Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-06-19

James gillespie Blame as seiI-mdue
man. He has undoubted ability and
marked individuality He was born in
Washington county, Pa, on the 3lst of
January, 1880. He graduated with
honor at Washington college in 1s47.
His first occupation after his college
days was that of school teacher in
Frankfort, KY, where he met and mar
ried Miss Harriet Stanwood, of Augusta,
Me. He made his home in Augusta for
some time. and by the aid of the in
fiuence of friends of his wife he secured
position as assistant editor of the
KenneSec Journal, paper well known
then as party organ, and the proud
possessor of the state printing. II was
thus that Mr.. Blaine entered political
life. At this time trouble had arisen
between the Democrats and the temper
ance element, AMI Mr.. Blaine united
with the Wing party, adopting its plat
form with fervor and zeal that carried.
all hearts. In 1859 he worked his way
into the lower branch of the state legis-
lature. AS aparty manager he display
ed great tact, his aptitude for organiza-
ton then for the first time coming into
play. In 1861 and 1862 he was elected
speaker of the House OF Representatives
in the Maine legislature. and it was
then that he laid the foundation of his
present large fortune.
As q man of business few men dis
played shrewder perception of the
ways OF business and h keener insight
into the motives of men than Mr. Blaine.
The outbreak of the war opened up u
splendid opportunity for speculation.
and among others to enter the race for
the accumulation of wealth was Mr..
Blaine.
. A gooo story is told of his business
enterprise in the early days of the war.
The Maine Central Railroad had u
claim of $4,000 against the govern
ment for transporting the state troops
Mr.. Blaine suggested that he should be
given the job of collecting it. Mr.
Simon Cameron was at the head of the
War Department and Mr.. Thomas a.
Scott. q friend OF Mr.. Blaine's, was Mr..
Cameron's secretary. 1t was urged
against this claim that the Maine Cen
trail had offered to transport the troops
free of charge. Mr.. Blaine was able by
his business tact to convince the govern
ment that the claim was just one, aud
for his success IN collecting it he was
given the handsome fee of S5, 000-not
at all bad beginning for man who
started in life without red cent to lis
name. His success in this line prompt
ed the Boston and Maine Railroad to
engage him TO collect similar claim,
in which he was also fortunate. His
many succt sses in business were recog-
nized by the people, and Mr.. Blaine
soon discovered that Maine did
not present wide enough field
for the development of his bust
ness capabilities and he removed to
Washington.
After q business career of some time in
which he was phenomenally success
full, Mr. Blaine entered Congress in 1862.
He was ready debater, q plausible,
fluent talker, and naturally made his
mark. His ambition here was no less
marked than in his business life and
he aspired 10 become speaker,
In Congress during the war of the re-
bellion he does not appear to have
conceived any striking measures. The
only resolution worth mention which
he introduced was to amend the con-
stitution of the United States by strik-
ing out the clause which forbids tax
ing exports. 1t was not until 1869 that
he was elected Speaker of the House of
Representatives, when he was reelected
for the two succeeding terms.
He was candidate for the Presidency
in 1876 and came within twenty-seven
votes of securing the nomination. That
same year he was elected United States
Senator In 1885, he was again a
Presidential candidate. 1t is not
necessary here to recount his doings
as Secretary of State i'll the Garfield
administration, or to speak of his
spirited foreign policy, which resem-
bled in great measure the ''Jingoism"
of the Earl of Beaconsfie'd, whose ro-
mantle and erratic movements he de-
lighted TO follow.