Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-06-20
James G. Blaine.
prvrrw OF HIS BRILLIANT CAREER.

on the west side OF the MOnOhSa-,
hela River, opposite the town OF
Brownsville. The house is some
what of historical spot, being the
first stone building erected ON the
western side Of the river. 1t was
built by Mr.. Blaine's grandfather,
the elder Neal Gillespie, in l77S,
on what was at that time considered
the western borders of civilization.
Mr.. Blaine'S bOyhoOd day were
passed at Lancaster, Ohio, where
he lived in the family of relative,
the Hon. Thomas Ewing, then
Secretary of the Treasury, and at
tended q neighboring school. He
was the third son of Ephraim l.;
Blaine, a justice of the peace, who
became somewhat noted by deed
ing to the Economists the tract OF
land now occupied by the city of
Pittsburg, for which he received
$4,000. Being elected ProthOno-
tary of the County Court in 1872,
the elder Blaine sent James to
Washington College in 1913, from
where he graduated in the fall OF
1S47 at the age of II years. Buring
his college days he demonstrated
his fondneSs for politics, and was
known as a strong Clay man, and
was always the court of last resort
in political discussions among the
students. On leaving college the
youthful graduate went to Ken
lucky and taught school, his father
at this period being comparatively
poor and having insufficient means
to support the large family OF
which he was the head. While fol-
lowing the Occpation of a country
school teacher Mr.. Blaine met his
present wife, who was also teacher
of country school in Kentucky.
Shortly after their marriage they
went to. her former home, at KeDne-
bee, Me-, where he entered the
journalistic profession, assuming
control of the Kennebec Journal,
and afterward of the Portland
Advertiser. Heimmediately Sprang
into a position of influence in State
politics, and at the age 20 was re-
cognized as Oneof the young leaders
of the Republican party. AT the
age of 90 years he was selected
Chairman of the Executive Com
mittee of the Republican Organiza..
ton of the State, a position he has
held ever since, and practically
shaping and directing every cam
paign, and leading the party to
victory.
In 1868 he was elected to the
Maine Legislature, and served in
that capacity four years, two Of
which he was Speaker of the House
of Representatives.
In 1862 he was chosen Repre-
sentative in Congress, from which
time he has been prominently be-
fore the public. During the period
of his Congressional career as a
member of the POstOtfice Com
mittee he was instrumental in
bringing into use the present SyS-
tenn of postal cars, branch of the
department which hitherto had
not reached any degree Of perfec-
ton.
He was elected Speaker of the
House of Representatives in March,
1869, and was reelected in 1871,
and three years later entered on his
third term as such. In 1875 he took
his seat on the floor of the House,
and was recognized as the leader
of the Republican minority, the
Democratic tidal wave Of 1874
having given them the majority.
His dash and brilliancy as the
Republican leader on the floor Of
the House made him a popular
candidate for the Presidency in
1876, he, on the first ballot, receiv-
ing 29S votes, and on the seventh
battOl, on which Hayes was nOmi-
mated, received 35l votes.
The same year Governor Common,
of Maine, appointed him United
States Senator to succeed the Hon.
Lot VI. Morrill,, who resigned to
accept the position of Secretary of
the Treasury. At the following
session of the Maine Legislature he
was elected to his seat in the United
States Senate.
Four years ago he was again put
forward as a candidate for the
Presidency, and after thirty-siX
ballots were cast he was defeated
by the late James A. Garfield.
On the Inauguration of President
Garfield, Senator Blaine was ap-
pointed Secretary of the State,
which position he resigned several
months after the death of the la
mented President, owing to a diff
ference in his ideas to those Of
President Arthur on matters of
public policy. Since his retrench-
ment from the Cabinet he has been
engaged in literary pursuits, hav-
ing written during that period his
"Twenty Years in Congress-
Throughout his distinguished ca
reer he has been always regarded
as a man of good temper and tenn
permanent, with powerful intel
lectual vehement. During his Ca
reer in Congress and the Senate he
delivered many eloquent speeches,
among them his defence of Maine,
in reply to reflections by the Hon.
S. S. Cox, on fishing bOunties, the
CONSUMPTION bill, the silver Ques-
ton, the army appropriation bill,
and other subjects. His studies
have always been largely on politi-
cal questions and history. In his
early college days he was noted for
his early love OF American history,
which, in his subsequent years he
cultivated, and at the present time