Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-12
JAMES G. BLAINE.
Review ofRis Liz.

ongahela, River, opposite the town of
Brownsville. The house is somewhat
of 81 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 IT'S, on what was at that
time considered the western borders of
civilization Mr. Blaine's boyhood
days were passed at Lancaster, Ohio,
where he lived in the family of rela-
tive, the Hon. Thomas Ewing, then
Secretary of the Treasury, and at
tended neighbcring school. Hew
the third son of Ephraim L. Blaine,
justice Of the peace, who became
somewhat noted by deciding to the
Economists the tract of land now oc-
cupied by the city of Pittsburg, for
which he received $25, 000 Being
elected Parliamentary of the County
Court in 1912, the elder Blaine sent
James to Washington College in 1S43,
from where he graduated In the fall
of 1877 at the age OF II years. During
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 dis
cussionS among the students. On
leaving college the youthful graduate
went TO Kentucky and taught school.
his father at the period being COM
paratively poor and having insult
ficient means to support the large
family of which he was the head.
While following the occupation of a
country school teacher Mr.. Blaine
met his present wife, who was also
teacher of a country school IN Ken
lucky. Shortly after their marriage
they welat to her former home, at
Kennebec, Me-, where he entered the
Journalistic profession, assuming con-
lrol of the Kennebec Journal, and
afterward of the Portland Advertiser
He Immediately sprang into posi-
ton Of influence In State politics, and
at the age of % was recognized as one
of the young leaders of the republican
party. At the age of % years he was
selected Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Republican organ
ization of the State, a position he has
held ever since, and practically shap-
ing and directing every campaign,
and leading the party to victory.
In 1858 he was elected TO the Maine
Legislature, and served in that capa-
city four years, two of which he was
Speaker of the House OF Representa-
tlves.
In 1862 he was chosen a representa-
tive In congress, from which time he
has been prominently before the pub
lie. During the period of his congress
sional career as a member of the post
office committee he was instrumental
in bringing into use the present system
of postal cars, branch Of the depart
ment which hitherto had not, reached
any degree of perfection.
He was elected speaker of the house
of representatives ia March, 1869, and
was re elected 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 minor-
ity, the democratic tidal wave" of
1874 having given them the major
lty.
His dash and brilliancy as the re
publican leader on the floor of the
house made him a popular candidate
for the presidency in 1876, he, on the
first ballot, receiving 298 votes, and
on the seventh ballot, on which
Hayes was nominated, received 351
votes.
Tae same year Governor Conner,
of Maine, appointed him U. S. senator
to succeed the Hon. Lot. NJ Morrill,,
who resigned to accept the position of
secretary of the treasury At the fol
lowing session of the Maine legisla
ture he was elected to his seat in the
u. S. senate.
-Four years ago he was again put
forward as a candidate for the presi-
dency, and after thirty-six ballots were
cast was defeated by the late James
A Garfield.
On the inauguration of President
Garfield, Senator Blaine was appoint
ed Secretary of State, which position
he resigned several months after the
death of the lamented President, ow-
ing to a difference IN his ideas to
those of President Arthur on matters
of public policy. Since his retirement
from the Cabinet he has been engaged
in literary pursuits, having written
during that period his Twenty Years
in Congress. Throughout his dis
tinguished career he has been always
regarded as a man of good temper
and temperament, with powerful
intellectual vehemence. During his
career in Congress and the Senate he
delivered many eloquent speeches,
among them his defense of Maine, in
reply to reflections by the Hon. S. S.
Cox, on fishing bountics, the conscrip
ton bill, the silver bill, the army ap-
preparation bill, and other subjects.
His studies have always been largely
on political questions and history. In
his early college days he was noted
for his early love of American history,
which in his subsequent years, ne
cultivated, and at the present time it
would be impossible to find man IN
the Union who could, without refer
ence, give so many accurate facts and
statistics relating to the financial and
revenue system, and, IN fact, to every
4bino that constitutes and includes