Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-09-20
BLAINE.
He Weaves a Romance About
His Marriage.
AN APPEAL FOR SYMPATHY.
The Victim of bunstroke Sees
Way Out as Uusuai-Ir His q
Tale be True He IL Much
MnIigued Man.

TSpecial TO the Herald By A ssociated Pressl
New YORK, Sept. l9.--Hon. William
Walter Phelps take the responsibility Of
giving to the public the following pri-
vate letter addressed to him nearly two
weeks ago:
"AUGUsTA, Sept. O, 1884.
|, NY Dear Mr.. Phelps. have your
favor Of the 4th, advising me that the
continuous invention and wide circula-
ton Of evil reports render it advisable
in your Judgment not to wait the slow
process OF law, but to speak directly to
the public in my own vindication. In
this opinion many others on whose
judgment rely concur. I shrink in
stinctively from the suggestion, al
though | feel sure could
strengthen the confidence Of all who
are friendly to me by bringing to view
the simple thread of truth, which is
concealed in this endless tissue OF false.
hood. You eau imagine how inexpressi-
bly, painful it must be to discuss ones
domestic life In the press, although
think with you, that under the circum-
stances l could count upon the generosi-
ty Of the public to Justify the statement
which otherwise might seem objectiona.
BILE. | can in any event commit the
facts to you for personal Communication
to those friends who have taken so deli
cate and cousiderate an interest in my
affairs. The leisure hours Of to-day,
when our campaign is ended and we
only wait for the election returns, gives
me an opportunity for this prompt reply,
and for the following essential details:
At Georgetown. Kentucky, in the spring
Of 1913, when wus but eighteen years
of age, first met the lady who for more
than thirty-four years has been my wife.
Our acquaintance resulted, at the end OF
six months, in an engagement, which
being without the prospect of speedy
marriage. we naturally sought to keep
to ourselves. Two years later. in the
spring of 1850, when l was maturing
plans to leave my profession in Kentucky
and establish myself elsewhere. was
suddenly summoned to Pennsylvania by
the death Of my father. 1t being very
doubtful II I could return to kentucky.
l was threatened with an indefiaite
separation from her who possessed my
entire devotion. My one wish was to
secure her myself by an indisolubls tie
against every possible contingency in
life, and ON the 30th day OF June, 1850,
prior to my departure from Kentucky,
we were in the presence Of chosen and
trusted friend, united by what knew
was in my native State of Pennsylvania,
0 perfectly legal form of marriage. On
reaching home found that my family
and especially my bereaved mother,
strongly discountenanced my business
plans a. involving too long separation
from home, and kindred, complied
with her wish that / should resume
at least for o time my occupation in
Kentucky. whittier l returned in the
latter part of August. During the ensu.
ing winter, induced by misgivings which
were increased by legal consultations,
became alarmed lest doubt might be
thrown upon the validity Of our marriage
by reason of Noncompliance with the
Law Of the State where " had occurred,
for had learned that the laws of Ken
lucky made a license. certified to by the
Clerk Of the County Court, an indispen-
sable requisite Of legal marriage. After
much deliberations and with an anxious
desire to guard ia the most cffectual
manner against any embarrassment re-
sultiDg from our position-for which /
alone was respousible-we decided that
the simplest and at the same time the
surest way was to repair to Pennsylvania
and have another marriage service per-
formed. This was done in the presence
Of Witnesses in the city Of Pittsburg, in the
month of March, 1851, but was not other
wise made public for obvious reasons
It was solemnized to secure an indis-
putable validity, the first marriage being
by my wife and myself always held sa-
cred. At the mature age Of 81, / do not
defend the wisdom or prudence Of Sc
cret marriage suggested by the ardor
and inexperiepce of youth, but its honor
and Its purity were inviolate as believe
in the sight OF God, and cannot be made
to appear otherwise by the wicked de.
vice II men. 1t brought to me com
panionship which has been my chief
happiness from boyhood's years to this
hour, and has crowned me with what
ever success have attained in life. My
eldest child, . son, was born in his
Qrandmother's house on the 18th day OF
June, 1851. in the city OF Augusta, Me,
and died in her arms three years later.
His ashes iepose in the cemetery of his
native city, beneath a stone which re-
cords his name and the limit Of his lnn0.
cent life. That stone which has stood
for almost an entire generation has been
recently defsced by sacriligious hands.
As candidate for the Presidency,
knew that Ishould encounter many forms
of calumny aud personal defamation, but
/ confess that I did not expect to be
called upon to defend the name of my
beloved aud honored wife, who is o
mother and grandmother. nor did l
expect that the grave of my little child
would be cruelty desecrated. Against
such gross forms of wrong the law gives
me no adequate redress, and ] know that
in the end my most effective appeal
against the unspeakable outrages which
/ resist must be to the noble manhood
and noble womanhood OF America.
Your friend, very sincerely,
(Signed) JAMES G. BLAINE.