Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-08-26
Hon. James G. Blaine.

A Greeley man in this city was de-
nouncing Mr.. Blaine the other day,
when gentleman from Massachusetts
who happened to be standing by remarked:
Friend, what you say about Mr.. Blaine
sounds rather strangely to me. do not
believe many of the people OF Maine think
as you talk about him. believe they have
too much sense, and too well understand
the value of having such representative
in Congress as he is, to allow themselves
to be controlled by the weak and false
ideas which you utter. l consider Mr.
Blaine an honor to your State and the dis
trict fortunate that can secure his services.
Certainly if we had him IN Massachusetts
we should regard him as an honor to our
State, holding the position he does, and
displaying the ability which he has never
failed to show when necessary. If he is
not returned by as handsome majority as
he ever had in this election, ] shall have to
change my opinion Of the people of this
central part of Maine, and so am sure
will the most of republicans in Massachu-
sets and other States where they know
the advantage of having men like Mr..
Blaine in Congress to represent them.
The fault which you find about local APP
pointments is trivial. There will be more
or less grumbling about these things under
any circumstances, but to allow them to
control our vote against valuable repre-
sentative is absurd"
Now these are the ideas of Massachu-
sets man about Mr. Blaine. Taking the
broad view of his character, without preju-
dice on account of the jealousies and dis
likes arising from local patronage, he
comes to the same conclusion which the
most of republicans in the Third district
have reached, as well as many of the most
intelligent democrats. Mr.. Blaine is as
well known abroad as here And there is
not a sagacious politician in any State in
the Union but would agree with the gen.
tleman from Massachusetts. Why? Let
US see.
Mr.. Blaine came to Augusta in 1858,
where his residence has been ever since,
though styled carpet-bagger by his OPP
ponents. A foreigner who comes to this
country may become a citizen and voter
in five years, but in the opinion of some
people men have no right to vote in town
affairs unless they were born and have
always lived within the limits of the town.
Ihis class of men may consider Mr.. Blaine
carpet-bagger, although he has had
residence in this city nineteen years. His
frst employment in this State was that of
editor of the Portland Daily Advertiser.
which he left to become editor of the Ken
nebec Journal. In 1858 he was elected by
the republicans OF Augusta to represent
them in the Legislature, and reelected
again and again until he had served the
city four years, the last two as Speaker of
the House.
In 1862, he was first nominated as a
candidate for Congress by the re-
publIcans of this congressional district.
He took his seat in the December follow
ing, and has held it constantly to the pres
ent time, his present nomination being his
sixth from this district. His first speech
was made toward the close of the Thirty
eighth Congress, just as we were entering
the Presidential struggle of 1864. 1t was
upon the Resources of our country and
our ability to prosecute the War to Sue
cessful Conclusion. 1t was at once adopt