The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-06-14
THE CANDIDATES.
Who and What The Men Are Who vii
Carry The Republican Banner.
LONG AND ACTIVE CAREERS
How They Have Served Their Country
in Peace and in War.


he has been one Of The best known liz.
ures i'll our political life.
YOUTH AID EARLY MANHOOD.
James Gillespie Blaine was born OF tho
;;lSJ of January, 1880, at the Indian
Hill Farm, Washington county. Pa. cp
posite the town of Brownsville. The old
stone house where lie fIst saw light is
still standing. 1t Was the lilst stone
house ever built on tic western side oI
the Monougahela river. Blaine's great.
grandfather, Colonel Erhra,m Blaine. oi
Carlisle, Pa, was Commissary General OF
the Revolutionary army from 1tt$ till
the close OF the struggle, in 11>3. The
high esteem in which Colonel Blaine was
held by Washington ana his great com.
patriot leaders in the Revolution is at.
tested by numerous letters from them,
official and unofficial, still in the posses.
sion of Colonel Blainc's descendants in
his State. Nh. Hlaine's grandfather, foi
whom he is Lamed, intended originally
to enter upon Il professional ard political
career, but a somewhat prolonged resi-
dence i'll Europe after he had completed
his studies diverted him from following
his first ambition. Mr.. Blane'S father
was born and reared in Carlisle ana, after
an extended tour in Europe South
America and the West Indies, returned
to spend the greater portion Of his life in
the adjoi!.ing county OF Washington,
where he died before his son was fully
grown. He went West about 1915 hav.
ing the largest landed possessions of any
man of his age in Western PENNSYLVANIA
owning an estate which, lad it been PIE.
served, would have amounted today +.
many millions. Special pains were taken
by Mr.. Blaine's father to give his son 4
thorough intellectual training. He was
under the best tutorage III his earliest
years and at the age of eleven was sent
to Lancaster, Ohio, TO school, where he
lived in the family of his relative, the
Hon. Thomas Ewing. at the same time
Secretary Of the Treasury. IN 1913 he
entered Washington College and gradu.
ated in September. 1S41.
Upon leaving college Mr.. Blaine vent
to Blne Lick Springs, Ky, and became a
teacher in a military institute, where he
demonstrated his ability both as an III
structor and a discir'inarian. This en-
pericnce also brought him the acuuaint-
ance of his future Wife, Miss StanWood
of Massachusetts, who was in Kentucky
going through. an experience as a teacher
in school for young women. In 1889
Mr.. Blaine came to Philadelphia and ac-
cepted position as teacher in the Penn
sylvania Institution for the Blind. His
work was well done and history. in his
handwriting, of the institution from the
time Of its foundation until he severed
his connection with II is still shown.
HIS CAREER IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.
When his teaching days were over Mr..
Blaine, instead of following the course
of empire and going West, went East to
Maine. There he entered public life in
1851 as editor of the Kenncoec ,L1u5ua}.
After few years, when he sought a
wider field for his growing ambition and
soaring powers. he removed to Portland
and became editor of the idrefi.tr.t then
as now one Of the most considerable
newspapers Of his adopted State. He
was elected to the lower House of the
Maine Legislature, where he served five
years, becoming Speaker in 1861 and
1862. In the latter year he was elected
to Congress, taking his scat with Gar
field, Allison, kaSson, James +. Wilson,
Randall and several other men since
prominent i'll National politics. His early
service was not specially notable, but he
was quick, shlewd, waichful and will
ing to bide his time. He was never a
persistent speaker, intruding his views
on all questions, but when he took part
in a debate he spoke to the point and
with a suggestion ot that dash which has
since become SO characteristic of his
manner. In 1869 and for two successive
CONGRESSES he WAS Sneaker whore his
knowledge of the rules, his irmue $.
auickness of perception and his uniform
courtesy and fairness gave him a Great
reputation as Il presiding officer,
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