In
1860 he made a great Union speech; and it is a remarkable proof of the
hold he had upon the people of the South, that, in spite of this, and of
his well-known convictions, he was chosen Vice-President of the
Confederacy a year later. He accepted, but within a year he had
quarrelled with Jefferson Davis on the question of state rights, and in
1864, organized the Georgia Peace party. From that time on to the close
of the war, he labored to bring about a treaty of peace, but in vain.
He was imprisoned for a few months after the downfall of the
Confederacy, but was soon released and was prominent in the political
life of Georgia for fifteen years thereafter, being governor of the
state at the time of his death in 1883. A more contradictory, obstinate,
prickly-conscienced man never appeared in American politics.
* * * * *
So passed the era of the Civil War. Have we had any great statesmen
since? Some near-great ones, perhaps, but none of the very first rank.
Great men are moulded by great events, or, at least, require great
events to prove their greatness. Let us pause a moment, however, to pay
tribute to one of the most accomplished party leaders in American
history--a man almost to rank with Henry Clay--James G. Blaine.
As a young editor from Maine, he had entered Congress in 1863.
Pages:
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214