you, nevertheless. For my own part,’Continued the Gen“ral, “I do not know of any time when Republican success was more essential to national prosperity than at present." The conference between the two great Republicans lasted for about an hour, and Mr. Blaine, at the parting, shook both of Gen. Grant’s hands, and assured him that he was more than delighted with his call. “My first duty after arriving," said Mr. Blaine, "was to have been to call on you, but you have anticipated my pleasure in this regard." Hannibal Hamlin, who probably outranked everybody present in hia devotion to Republican principles, seemed to pronounce a benediction upon the whole affair as he bade Mr. Blaine farewell, and said, in a good-natured way: “That Is a happy affair, indeed."