Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-09-25
BLAINE GROWS PATHETIC
HE WRITES 4 FOOLiSH LETTsR TU
FRIEND PHELPS.
Blatne Gives Dignity 90 the Indian
npOIis g t'Seutlnel " sIander by n
Very Fo0IIsn Aef1er.

Gou, William Waiter PHELPS sent 10
the Astooatel Press, Friday, The fol-
loving piiyAls Letter, addressed 10 HIM
nearly two weeks ago
AUGUSTA, September 9Th, 1884.-My dear
| Mr.. Phelps | have your favor Of the 4th,
| advising me that "the continuous invention
and wide circulation of evil reports render it
| advisable (in your iudgment) not to wait the
slow process OF the law, but to speak directly
to tho public in my own Yindication." In this
opinion many others, on whose judgement 1
| rely, concur.
| shrink instinctively from the suggestion,
| although feel sure ] could strengthen the
confidence of all who felt friendly to me by
| bringing to view the simple thread of truth
which is concealed in this endless issue Of
| falHehood. You can imagine how inexpres-
| sibly painful it must be TO discuss ones do
mestic life in the press, although think with
| you, that under the circumstances l could
count upon the generosity of the public to
| Justify statement which otherwise might
| seem Objectionable. l can, in any event,
safely commit the facts to you for personal
| communication to those friends who have
taken 30 delicate and 30 considerate an inter
est in my affairs. The leisure hours OF to-
| day, when our campaign is ended and we
wait only for the election, gives me the op-
portunity of this prompt reply and for the
following essential details:
At Georgetown, kentucky, in the spring,of
1848, when was but Is years of age, first
met the lady who for more than "a years has
been my wife. Our acquaintance resulted, at
the end Of six months, in an engagement,
which, without the prospect Of speedy mar
riage, we naturally sought to keep to our
selves. Two years later, in the spring of
1850, when was maturing plans to leave my
profession in Kentucky and establish myself
elsewhere, was suddenly summoned to
Pennsylvania by the death Of my father. II
being very doubtful il l could return to Ken
lucky, was threatened with an indefinite
separation from her who possessed my entire
devotion. My one wish was to secure her TO
myself by an indissoluble tie against every
possible contingency in life, and on the Both
day Of June, 1850, just prior to my departure
from Kentucky, we were. in the presence Of
chosen and trusted friends, united by what L
knew was, in my native state Of Pennsylvania,
perfectly legal form Of marriage.
On reaching home found that my family,
and especially my bereaved mother, strongly
discountenanced my business plans, as in
volying too long separation from home and
kindred. complied with her wish that
should resume at least for 3 time, my occu-
patton in Kentucky, whittier returned in the
latter part of August.
During the ensuing winter, induced by mis-
givings under new responsibilities -Inisgiv-
ings which were increased by legal consulta-
tions-I became alarmed lest a doubt might
be thrown upon the validity of our marriage
by reason OF noncompliance with the law of
the state where it had occurred, for had
learned that the laws of Kentucky made
license certified by the clerk Of the county
court an Indispensable requisite of legal
marriage. After much deliberation, and With
an anxious desire to guard in the most
effectual manner against any possible embar-
rassment resulting from our position-for
which l alone was responsible-we decided
that the simplest and at the same time the
surest way was to repair to Pennsylvania and
have another marriage service performed.
This was done, in the presence Of
in the month of March, 1851, but was not
otherwise made public for obvious reasons.
1t was solemnized only to secure an indis-
putable validity, the first marriage being by
my wife and myself always held sacred. At
the mature age of 81 do not defend the
wisdom or prudence Of a secret marriage
suggested by the ardor and inexperience Of
youth but its honor and its purity were in
violate, as believe, in the sight Of God, and
cannot be made to appear otherwise by the
wicked devices Of men. 1t brought to me
companionship which has been my chief hap
piness from boyhood's years to this hour, and
has crowned me with whatever of success
have attained in life.
My eldest child--a son-was born in hig
grandmother's house, on the 18th day Of
June, 1851, in the city of Augusta, Maine,
and died in her arms three years later. His
ashes repose in the cemetery of his native
city, beneath stone which recorded his
name and the limits Of his innocent life.
That stone, which had stood for Elmost an
entire generation, has been recently defaced
by brutal ant sacrilegious hands.
As candidate for the Presidency, knew
that should encounter many forms of cal
umny and personal defamation, but confess
that did not expect to be called upon to de-
fend the name OF beloved and honored.wife,
who is mother and grandmother; nor didI
expect that the grave OF my little child would
be cruelty desecrated. Against such gross
forms of wrong the law gives no adequate
redress, and know that in the end my most
effective appeal against the unspeakable out
rage which resist must be to the noble man
hood and noble womanhood Of America. Your
friend, very sincerely, JAMES G. BLAINE.