The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-02-03
How MT. Blaine Received His Frs,
Portland .Tnn.erini.l


 .Do you know how NIT. Blaine received his first nomination to the Maine legisla- ture :' inquired an old veteran of the Augusta hre department n is palray days of volunteer service. Well. then will tell you how il came about. From my earliest acquaintance ~ith NIT. Blalne have been one of his warmest admirers. and shall stick to him ;o the last. This is characteristic of all his followers. You see, when he first became the editor Of the Kennebec /onrnal, he was unknown outside of very limited circle of ae- auaintanoes. From his writings knew he was composed of the right material. and il only needed the opportunity 10 bting Il out. Soon after the city of .Aa- gus,a purehased.th Atlantic and Pacihc steam fire engines. l was chosen captain of PaclhC No. :. Livery member of that company was s,auneh republican, with but q single exception an out and out democrat. who l. still lNlns in that city. NIT. Blaine was an honorary member of our company at that time. lust before the caucus to nominate representatives to the state legislature. We held an engine meeting and wen, about among the members and privately requested them 10 attend the caucus and nominate Blaine. This was readily agreed 10. but our solitary democrat WAS kep, n pro- found ignorance of what was going on. had previously spoken 10 NIT. Blaine of our contemplated movement. but he dis eouraged II, and said the honor belonged to some one more experienced in lcgisla- tive matters. Hove. er. we marched ,o the caucus room fifty strong. and cast our votes for our fas ori,e. The result was ;hat we carried the day. aud he received the nomination over some bali Il dozen asplran;s for the honrr. us; as was leaving the room. met Mr. Blaine fresh from his editorial labors. aad ..ith a large bundle of newspapers under his ann. and 1 told bim the result ef ,ae h1llonn-. He seemed greatly surpai~ed at what had been tloae.aRd insisted :Aai-tbe nen!- nation should have gone 10 some one else. Ihs was ,he }edr when Il deter mined effort was male to remove ,he state capital Co Portland. and told Nj. Blame tha, the republican party needed iast such men IL he to d. ieai the meas urc, and slte enough he did defeat l. and Il wds thisa4gh hi> Hdomitab.c pluck and energy that the pip5cet came ;o .n inSionous end. Ihis W4s hls nfs; eXpe- rienee in the halls of legislation. and hc owed his nomination and eicf :Iol to the brave volunteer men ei his adopted cisy. Most of the boys belonging te the com pany ai that time have passed away. bgt those still living arc as firm friends of the great statesman to-day aS they were when they marched to the ballot.bex and voted to man for ,ac chosen oansli- date
 N.r. Biaine's attention WIS recently called te this reminisoence of his early political life. and he said he remembered the circumstances perfectly well. His youthful champion Is how employed in the government printing office al Wash ington. where he has labored for the past twen,y-one years. but has los; none of his admiration for the man whose romina- ton he secured for tis ,irst peIi,ie..lait,ec What rapid strides in progress the one has made, while the other pteds alon. the common pathway of fife