National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-06-07
JAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE.
A Biographical sketoh-Tho Career OF
Typical American.


Pa. His grcat-grandfather, Ephraim Blaine,
was an officer in the war for independence.
With Gen. Washington at Valley Forge Col.
Blaine endured the hardships Of that terri
BILE winter of 1777-'75. To his efficiency as
commissary general is in great measure due
the preservation of the American forces dur
ing that most trying war crisis. James's
father, Ephram i. Blaine, like many gentle.
men in these days, was possessed of too
generous heart. Keeping open houses and
living generally beyond bis means, n hand
somo patrimony soon dwndled. First, JUS
tice OF the peace, no mean place then, and
later prothonotary (clerS Of the district COURT
OF Washington county, Squire Blaine was
highly esteemed by his ncigbbors. The Blainss
were oil staunch Presbyterians. Several were
| Calyinistic divines Ephraim, however fell
in love with q lovely Miss Gillespie, of Celtic
parontago She acknowledged the Roman
obedience. This did not deter her from
| accepting the hand and name of q Blaine
Fine, sterling woman she was, as mothers of
great men are wont TO be. few years since
she and her daughter, Mrs. Robert Walker,
wife of navy officer, died at Elizabeth, Pa.
OF three sons James was her favorite and she
prophesied fame for her boy. So do most
mothers. Few live to see hopes thus satisfac-
torily realized. First to an Ohio school, then
to Washington Presbyterian collego-in the
town where his father held office--young
Blaine was sent. Ho studied assiduously,
and in 1sI7 graduated with high honors.
SCHOOL TEACHER AND EDITOR.
| Like Webster and other great Americans
Blaine began his career by teaching. His
school was at Georgetown, KY, whore. in
1883, he became acquainted with and mar
ried Miss Stanwood, and returned with her
TO Maine. The Stanwoods were mon of
prominence in New England, and Mr.. Blaine
exchanged pedaEOgue's pursuits for those Of
a journalist As the editor of the Kennebeo
Journal he was associated with Mr.. Stevens.
They had tho state printing, This proved
| insufficient for Mr. Blaines support. In vain
he struck for 81 200 salary. This prompted
him to assume the edtorship of the Portland
| Daily Advertiser. He soon returned TO Au-
| gusta, and made it his home for twenty-five
| years. Journalism soon led him into politics.
In 1857 he was elected to the state legislature
Of Maine. He occupied a seat in its lower
| branch till 1862. Two years of that time he
presided over the house of delegates. lie
awaited himself of that opportunity to perfect
| tho knowledge of parliamentary law that
enabled him later to direct with marked
ability the proceedings in the house Of repre-
sentativos.
REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR.
When In 1869 Schuyler Colfax was pro.
NOTED to the vice presidency, Blaine succeeded
to the speakership. This place he filled till
in 1875 the democrats gained a majority of
members. No speaker, except Henry Clay,
ever gave greater satisfaction in this most
trying position. Mr.. Blaine was called early
in S76 to fill the vacancy in the senate caused
by Senator Lot MorrilPs acceptance of the
treasury portfolio. Fresh in the memory of
every one is the fight, hard and heroic, of
Blaine's supporters, who sought his nomina-
tion at the Cincinnati convention of June q,
1876. Three hundred and and seventy-nine
votes for Hayes, 35l for Blaine, and 90 for
Bristow, stood the seventh ballot. Again in
1880 he renewed his candidacy, and was sue
cessful in defeating the third term movement,
and largely instrumental in bringing about
the nomination Of Mr.. Garfield, whose cabi-
net he entered in March, 1881, as
SECRETARY OF STATE.
His career since then is too familior to
our readers to need recital. His personal
appearance is altogether striking. A rugged
mien, face furrowed with strongly marked
lines surrounding the mouth and other
features bespeak will-powe indomitable and
iirmncss unswerving. Sparse, closely cut
hair and full frosty beard, betray the ap-
pearance OF life's autumn. A youthful
elasticity of movement, however, seems to
belle the years written to his account in
tell tale congressional record. His height is
nearly six feet, his frame almost colossal.
His attire is altogether appropriate to a car
riage too manly to admit of any slouchiness,
even in apparel. Neither mind nor body is
lacking in muscle and sinew. Face aud
form alike convey an impression of vigor and
resolution.
MR.. BLAINE's COLLEGE LIFE.
correspondent writing from Washington,
Pa, where Mr.. Blaine was educated says:
'The circumstances of Mr.. Blaine's coming
to college were rather singular, as related by
himself recently to friend. In the election
OF 1912, his father, Ephraim Blaine, was the
wing candidate for prothonotary. The
democratic party at that time was dominant
in the country but on account of alleged I'M
fairness in the nomination, the party pre-.
scented two candidates-SquireJ James Pollock
and Zachariah Reynolds. The wings elected
their candidate and accordingly Ephraim
Blaine moved to Washington in December,
lS42, starting his son at once to college, from
which he was graduated nearly FIVE years
later. Mr.. Blaine, it must be said. always
considered this fortunate event. as he would
possibly have never been sent to college but
for his fathers election. His father had
previously been wealthy, but at this time
had lost his money.
"What was Mr.. Blaine's characteristic dis
position shown at that timo?" asked tho
correspondent.
His most notable fact was combativeness.
| He was always at home in arguments, and
generally invited them. 1t was the delight
of the democratic politician to engage him
| in political discussions as he was even then
| we'll versed in political history, and was an
ardent upholder of wing doctrine to tho last.
Daring his course in 1874 the party lines
were drawn unusually close regarding some
widely discussed questions that led to the
Mexican war, aud in all these affairs young
Blain's readiness and force in argument was
q matter of general remark.
| During the campaign of 1874, when the
wings had q log cabin nsar the callege for
headquarters, he was especially aggressive in
his defense Of wing policy and in active
work."
| as the statement made in a recent inter-
view that he was very mediocre in scholar
ship true?"
A VERY SMART BOY.
ut is wholly false. He was brilliant
student, and excelled alike in the languages
and mathematics. He was always looked
upon as very smart and graduated with tho
first honor Of his class.
THE leading and preponderatng quality
of his mind was a remarkable memory. In
this he far excelled every other member of
his class and this natural gift which no
greatly strengthened by rigid discipline is
the secret of his great success in public life.
"He was great reader of history, and was
so methodical in his arrangement of facts
that he could in an instant present an array
An incident illustrating strongly this power
Is told Of him when boy. His sister chal-
lenged him to n contest in naming the
counties of the state of Pennsyl vania. She
named them all and no Immediately named
them and every county seat beside,
lie has always been noted for his ability
a aE.a.V he. III AT.a