Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1884-06-11

in the following year he became
noted - . political speaker, and in
1858 he was made chairman Of the
state COMMITTEES Of that party, and
acquired i control which he has
ever since maintained. In the
same year he was elected TO the
state legislature, and continued a
member till 1852, being speaker
Of the house for two years. He
had now removed to Portland
WHARF be edited the Portland
Advertiser. In 1852 he entered The
national congress, we'll prepared By
|previous training and acquaintance
thA hetqfy ofths country for
&1k1S the 4g5Enea VI
III aiEhils. Steadily he worked his
WY forward % positions on import
ant COMMITTEES, while on the floor Of
the house he was = ready ard fear
less DICTATOR. ImYulsive .and bril-
liant, with wonderful memory Of
persons, facts, and faces, on the
death Of Thaddens Stevens he was
the lender Of the republican party
in the house. In all the important
questions Of reconstruction after the
civil war he has taken a prominent
part. In 1859 he was chosen speak
er, and in this capacity especially
distinguished himself by his thor
ough knowledge Of parliamentary
rules, his quickness, firmness, and
impressive manner. He continued
TO hold this position till March,
1S75,but in the succeeding congress
the democrats gained control Of the
house. In the next year, when
| President Grants second term was
drawing TO q close, Mr.. Blaine was
the most prominent candidate for
the republican presidential nominal
ton, and in the convention held ut
Cincinnati received on every ballot
except the last the highest num-
Der Of votes, on the seventh ballot the
friends ofother candidates concentra-
ted their strength, giving majority Of
votes TO Rutherford B. Hayes, then
the governor Of Ohio. Mr.. B'aine, wlo
had rename d in Washington, but
was constantly informed OF the pro-
ceedings, a one Of the first to
send his congratulations to the
successful candidate. In July
1876, Hon. L. NJ. Morrill,, United
States senator from Maine, was APP
pointed secretary Of the treasury,
and the governor ofthe state selected
Mr.. Blaine to fill the vacancy in
the senate. Mr.. Blaine's energy
and vehemence were better suited
TO the lower house but he still is
distinguished as an indefatigable
worker and as a DICTATOR of party
questions. In the republican presi-
Dental convention at Chicago in
1880 he was again prominent
dis a candidate. but Gen. Grant was
still more so. and Mr.. John Sherman
secretary Of the treasury, had also
many partisans. The friends Of
Gen. Grant were called ''stalwarts'
a term recently introduced into
American political vocabulary by
Mr.. Blaine TO designate his own
section Of the party, but quickly
appropriated by those who still
maintained the strenuous opposition
to the south and it's leaders which
had characterized the republican
party during the var and At its close.
AZ in the Cincinnati convention
four years previous, tho opponents
Of the leading candidate, finding ii
impossible to elect their respective
favorites, concentrated their votes
on Gen. =. A. Garfield who was a
delegate to the convention, and in
spite Of his protests secured for him
the nomination. This choice was
confirmed BY the people and as soon
n he entered on the duties OF the
office President Garfield called Mr..
Blainc 10 the chisf place in his
cabinet Al secretary Of state. But
the policy then inauguratcd was
Gercely assaiied by politicians and
newspapers, and was violently
Oyerthrown by an assassin only
four months after the Presidents
accession. While Garfield fingered
on his death bed Mr.. Blaine was
the representative Of the govern
ment. AZ soon rs possible after
President Arthur assumed the
duties Of his new position, Mr..
Blaine retired from the cabinet.
Upon the assembling Of congress in
December he was invited BY both
houses 70 deliver IN eulogy on the
late president. His address on this
proAounced in tho presence Of the
diplomatic representatives Of for
cign states as we'll . every de-
part,nent 81 the national government,
was eminentiy appropriate. dignifi-
ad. and aI~0S1taenf. Having retired