Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-06-12
JAMES G. BLAINE.

JAMES G. BLAINE.
James G. Blaine was born January
81, 1880, at the Indian Hill farm,
Washington county. Pennsylvania, on
the west side of the Monongahela river,
opposite the town of Brownsville. The
house is somewhat of 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 1878, 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 a
relative, the Hon. Thos. Ewing, then
Secretary of the Treasury, and attend
ed a neighboring school. He was the
third son of Ephriam L. Blaine, JUS
tice of the peace, who became some
what noted by deciding to the Econo-
mists the tract of land now occupied
by the city of Pittsburg, for which he
received S25, 000 Being elected Pro-
thonotary of the County Court in 1912,
the elder Blaine sent James to Wash
ington College in 1843, from where he
graduated in the fall of 1S47 at the age
of II years, During his college days
he demonstrated his fondness for poll
tics, and was known as strong Clay
man, and was always the court of his
last resort in political discussions among
the students. On leaving college the
youthful graduate went to Kentucky
and taught school, his father at this
period being comparatively poor and
having insufficient means to support the
large family of which he was the head.
While following the occupation of
country school teacher Mr.. Blaine met
his present wife, who was also teacher
of country school in Kentucky.
Shortly after their marriage they went
to her former home, at Kennebec, Me-,
where he entered the journalistic pro-
fession, assuming control of the Kenne-
bee journal, and afterward of the
Portland Advertiser. He Immediately
sprang into a position of influence
in State politics, and at the age of
25 was recognized as one of
the young leaders of the Repub-
lican party. At the age of 80
years he was selected chairman of
the Executive Committee of the Re
position he has held ever since, and
practically shaping and directing every
campaign, and leading the party to
victory.
In 1858 he was elected to the Maine
Legislature, and served in that capacity
four years, two of which he was Speaker
of the House of Representatives,.
In 1862 he was chosen Representa-
tive in Congress, from which time he
has been prominently before the public.
During the period of his Congressional
career as a member of the Postoffice
Committee he was instrumental in
bringing into use the present system of
postal cars, branch of the department
which hitherto had not reached any de-
gree of perfection.
He was elected Speaker of the House
of Representatives in March, 1869, and
was reelected in 1871, and three years
later entered on his third term rs such.
In 1875 he took his seat on the floor of
the House, and was recognized as the
leader of the Republican minority, the
the Democratic s'tidal wave" of 1874
having given them the ma iority.
His dash and brilliancy as the Repub-
lican leader on the floor of the House
made him popular candidate for the
Presidency in 1876, he, on the first bal
lot receiving 298 votes, and on the
seventh ballot. on which Hayes was
nominated, received 351 votes.
The same year Governor Connor of
Maine, appointed him United States
Senator to succeed the Hon. Lot NJ.
Morrill,, who resigned to accept the
position of Secretary of the Treasury
At the following session of the Maine
legislature he was elected to his seat in
the United States Senate.
Four years ago he was again put for
ward as candidate for the Presidency,
and after thirty-six ballots were cast
was defeated by the late James A.
Garfield.
On the inauguration of President
Garfield, Senator Blaine was appointed
Secretary of State, which position he
resigned several months after the death
of the lamented President owing to a
difference in his ideas to those of Presi-
dent Arthur on matters of public policy.
Since his retirement from the Cabinet
he has been engaged in literary pur-
suits. having written during that period
his Twenty Years in Congress. "
Throughout his distinguished career he
has been always regarded as a man of
good temper and temperament, with a
powerful intellectual vehemence. Dur
ing his career in Congress and the SEN
ate he delivered many eloquents speeches,
among them his defense of Maine. in
reply to reflections by the Hon. 5. 5.
Cox, on fishing bounties, the conscrip-
ton bill, the silver question, the army
appropriation 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, he cultivated,
and at the present time it would be i'm
possible to find man in the Union who
could, without reference. give so many
accurate facts and statistics relating to
the financial and revenue system, and,
in fact, TO everything that constitutes
and includes the developments, achieve
ments, and success of the United
States