New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-06

weekly paper, and one OF tne orkhho VI s
party in tho State In 1857 Mr. biaire osposeu =, =.
his interest In this piper and became oo''or VI
Portland DAILY Advertiser. In the campaign Oh ieoo
~. ,s,n,ned Temporarily to his old post on The
E.u,,bec yosraal ON account of the illness OF It's
ssisor. His career in journalism lasted only Six
vearu When the Wing party went to pieces ne
io,nea Governor Arson p. Morrill, in organizing the
Hapnblican party in Maine. His vigorous attacks
upon the Buchanan Administration made him
mower in the new organization. In 1858, when ne
was In his twenty ninth year, he was elected 10
the Legislature He served two years on the moor
of the Lower House and two years IN the chalr' in
1862 be was nominated for ConR ems IN the kenne
bec District and was elected by majority oil S''Vo
votes. To this position he was suceessiveiy eieO'ou
In each succeeding CouRRess, until ms prOmoon W
the United States Senate.
The fiat reputation which Mr. Blaine made IN
Washington was that of an exceedingly industrious
committeeman, He was member OF the Post Once
and Military Committees and of the Committees on
Appropriations and Rules. He paid close attention
co the business of the committees and took an active
mart in the debates Of the House. manfestng prac-
teal ability and genius for details. The ffrst remark
able speech which he made in Congress was on tne
subject of the assumption by the General Govern
ment of the war debts of the States in the course
of which he urged that the North was abun"
cessfuf issue. This vigorous speech attracted
40 much attention that 100000 copies OF
Il were circulated in 1864 as a campaign document
hy the Republican party. In January. 1858, he in
4roduced resolution in relation to Congressional
representation winch was referred to the Recon
struction Committee, and was subsequently, made
the basis of the Fourteenth Amendment In Oecen-
ber 1867, he made an elaborate speech on the
finances in which he analysed Mr. Fenaletoh
greenback theory. " The remedy for our nnanciai
troubles,n said he. "will not be found IN super
abundance of deprecated paper currency IL hes IN
the opposite direction, and the sooner the Nation
finds itself on specie basis the sooner will the pub
lie Treasury be freed from embarrassment and pri-
yats business be relieved from disbursement In
stead. therefore, of entering upon q reckless and
6oundless issue of legal tenders. with their constant
epreciaton If not destruction OF value. let MS set
resoutely to work and make those already IN orcu-
lation equal to so many gold dollars"
At the opening of the first session of the ALlst
Congress the Republican caucus nominated MI
Blaine for Speaker by reclamation. and ne YVES
elected by vote Of 136 to 81 for Mr. Kerr. DE was
reelected. without opposition in his own party
Speaker OF tho XLIId and XLUd Congresses tne
politcal reyusion OF 1874 drove him from the plat
form to the floor as the leader of the Republican NIL
,,oritv If fundamentally skill and self-possesSion
had rendered him one of the BEST presiding officers
who ever occupied the Speakers chair, bis audaclty
and versatility made him OF the most adrolt anu
aggressive leaders ever seen on the door.
Mr.. Blaine was candidate for the Presidential
nomination in 1875. and came within ~ votes VI
beiug successful His vote increased from III on
the first ballot to 351 the seventh, but he was
beaton by a combination against linn OF the dele
gates supporting Morton, Conkhng. Hartranft,
Bristow and Hayes, who united upon Hayes and
made him the nominee. He was appointed Senator
July 10. 1875. to fill a vacancy caused by the resig
nation of Mr.. Morrill, and was subsequently elected
for the unexpired term and for the ensuing term
expiring in 1885, His great prominence in National
politics made him q conspicuous figure in the Senate
Mt once and he often broke over the tradition OF
the body which requires the new members TO allow
their elders to monopOlize the debates. de made
strong speech in favor of restricting Chinese immi
grafton which was much censured and much praised,
according to the point of view OF his critics. de
voted against tho Electoral Commission bill. de
opposed the Bland Silver bill in vigorous
speech, and favored the coinage OF an honest
silver dollar The question Of the restoration OF the
American carrying trade upon the seas mas received
great deal Of attention from him. ana MS speeches.
and letters thus snbject have attracted much at
tention. One of these speeches was made at New
York Chamber of Commerce dinner, and was ac-
cented AZ a mastery presentation Of the subject.
Mr. Blaine's sagacity, GOODNESS and wisdom as O
oarty leader were conspicuously demonstrated in
the measures he took to eircunvent the Democratic
plot for stealing the State Government OF Maine Ill
1879 by frsudulently counting out Republican
members of che Legislature. All the advantages,
save that of being III the right were with Ills Opp0-
nents nj the start. His supporters were eager TO
resort to arms as the only means OF obtaining Jus
tica, but they were restrained by MN. his plan
was first to arouse public sentiment by exposing the
enormity of the plot, next TO- tangie up ms ahtago
nists in a web of contradictions and then after
obJsiuiuP the Judgment of the Supreme Court, to
seige and hold the Legislative halls lt was com-
plesely successful. and the conspiracy became lm-
Senator Blaine was Que of the leading candidates
for the Presidential nomination at the Republican
National Convention In Chicago last jane; Out OF
a total of 755 he received the first ballot 2o4
votes On the thirteenth and fourteenth ballots he
received his highest vote 265. which very gradually
deulined to 257 on the thirty-ffth ballot. On the
tbirty-sixth ballot General Garfield was nominated
by combination of the elements opposed TO Genera
ing campaign that followed. Senator Blaine
worked and spoke for the success OF the
Republican ticket and aided largely in bring
Mr.. Blaine is now in bis ifty-second year. Al
though above medium height, he is so compactly
and powerfully built that be scarcely seems tall.
His features are large and expressive; he is slightly
bald and his neatly trimmed beard Is prematureiy
gray his bTows are lowerlpg-nis eyes Keen: On
and nerve. His voice Is rich and melodious ni Us
delivery is fluent and vigorous his gestures are tuii
OF grace and f0rce his seif-possessoh never Ioe.,
Northern Stats and is an exceedingly popular and
effective campaign orator. HIS faculties have Keen
edge his memory Is remarkably retentiye ana M
Yrsctica! knowledee of men and affairs has broad
range This comprehensive knowledge. broad rather
thar Deep Is of the secrets OF his p9p9iar. ny
He knows men from one end OF the country 10 the
other and lie knows what they thinking about
He has kept abreast with the average tnouRht Oh us
tsine-not above II or below 1t.
MIR Blaine was not 3 poor man wnon ne entereu
Congress in 1858, and be is not a millionaire now
For twenty years he has owned valuable cSal tTs s;
ri several hundred acres near PIttsburg. Inns
Se,,ied rim handsome income many years before hi
entered Congress. and the investment has been
nroiita be one during his public life his business