Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-12
JAMES G. BLAINE.
ReNIeM Oils Lie.

I 1
vania, on the west side of the Mon
ongahela, 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 Ii was built by Mr.
Blaine's grandfather, the elder Neal
Gillespie in 171S on what was at that
time considered the western borders of
civilization Mr.. Blaine's boyhood
days We're passed at Lancaster, Ohio,
where he lived in the family of rela.
tive, the Hon. Thomas Ewing, then
Secretary of the Treasury, and at
tended a neighboring school He was
the third son of Ephraim l.. Blame,
a justice Of the peace, who became
somewhat noted by deciding to the
Economists the tract of land now oc-
cupied by the city of Pit'sburg, for
which he received S25, COO Being
elected Prothonotary of the CouHty
Court in 1912, the elder Blaine sent
James to Washington College in 1913,
from where he graduated in the fall
Of 1917 AT the age OF II years. During
his college days he demonstrated his
fondness for politics, and was known
as strong Clay man, and was always
the court of last resort in political dis
cussions among the students. On
leaving college the youthful graduate
went TO Kentucky and taught school,
his father at the period being com
paratively poor and having insult
ticlent means to support the large
family of which he was the head.
| While following the occupation of a
coul try school teacher Mr. Blaine
met his present wife, who was also
teacher of a country school in Ken
lucky. Shortly after their marriage
they went to her former home, at
Kennebec, Ne, where he entered the
journalistic profession, assuming con
troll of the kenaebec journal, and
afterward Of the Portland Advertiser
He Immediately sprang into a posi-
ton Of influence in State,politics, and
at the age of % was recognized as one
Of the young leaders of the republican
party AT the age of 20 years he was
selected Chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Republican organ
ization of the State, a position he has
held ever since, and practically shap-
. ing and directing every campaign,
and leading the party to victory
In 1858 he was elected TO the Maine
Legislature, and served in that capa
city four years, two Of which he was
Speaker of the House of Representa-
, tlves.
In 1862 he was chosen a representa-
: tive in congress, from which time he
has been prominently before the pub
lie. During the period of his congress
sional career as a member of the post
/ office committee he was instrumental
- in bringing into use the present system
of postal cars, branch of the depart
ment which hitherto had not reached
any degree of perfection.
He was elected speaker of the house
Of representatives a March, 1869, and
was reelected in 1871, and three years
, later entered on his third term as
, such In 1875 he toek his seat on the
! floor of the house, and was recognized
as the leader of the republican minor
) ity, the democratic tidal wave Of
1874 having given them the major
ity.
His dash and brilliancy as the re
publican leader on the floor Of The
house made him a popular candidate
for the presidency in 1876 he, on the
first ballot receiving 29S votes, anc
ON the seventh ballot, on which
Hayes was nominated, received 35l
votes.
! TIE same year Governor Conner
of Maine, appointed him u. s. senator
= to succeed the Hon Lot NJ Morrill,
5 who resigned TO accept the position o
7 secretary of the treasury. AT the fol
: lowing session Of the Maine legisAa
1 ture he was elected to his seat in the
4 u. S. senate.
-Four years ago he was again put
! forward as a candidate for tho presi
dency, and after thirty-six ballots were
+ cast was defeated by the late Jane.
a. Garfield
On the inauguration of Presiden
a Garfield. Senator Blame was appoint
/ ed Secretary of State which position
3. he resigned several months after the
r death OF the lamented President, ow
a ing to a difference IN his ideas tC
e those Of President Arthur on matters
Y OF pubic EOllCy. ounce ms feIlrehieh
= from the Cabinet he has been engaged
. in literary pursuits, having writer
r during that period his Twenty Years
In Congress. Throughout his dis
= tinguished career he has been always
J regarded as a man Of good temper
! and temperament, with q powerful
/. intellectual vehemence. During hi!
a career in Congress and the Senate h'
c delivered many eloquent speeches
T among them his defense of Maine, il
d reply to reflections by the Hon. S. S
e Cox. on fishing bouutics, the conscrp
{. ton bill. the silver bill, the army ap
g preparation bill, and other subjects
E His studies have always be largely
! on political questions and story. Ii
: his early college days he. was noteC
! for his early love Of American history
r which in his subsequent years, n
I cultivated, and at the present time i
4 would be impossible to find a man il
i the Union who could, without refer
n ence. give so many accurate facts an,
i statistics relating to the financial anC
I revenue system, and IN fact, 70 every