Show HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF IF TF EVER there was a case of ot history repeats itself in Amer Amer- American AmeriC AmerI lean ican iC politics it was illustrated in inthe inthe inthe the careers of Henry Clay and James G. G Blaine Elaine Separated by half a century those careers were almost exact duplicates of near achievement and ultimate disaster There were other resemblances al al- al- al so Both men were magnetic in personality eloquent in speech and idolized by their followers Both were master politicians and dom dom- dominated dominated dominated the councils of their parties but both fell victims to a political enemy whose fateful vengeance fol fol- followed followed fol- fol followed lowed them all through their days of striving for the presidency An An- Andrew Andrew Andrew drew Jackson was Clays Clay's Nemesis Roscoe Conkling was Blaines Early in his career Blaine Elaine rec rec- recognized recognized recognized his similarity to Clay When Grover Cleveland then comparatively comp unknown was W nom nom- nominated nominated nominated by the Democrats in 1884 Blaine Elaine had a premonition of de de- de- de feat fe I am the Henry Clay Y of the Republican party he declared to a friend Clay was W defeated in two conventions when he could have been elected and he was W nominated for President when his competitor was W elected That com com- competitor competitor competitor Polk was one who had hadnot hadnot hadnot not been publicly discussed as a presidential candidate before the meeting of the Baltimore conven conven- convention convention convention tion in 1844 I vas was defeated in two conventions when 1 could have been elected I am nominated now with a competitor alike obscure with the competitor of Clay Then he shook his head and md mur mur- murmured murmured murmured sadly 1844 1884 1844 1884 His Hrs premonition of defeat was a atrue atrue atrue true one Cleveland eland the unknown beat him in 1884 just as Polk the unknown beat Clay in 1814 1844 So among all the rans also of American political history Henry Clay of Kentucky and md James G. G Blaine Blame of Maine come down to us as the really epic figures that stand out as tragic personifications of forlorn hopes 0 Western X w pap r Union |