Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-10-01
A ISLANDER ANSWERED.
MIR. Blaine Tells in Direct and Manly
Language the Story Of His
Marriage.


Marriage.
A Recital that Will Touch the Heart
Of Every True Husband
and Father.
New YORK, Sept. 1.-THE Hon.
William Walter Phelps takes the re-
spousibility of giving to the public the
following private letter addressed to
him nearly two weeks ago:
AUGUSTA, Me-, Sept. 6.-:My Dear Mr..
Phelps: have your favor of the 4th,
advising me that "the continuous in
vention and wide circulation of evil re-
ports render it advisable lin your judg-
ment) not to wait the slow process of
the law, but to speak directly to the
public in my own vindication." In this
opinion many others-on whose judg-
ment rely-concur.
shrink instinctively from the sug-
gestion, although I feel sure I could
strengthen the confidence of all who
feel friendly to me by bringing to view
the simple thread of truth which is con-
cealed in this endless tissue of false
hood. You can imagine how inexpres-
sibly painful it must be to discuss ones
domestic life in the press, although I
think with you that under the circum-
stances could count upon the gener-
osity of the public to Justify state
ment which otherwise might seem OBJ
jectionable. I can, in any event, safely
commit the facts to you for personal
communication to those friends who
have taken SO delicate and so consider
ate an interest in my affairs. The leis-
ure hours of to- day, when our campaign
is ended, and we wait only for the elec-
ton, gives the opportunity for the
prompt reply, and for the following es-
sential details:
At Georgetown, KY, in the spring of
1848, when was but Is years of age, 1
first met the lady who for more than
thirty-four years bas 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 ourselves. Two years later, in
the spring of 1850, when I was matur-
ing plans to leave my profession in
Kentucky and establish myself else
where, I was suddenly summoned to
Pennsylvania by the death of my father.
It being very doubtful whether [ could
return to Kentucky, I was threatened
with an indefinite separation from her
who possessed my entire devotion. Ny
one wish was to secure her to myself by
an indissoluble tie against every possi-
bic contingency in life, and the Both
day of June, 1850, just prior to my de-
parture from Kentucky, we were, in
the presence OF chosen and trusted
friends, united by what I knew was. il
my native state Of Pennsylvania, a per-
fectly legal form of marriage.
On reaching home I found that my
family, and especially my bereaved
mother, strongly discountenanced my
business plans, as involving too long q
separation from home and kindred. l
complied with her wish that should
resume, at least for time, my occupa-
tion in Kentucky, whittier I had re-
turned in the latter part of August.
During the ensuing winter, induced
by misgivings which we're increased by
legal consultations, I became alarmed
least doubt might be thrown upon the
validity of our marriage by reason of
noncom pliance with the law of the state
where it had occurred, for had learned
that the laws of Kentucky made a Ii
cense certificate by the clerk of the
county court an indispensable requisit
of legal marriage. After much de-
Liberation and with an anxious desire
to guard in the most effectual
manner against any embarrassment
resulting from our position-for
which alone was responsible de-
cided 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 witnesses in the City OF
Pittsburg in the month of March, 1851,
but was not otherwise made public for
obvious reasons. Itwas solemnized only
to secure an indisputable validity-the
first marriage being by my wife and
myself always held sacred. At the
mature age of 81 I do not defend
the wisdom or prudence of secret
marriage suggested by the ardor and
the inexperience of youth; but it's honor
and it's purity were inviolate, as be-
lieve, in the sight of God and cannot be
made to appear Otherwise by the wicked
devices of men. It brought to me q
companionship which has been my CHIEF
happiness from boyhood's years to this
hour and has crowned me with whatever
of success I have attained in life.
My eldest child, a son, was born in
his grandmother's house the 18th day
of June, 1851, in the city of Augusta
Me-, and died in her arms three years
later. His ashes repose in the GENE
terry of his native city beneath stone
which recorded his name and the limits
of his innocent life. That stone, which
had stood for almost an entire genera
tion, has been recently defaced by bru'
tai and sacrilegious hands.
As candidate for the presidency
knew that I should encounter many
forms of calumny and personal defama'
ton, but I confess that did not expect
to be called upon to defend the name o1
beloved and honored wife, who is 8
mother and grandmother; nor did
expect that the grave of my little child
would be cruelty desecrated. Against
such gross forms of wrong the law gives
me no adequate redress, and 1 know
that in the end my most effective appea
against the unspeakable outrages which
resist must be to the noble manhood
and noble womanhood of America
Your friend, very sincerely,
JAMES G.. BLAINE.
A Druggists Blunder.
tFrom the Philadelphia CALI
Doctor-Weli, how is your ague now
Patient-Worse and worse. I've hac
the shakes awfully every day.
"I can't understand that. Did you