National Republican., 1876-01-22

htdh-huccu men cltucf uuChlC Ou VIZ
armor in earnest or throw it away. The future
is full of promise and the time opportune for
energetic honest work.
The Tribune has an editorial caption "Court-
| ing defeat" If the stories are true which TO-
| day find general circulation in reliable chan
nels, 1t is about the only kind Of "courting"
the Powerful Mind can succeed in.
The Democrats begin to look upon Blaine as
a supernatural parsonage; as a prime and
sturdy Sampson among the Phillistines. We
hope no force bill Delish will rob him Of his
party confidence and strength.
Rev. Bromley, of Massachusetts,, says that
baked beans are the ''deyf's food" Why the
man is mad, for the fat, luscious Lima don't
thing that will take the vigor out Of bean
vine it is long spell of hot weather.
In 1865 Governor Hendricks said: 81 made
no appeal to men to volunteer, as would not
say go when was not going myself" And
as this showed the little zeal on his part in
putting down the rebellion, OF course it will
make him a very popular Presidential candi-
date in the South
Mr.. Hill says IN speaking to the Republican
party, through whose broad magnauiuity he
today enjoys his political existence: 1--WE ask
you, gentlemen, to rise above all your ami
mosities, and to forget your old SIM" Well,
now, this does beat Hill. Like q compassionate
parent in Furnishing child, the Republican
party forgives them for opening the strife, and
after opening it for striking back so violently;
but to save its life it could not forget the old
sin, you know, the sin (O that saTed the Union
Authoritative Statement In Regard to Ex.
Speaker Blsins's Religious Faith.
CFrom the PIttsburg Gazette, Jan. Is.l
DR.. James King, ono of the leading physi-
clans of this city. and widely known in Penn
sylyania as surgeon general Of the State
during the late war, writes the subjoined letter,
which we feel sure will be read with interest,
and which will necessarily be accepted as con-
elusive in regard to the interesting topic to
which he refers:
To The Editors Of he PiftSburg Gd=stte:
observe that anonymous writer's in various
parts of the country are furnishing what they
term "reliable information" in regard to ex-
Speaker Blaine's family and early religious
GuuCdLlOU. Ab MI. udIQc Is DITCH
mentioned in connection with public affairs, an
authentic statement on the subject may be of
general interest. give it, therefore, over my
own name, and from long and intimate ac-
quaintsnce with Mr.. Blaine and with his
family.
Twas 4 member of the faculty Of Washing
ton College when Mr.. Blaine was q student
there. He entered the Preparatory Depart
ment when only twelve years Of age, and from
that time until his graduation he was con-
slant attendant upon the service of the Pres
byterian church, which had and still has the
exclusive control of the college. There was
no Catholic church in the town. Attendance
upon church service was required of the STU
dents, and their absence from Il was noted and
it was said, and l believe it to be true, that
Mr.. Blaine never missed attending church a
single Sunday during his college course. 1t
was also true that he never was absent from
a recitation during his whole course; and this
boyhood punctuality must have followed him
into public life, for have often seen il stated
in the papers that during his Speakership of
six years he was never out Of the chair for
single day. Mr. Blaine graduated in 1917,
before he was eighteen years old, at the head
of q large and well remembered class.
Mr.. Blaines father came from a well-knoWn
and distinguished Carlisle family of the old
colonial and revolutionary stock-a family
specially marked in all its branches for strict
" lue IIeSUNttEldu IllS
mother, talented, beautiful, widely beloved
and truly Christian lady, was from an equally
prominent Catholic family, and this fact has
probably given rise to all the unfounded gossip
about Mr.. Blaine having been a Catholic. No
one knew better than his mother that he was
a firm Protestant, for very frequently con-
versed with her upon the matter during the
last twenty-five years of her life, for the
greater part of which was her attending
physician.
Mr.. Blaine simply followed the traditionary
faith Of his fathers family, and when, in his
early manhood, he settled in New England he
naturally attended the Orthodox Congrega-
tional church, of which he has been member
for more than twenty years.
As q jealous supporter Of Mr.. Greeley in
1872, and Presbyterian, believing in perfect re-
ligious freedom for all, it may well be assumed
that do not admire or approve the tone of
political discussion that renders these details
in regard to Mr.. Blaine necessary. But since
the question is raised, 1t is better that the ac-
tual facts be fully set forth. All papers that
have copied anonymous communications on the
subject, should, in justice, copy this state
ment, the correctness Of which Lam sure no
one will dispute.
Very respectfully, JAMES KING.