The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1884-06-21
JAMES G. BLAINE.
Republican Candidate for President.

JnWIO VI OIHIVIs
Republican Candidate for President.
James Gillespie Blaine, the nominee
of the Republican party for President
of the United States. was born Jan. 81,
1880, in Union Township, Washington
county, Pa. He comes from the noted
stock, his ancestors having
been among the pioneers, who century
and half ago assembled the great lime
stone valley in which Carlisle is situated,
and founded the village. The stone
Presbyterian church, which the second
generation built. is still standing, and
near by is the old fashioned house where
Mr.. Blaine's grandfather, Col. Ephram
Blaine, lived for many years. This
officer was originally a colonel of the
Pennsylvania Line, but during the last
four years Of the Revolution he was
ommissary-general of the Northern
department, and during the terrible
winter at Valley Forge did his best to
keep the wolf of famine and destitution
from the American camp. Col. Ephraim
Blaine's son, esquire Blaine, as he was
known in the community, was married
to Miss Gillespie, a devout member of
the Roman Catholic Church, but their
seven children-five boys and two girls
adhered to the traditional faith of the
Blaines. The second of these five sons
is the subject of this sketch, James Gill
lespie Blaine.
STUDENT AND TEACHER.
James entered Washington College in
1913, being then 13 years of age, and be-
came at once prominent as scholar
among the two or three hundred other
lads from all parts Of the country, and
because of his splendid physique he
was also a leader in all manly athletic
sports. lie was not bookworm OF a
burner of midnight oil, but he was a
close student and possessed the happy
faculty Of assimjlating knowledge from
books and tutors far more easily and
quickly than most of his fellows. In
debating societies he held his own well
and was conspicuous for his ability to
direct and control others.
At the end Of the usual four years
course at college he was graduated, in
1S47, with the most distinguished honors
of his class, and went forth into prac-
teal life well fitted in requirements and
training to deal with It's problems, and
bearing as a crown of youthful honor
the affection and esteem of all his asso.
ciates.
From his alma mater young Blaine
went to Blue Lick Springs, Ky, and be-
came professor in the Western Military
Institute, in which there about 450 boys
Col. Thornton +. Johnson was the prin'
cipal of the school, and his wife had a
young ladies' school at Millersburg, q
miles distant. 1t was at this place thai
Mr. Blaine met Miss Stanwood, who be-
longed to an excellent family IN Massa
chusetts, and she afterwards became hi.
wife.
After few years work as teacher Mr.
Blaine returned to Pennsylvania and be-
gan studying law. lie read law care
fully, and obtained a thorough knowl
edge of it's principles, but never present.
ed himself as a candidate for admission
to the bar.
EDITOR AND sTATE POLITICAL LEADER.
Miss Stanwood was native of Maine
and after her marriage to Mr.. Blaine
was anxious for MIN to make that state
his home. This he determined to do
and in 1853 the young couple removed
to Augusta, where they have ever since
made their home.
In the following year Mr.. Blame en-
tered into partnership with JOS. Baker
a prominent lawyer of that town, and
the two purchased The Kennebec Jour
nal, of which Mr.. Blaine at once became
editor. The Journal was weekly paper
one of the organs of the Wing party
and exercised considerable political In
fluence. In 1857 Mr.. Blaine disposed Of
his interest in this paper. and became
editor of the Portland Daily Advertiser
In the campaign of 1860 he returned
temporarily to his old post on The Ken
nebec Journal on account of the illness
of it's editor. His career in journalism
lasted only six years, but was marked
throughout by ability and success, anc
it served to give him a good introduc
ton to the world of politics and states
manship.
When the old Whig party went to
pieces Mr.. Blaine joined hands will
Gov. Anson P. Morrill, in organizing the
Republican party in the Pine Tree state
His vigorous attacks upon the Buchanan
administration made him a power in the
new organization. In 1858, when he
was in his 29th year, he was elected tt
the legislature. He served two years
on the floor of the lower house aud two
years in the chair, where he display &c
the qualities of parliamentary Leadership
and control that afterwards gave hin
such renown in the National Legislature
at Washington. 1t is also worthy of men
ton that he took an active part as public
speaker in the Fremont campaign of 'o6
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS.
In 1862 Mr.. Blaine was nominated fol
Congress in the Kennebec district, anc
was elected by majority of 5000 votes
To this position he was successively
elected, IN each succeeding Congress
until his promotion to the United State:
Senate by the governor of Maine, July
10, S17G, to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of Senator Morrill,, who
then became Secretary of the Treasury
He was subsequently elected for the un