New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-07

issue This vigorous speech attracted so mucn Az
tenton that 200 900 copies of it were circulated III
1864 as a campaign document by the Republican
party. In January, 1865, he introduced resoiu-
ton In relation to Congressional representative
which was referred to the Reconstruction Coui-
mittee and was subsequently made the basis OF 'ne
Fourteenth Amendment. In December, 1851 DC
made an elaborate speech on the finances, IN which
he analysed Mr.. Pendleton's greenback theory
"The remedy for financial troubles" salo ne
"wil not De found in a superabundance OF depreci-
ated paper currency 1t lies in the opposite uirec
ton. and the sooner the Nation finds itself on a
specie basis the sooner will the public treasury be
freed from embarrassment and private business be
relieved from encouragement. Instead therefore,
of entering upon reckless and boundless issue OF
legal tenders with their constant depreciation II
not destruction, of value, let us SIT resoutely 10
work and make those already III circulation equal
to so many gold dollars"
At the opening of the first session OF the ALls1
| Congress the Republican caucus nominated MT
Blaine for Speaker by acclamation and he was
elected by vote of 1856 to 81 for Mr. Kerr. lie was
reelected, without opposition in his own party
! Speaker of the XLIld and XLllld Congresses. III
that position his quickness of PERCEPTION decision
of manner, thorough know ledge of parliamentary
! law and usages, and impartial and judicial mind,
| made him a truly great presiding officer.
The Democratic tidal wave" of 1874 returned
! n Democratic majority to the House. and MI Blame
returned TO the floor There his parliamentary skill
and self-possesson, together with his audaclty Oh
manner and versatility of talent made him one OF
the most adroit and aggressive leaders ever enjoyed
| by political party.
UNITED STATES SENATOR.
| Mr. Blaine was appointed by the Governor OF
Maine July 10, 1876, to be United States Senator
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Sen
ator Morrill,, who then became Secretary OF the
| Treasury. He was subsequently elected for the
! unexpired term and for the ensuing term expiring
| in 1883. On his appointment he wrote TO the
peopeo of his Congressional District a farewell adj
dress. in which he said;
Beginning with 1862 You have by continuous elections
sent your representative 10 thc OhSresS OF the
United states For such marked confidence nave Gu
deavOred the most jealous and devoted service
IN my power. aad It Is certainly not without Keeling Oh
pain that surrender trust by which nave always
felt sinay honored It has been nv boast IN puonc
private that man on the hoor CT congress ever
represented constituency more dlStsusneu or Ell
gence. for patriotism for public and personal virtue Inc
cordial support you have uniformly given me through
these fourteen event years Is the chief honor of my
! life In closing intimate relations have so long
ton to me to know with returning health shall
enter upon field of duty in which can still serve them
in common with the larger constituency OIL when they
| form part.
Commenting upon his elevation to the Upper
House Tie Kennel Journal. well representing the
sentiment of the public in the State, said
Fourteen years ago. standing in the convention at
which he first nominated, Mr. Blaine pledged nm
self his best services for the district and to sup
lincoln 10 subdne the rebellion and then and there
pressed plainly the idea that slavery must and ought 10 DC
faithfully his constituents know and FEEL and me records
Of Congress attest To this district MS abilities were
freely given and as he in hon in the House and in
the public estimation he reflected honor ana gave
strength TO the constituency that supported NM Every
] In tNuTp wa "A
grand thing this district TO have its Representative
Congress for six years the speaker OF Ie ouae g
the place Importance to that OF President OF the
United States, with matchlcss ability. II was ginder
thing when he the lead Of the minority in the House
| last December, routed the Democratic majority, ana
drove dismay the iederates who We're IN
tending and expecting through the ADVANTAGE they ndd
already gained TO grasp the supreme power IN me NaO
and WELD in the interest OF the cause or secession anu
rebellion revived For what nc mas zone as 'eI Iee.
sentative Congress, never Will this llld DlslHct OF
Maine forget to honor the name OF James r. blllne.
will live I'm the Of tins people even a. the name OF
Henry Clay still loved by the people OF his ola district
/ IN Kentucky.
His great prominence in National affairs made
! Mr. Blaine a conspicuous figure in the Senate at
once. and he often broke the tradition Of the
body which requires the new members to allow
their elders to m0nopOlize the debates He made
strong speech in favor Of restricting Chinese mmi-
| grafton, which was much censured and much
praised according to the point of view of his critics
He voted against the Electoral Commission bill. He
| 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 has received great
deal of attention from him. and his speeches and
| letters on this subject have attracted much atten-
tion. One of these speeches made at a Now
York Chamber of Commerce dinner and was ac-
cepted as a mastery presentation Of the subject.
! Mr. Blaine's sagacity, GOODNESS and wisdom as a
partv leader were cOuspicuously demonstrated in
the measures he took TO circumvent the Democratic
plot for stealing tho State Government Of Maine III
1879, by fraudulenHy counting ont Republican
members of the Legislature. All the advantages,
save that of being in the right were with his OPP
ponents at the start. His supporters We're eager TO
resort to ayms as the only means OF obtaining
Justice but they were restrained by him. HIS
plan was first TO arouse public sentiment by ex-
posing the enormty of the plot, next to tangle up
| his antagonists in web Of contradictions, and
then. after obtaining the Judgment Of the Supreme
Court, to seize aud hold the Legislative halls. 1t
was completely successful, and the conspiracy be
came impotent and ridiculous.
BEFORE TWO NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.
| Mr. Blaine was a candidate for the Presidential
nomination in 1876, and came within - votes OF
| being successful. His vote increased from 23l on
i the first ballot 10 3j1 on the seventh, but he was
beaten by a combination against him of the dele
| gates supporting Morton, Conkling. Hartrantt.
Bristow and Hayes, who united upon Hayes and
| made him the nominee
Senator Blaine was one of the leading candidates
| for the Presidential nomination at the Republican
| National Convention in Chicago in June, 1850. Out
of total of 700 he received the first ballot PSI
votes On the thirteenth and fourteenth ballots he
received his highest vote 2s5, which very gradu-
ally declined to PSI on the thirty fifth ballot. On
the thrty-sIxth ballot General Garfield was nomi-
mated by combination of the elements opposed to
General Grant and a third term Throughout the
exciting campaign that followed Senator Blaine
o,,ad and snole for the success of the ReDublican