may
be that the sciences of to-day will be the religions of the future,
and that other sciences will be as far beyond them as the science
of to-day is beyond the religion of to-day. As a rule, religion
is a sanctified mistake, and heresy a slandered fact. In other
words, the human mind grows--and as it grows it abandons the old,
and the old gets its revenge by maligning the new.

--_The San Franciscan_, San Francisco, October 4, 1884.

BLAINE'S DEFEAT.

_Question_. Colonel, the fact that you took no part in the late
campaign, is a subject for general comment, and knowing your former
enthusiastic advocacy and support of Blaine, the people are somewhat
surprised, and would like to know why?

_Answer_. In the first place, it was generally supposed that Blaine
needed no help. His friends were perfectly confident. They counted
on a very large Catholic support. The Irish were supposed to be
spoiling to vote for Blaine and Logan. All the Protestant ministers
were also said to be solid for the ticket. Under these circumstances
it was hardly prudent for me to say much.

I was for Blaine in 1876. In 1880 I was for Garfield, and in 1884
I was for Gresham or Harlan. I believed then and I believe now
that either one of these men could have been elected. Blaine is
an exceedingly able man, but he made some mistakes and some very
unfortunate utterances. I took no part in the campaign; first,
because there was no very important issue, no great principle at
stake, and second, I thought that I had done enough, and, third,
because I wanted to do something else.

_Question_. What, in your opinion, were the causes for Blaine's
defeat?

_Answer_. First, because of dissension in the party. Second,
because party ties have grown weak. Third, the Prohibition vote.
Fourth, the Delmonico dinner--too many rich men. Fifth, the Rev.
Dr. Burchard with his Rum, Romanism and Rebellion. Sixth, giving
too much attention to Ohio and not enough to New York. Seventh,
the unfortunate remark of Mr. Blaine, that "the State cannot get
along without the Church." Eighth, the weakness of the present
administration. Ninth, the abandonment by the party of the colored
people of the South. Tenth, the feeling against monopolies, and
not least, a general desire for a change.

_Question_. What, in your opinion, will be the result of Cleveland's
election and administration upon the general political and business
interests of the countr