Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-05-23
Twenty Years of Congress.

twenty ears Oh congress-
The first volume of Mr.. Blaine's histo-
~ is published. The hosts Of subscribers
for it will soon have an opportunity to ex-
anime its handsome and well filed pages.
The opening pages contain review OF
the events which led to the political revo-
luton of 1860. This was absolutely i'm
portant in order to fair understanding OF
what follows. The review commences
with the formation of the constitution, and
proceeds step by step to present and ex-
plain clearly and succiently the causes and
processes by which the great rebellion
was brought on. The influence of slavery
and the tariff in creating the division of
sentiment between the North and South,
is sketched in a mastery manner; also
the leading features of the great and mo-
mentous political struggle OF 1860, and
the anxious and exciting situation of affairs
which attended the election OF Lincoln,
the meeting OF Congress in 1861. the re-
tirement of the Confederate members
from Senate and House, and the COM
mencement OF the war. These are grave
and grand subjects, to which Mr.. Blaine
does full justice, treating them fairly, i'm
partially, and with completeness which
leaves nothing to be desired.
Mr.. Blaine was elected to Congress in
1862. and took his seat in that body March
4. 1868. From that time forward his his
tory relates events in which he was
prominent actor, unsurpassed by no man
in the country in his mental grasp and
knowledge of political affairs. Among
all the members of Congress who sat in
that body and took part in its deliberations
during the time Mr. Blaine occupied
seat in House or Senate, there was not one
who better understood the measures that
were presented before them for action.
how they were disposed of, took deep
err interest in all that concerned the public
welfare. Thus he was thoroughly equip
ped and fitted to write the work of which
he is the author. He had all the facts at
his fingers ends as it were. Having a
remarkable memory, and being at the
same time an unwearied worker in search
OF truth and accuracy, his history will stand
as the best work of the period which it
describes. the most trustworthy record OF
events leading up to the civil war, during
its prosecution. and the years of peace
which have followed. The style of the
author has been likened to that OF Macau-
lay by competent critics. 1t is pointed,
strong. forcible, clear. No labored at
tempts are made at rhetorical Ornamental
ton, and yet the work in a literary point of
view is rounded and finished in a manner
to compare favorably with the best works
of the most distinguished writers.
The demand for this work is immense.
Its sale has already far out-run the expec-
tation of the author or his friends. The
printers are driving their presses to the
utmost to supply the urgent call of sub
scribers for the book. We have been
favored with an early copy and can assure
those who have not seen it that it is en-
tirely worthy the name and lame of James
g. Blaine. the most popular man in Amer
lea, and the man whom we hope to hail as
the republican candidate for President and
next President of the United States.