The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-11-02
THE BLAIRS.
Death of the Senior Member of the Fam
ily-Interesting "reminiscences.

ny-Interesting "reminiscences.
From the Chicago Tribune.l
The death of the venerable Francis
Preston Blair, father of Montgomery
Blair and the late Frank P. Blair, Jr.,
has already been noticed. He was born
In Abingdon, Va, in April, 1871,
and was in the seth year of his age.
His death recalls other and almost for
gotten times in American politics, when
Blair ws.s conspicuous participant in
national affairs. There was hardly an as.
sociate of that day whom he did not
survive.
a Mr., Blair was the editor of paper in
Kentucky, and belonged to the Demo
cratic Republican party, which, during
Mr.. Monroe's administration, had no
opposition. When that administration
was drawing to a close the candidates
| for the succession were numerous.
John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, An
drew jackson, William 81. Crawford,
John G. Calhoun, and other members OF
| the party, all aspired to the Presidency.
Adams, Crawford, and Calhoun were
members of Monroe's Cabinet, and
were hearty haters of each other. Each
had his followers. Among the warm
supporters of Mr.. Clay were Francis P.
Blair and Amos Kendall, both residents
in Kentucky, where Kendall had been
teacher in Clay's family. Both sup
ported Clay in the contest in 1924, when,
the people failing to elect, the House
chose Adams President. The whole
period of that administration was de-
voted to the preparation for the next
election, and the onceunited party.
gradually separated into two divisions
which subsequently formed themselves
into the Democratic and Wing parties.
Nevertheless. during the exciting con
test of 1928, all the candidates were
nominally of the Republican party.
The election of Gaeneral Jckson forced
the adherents of Adams, Clay, and the
anti Masonic factions into an opposition,
which four years later took form as the
Wing party. An article written by
Blair, opposing the notification and
state-sOyereignty notions of Calhoun
and his school, attracted the attention of
Jackson, who invited Blair to come to
Washington and publish the Globe, the
destined organ of the Democratic party.
At the same time he invited Kendall to
Washington, giving him place in the
| treasury, and thus secured the support
and services of two able men who pre-
viously had been ardent friends of Henry
Clay. There had been consider
able talk, preceding Jackson's cleo
/ ton, of establishing the one-term
principle, and Mr.. Calhoun, who was
then Vice President, was urged for the
succession. The Democratic paper at
Washington the 7e1egrapb-edited by
Duff Green. was the mouthpiece OF CAL
houn's friends. The Globe, established
by Blair and Rives, became the admin
istration organ. The war between the
jackson and Calhoun factions became
intensified, and the first Cabinet of Gen.
Jackson was broken up, partly by po-
litical but mainly by personal hatreds
arising from the ntagonism for the sue
cession. A few years later the practical
revolt of South Carolina and President
| Jackson's proclamation and manly de-
nunciation of notification drew the
| lines closely between the Democrats and
Nullifers, and Jackson's supremacy in
the party was complete. Following this
was the Presidents war upon and de-
| feat of the National Bank, and his own
| triumphant reelection. During all
these years the confidential, though un-
| official, advisers of the President were
Francis P. Blair and Amos Kendall, who
were represented in those days as the
Kitchen Cabinet" Blair was, as
editor of the Globe, conspicuous OBJ
! iect of assault, but during his whole
service in Washington bore himself
bravely, defending the Democratic party
against the State4Sovereignty and Multi
| fication doctrines and party. He did
not make the defense of slavery a party
| doctrine or policy. He continued as
editor of the Globe during Mr., Van
Buren's term, and supported him I'M
availingly for reelection in 1910.
The Blairs acted with the Republicans
in the nomination and support of Ere
mont in 1856, of Lincoln in 1850, and
supported the war. In 1868 Frank P.
Blair, Jr., was the Democratic candi-
date for Vice President.
.n The venerable gentleman whose death
at such an advanced age is thus noticed
was remarkable, even when a young
man, for his plainness. He was regard
ed as the Notwithstanding man IN the
country. He was a man of genius and
great ability, wise in council, firm IN
purpose, and devoted to what he con-
sidered to be justice; a man OF great
personal kindness, amiable disposition,
pleasant manners, and who, through
long public life, passed without re-
proach upon his personal or public
record.
Chinaman RuyS a Railroad.