ake of an office.
So I say again that I never asked, or dreamed of asking, any such
favor of Mr. Blaine. The favors have been exactly the other way--
from me, and not from him. So there is not the slightest truth in
the charge that there was some difference between our families.

I have great respect for Mrs. Blaine, have always considered her
an extremely good and sensible woman; our relations have been of
the friendliest character, and such relations have always existed
between all the members of both families, so far as I know. Nothing
could be more absurd that the charge that there was some feeling
growing out of our social relations. We do not depend upon others
to help us socially; we need no help, and if we did we would not
accept it. The whole story about there having been any lack of
politeness or kindness is without the slightest foundation.

In 1884 I did not think that Mr. Blaine could be elected. I thought
the same at the Chicago convention this year. I know that he has
a great number of ardent admirers and of exceedingly self-denying
and unselfish friends. I believe that he has more friends than
any other man in the Republican party; but he also has very bitter
enemies--enemies with influence. Taking this into consideration,
and believing that the success of the party was more important than
the success of any individual, I was in favor of nominating some
man who would poll the entire Republican vote. This feeling did
not grow out of any hostility to any man, but simply out of a desire
for Republican success. In other words, I endeavored to take an
unprejudiced view of the situation. Under no circumstances would
I underrate the ability and influence of Mr. Blaine, nor would I
endeavor to deprecate the services he has rendered to the Republican
party and to the country. But by this time it ought to be understood
that I belong to no man, that I am the proprietor of myself.

There are two kinds of people that I have no use for--leaders and
followers. The leader should be principle; the leader should be
a great object to be accomplished. The follower should be the man
dedicated to the accomplishment of a noble end. He who simply
follows persons gains no honor and is incapable of giving honor
even to the one he follows. There are certain things to be
accomplished and these things are the leaders. We want in this
country an American system; we wish to carry into operation, into
practical ef