Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-06-13
THE CANDIDATES..
Tile Life and Career of James G. Blaine and
John A. Logan.
JAMES q. BLAINE

The Life and Career of James &. Blaine and
John A. Logan.
JAMES G. BLAINE.
Mr.. Blaine was born at Indian Hill
Farm, Washington county, Pennsylva.
MIA, January 81, 1880. His grandfather
was with Washington at Valley Forge,
and named his county after his old chief.
At fifteen Blaine went to school at Ian.
caster, Ohio, living in the house of Tom
Ewing, then secretary of tho treasury
In 1850 he graduated from Washington
college and became tutor in the Blue
Lick Springs military academy. There
he met Miss Stanwood, Massachusetts
girl, teaching in the Millersburg female
seminary, twenty miles OFF, and married
her. He returned in year to Pennsyl-
wanna and studied law, but never prac-
ticed. In 1858 he removed to Maine,
and with aid from the Stanwoods be-
came editor of the Kennebec journal,
and later of the Portland Advertiser. In
1858 he WAS elected tothe legislature; and
five times enjoyed re. election, being
speaker the last two terms In 1862 he
went to congress. His first term was
spent in quiet studying, but after that
he came prominently before the country
and was elected speaker of the forty. first,
forty-second and forty-thir congresses.
In June, 1876, MIR. Blaine was appointed
by the governor of Maine to fill the
vacancy in the senate caused by the
resignation of Lot NJ. Morrill,. who had
been made secretary of the treasury. On
the meeting of the Maine legislature in
January, 1877, Mr.. Blaine was promptly
elected for the full term ending March
4, 1888. In both branches he was
persistent and terrible debater against
the south as massed on the democratic
side of house and senate. In 1875 Mr..
Blaine's nomination seemed certain at
Cincinnati. His rivals were B. H. Bris-
| tow, Roscoe Conkling and John F.
Hartranft, governor of Pennsylvania. So
long as there was possibility OF Blaine's
nomination, the supporters of Bristow.
Conkling, and Hartranft remained stead
fast. On one ballot Blaine came within
9 half dozen votes of enough to nominate
So certain were his supporters that he
would secure the prize that they tele
graphed to all parts Of the country that
he had the nomination in his grasp. The
next ballot, however, was surprising
one. Ohio and Pennsylvania led off fol
Hayes, of Ohio, and stampede setting
| in. he was nominated by an overwhelm
ing vote amid crest excitement. Mr.
Blaine took his defeat philosophically
and turned his eyes toward 1880. q,
went into the Chicago convention of thai
. year with 2S4 votes. Gen. Grant, Sher
man, Edmuuds and E. B. Washburn,
were against him. His choice being i'm
possible, his supporters nominated Gar
field. and Mr. Blaine became secretary o
state in the new cabinet, and the con
trolling spirit in the administration. MI
Blaine was with the president th,
morning of July End, 1881, whe1
the assassin's bullet brought to
painful end a career SO full of prom
: Use, and during the presidents eight,
days of suffering he was daily at his bed
side. It was fitting that Mr.. Blain,
should be selected as Gartield's eulogis
by congress, and his address on that oc
casion is one of remarkable force an,
beauty. After Mr.. Arthur's inaugura
tion-Sept. 10th, lSsl-Mr. Blaine re
mained in the cabinet until Decembe
when he retired to devote himself t
private business. Within the past yea
he undertook a history of his twent
years OF public life, work that ha
already taken high rank in America
literature.
JOHN A. LOGAN.
Gen. John A. Logan was born Feb.
1926, in Jackson county. Illinois, aud
of Irish parentage. He was lieutenan
in the Mexican war, aud was admitted t
the bar in 1852. being elected to the lee
islature the same year, and in the nel
to the office OF prosecuting attorney G
the third judicial district, holding tha
l offSpo ,1y,fil 1897 ~ IN ~ k1l
the state legislature in 1858, 1856 an
Buchanan and Breckenridge ticket.
D 1858 and 1860 he was elected represe1
, tative at congress. In July, 1856
he enlisted in time to be
the first battle of Bull Run. His brave,
in Grants northern Mississippi move
ments met with promotion to the rar
Of major general. At Vicksburg b
column led the entrance on June 25t
and he was the first military governo
He succeeded Sherman at the head
the fifteenth army corps in Novembe
1868, and when Mcpherson lost his Iii
on the 22d of July, Logan succeedt
Llm and commanded the arm
Sherman on the march
the sea. From the close of the war
1871 Gen. Logan served in the hous
In that year he was elected senator. I
was defeated for reelection in 1877
David Davis, but was returned at t
expiration of Gov. Oglesby's term
1873. He is man of great decisio
some learning, and is lingering mon
ment of this machine period in Ame
can politics. He was Grants lieutena
in 1880, and is suspected of an ALLAN
with Blaine this year.
A Bank Tellel's Fall.