Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-20
Mr.. BLAINE EXPLAINS
TIE SECRET OF ms MARRIAGE
Az the Age OF Fifty.foar He does not Dssena
the wisdom OF Acts Suggested by the inef'

the wisdom OF Acts Suggested BY the mex
pcrienec or You,h.
lBy telegraph IN the Diapateh.I
New YORK. september 1o.--Hon. VII
liam Walter Phelps takes the responsibility
OF giving to the public the following private
letter addressed 10 him nearly two weeks
ago:
AUGUSTA. September 6. 1884.
NV Dear Mr.. Phelps: / have your favor
OF the sth advising me that Z" the continuous
invention and wide cii culation OF evil re-
ports render II advisable lin your iudg.
mcnt) not 10 wait the slow process OF law.
but TO speak directly 10 the public In my
own vindication., In this opinion many
others, on whose judgment rely,
concur. / shrink instinctively from the
suggestion, though / feel sure | could
strengthen the confidence OF all who feel
friendly to me by bringing TO view the
simple thread of truth which is connected
IN this endless tissue OF falsebood.
You can imagine how iuexpressibly
DainfuI II must be to discuss ones domes-
TIC life in the press; although / think with
YOU, that under the circumstances | could
count upon the generosity Of the public 10
Justify a statement which otherwise
might seem Objectionable. can, In any
event. safely commit the facts TO you for
personal communication TO those friends
who have taken so delicate aud so cons d.
crate an interest in my affairs. The leisure
hours OF to-day, when our campaign il
ended and we wait only for the election,
gives me opportunity for this prompt reply
and the following essential details At
GEORGETOWN. Kentucky, In the spring
OF 1913, when l was but eighteen
years OF age, j first met the lidy
who for more than thiIty-four years has
been my wife. Our acquaintance resulted
ut the end OF six months in an engagement,
which, without the prospect OF speedy
marriage, we naturally sought to keep to
ourselves. Two years later, in the spring
OF 1850. when | was maturing plans to
leave my profession In Kentucky and
establish myself elsewhere, / was
suddenly summoned to Pennsylvania
by the death OF my father. II being
very doubtful ii could return 10 Ken
lucky, was threatened with an indef-
mite separation from her who possessed my
entire devotion. My one wish was TO Sc
cure her 10 myself Ivy an indissoluble tie
against every possible contingency in life.
and on the Goth day Of June. 1850, Just
prior to my departure from kentucky. we
were, in the presence OF chosen and trusted
friends, united by what ! knew was
In my native State OF Pennsylvania per-
feotly legal form OF marriage. On reaching
home | found that my family, and es-
pecally my bereayed mother, strongly
discountenanccd my business plans IL in
volying too Tonga separation from home and
kindred. complied with her wish,
that | should resume, at least for n
time, my occupation in Kentucky,
whittier | returned in the Latter part
Of August. During the ensuing winter,
induced by miSgivings under new re-
-misgiyings which were IN
creased by legal constitutional became
alarmed lest doubt might be thrown
uTon the validity of our marriage by rei.
son OF noncompliance with the law OF the
State where il bad occurred; for | had
learned that the laws OF Kentucky made
license certified by The clerk OF the
county court an indispensable requisite OF
marriage. After much deliberation. and
with an earnest desire to guard in the most
eficctual manner against any possible en-
barrassment resulting from our position,
for which ! alone was responsible, we
decided that the simplest, and at the same
time the surest, way TO repair to
Pennsylvania and have another marriage
service performed. This was done. in the
presence of witnesses. in the city OF Pitts
burgh. In the month OF March, 1851, but
wasnot otherwise made public, for obvious
reasons. 1t was sOlemnized only to secure
an iudisputable validity, the first marriage
being by my wife and myself always held
sacred. At the mature age OF fifty-four
do not defend the wisdom or prudence
Of the secret marriage suggested by
the ardor and ineXperience Of youth
but its honor and its purity were
inviolate, as / believe, in the sight
OF God, and cannot he made TO appear
otherwise by the wicked devices Of men.
1t brought to me n companionship which
has been my chief happiness from bOyhoOd
years TO this year. and has crowned M
with whatever success 1 have attained
in life. My eldest child. son,
was born in his grandmother's
house en- 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 cemetery Of his native city.
beneath stone which recorded his name
and limits OF his innocent life. That stone,
which bad stood for almost an entire genera
ton, has been recently defaced by brutal and
sacrelgious hands. As candidate for the
presidency, knew that should encounter
many forms OF calumny and personal de-
famation, but confess did not expect TO
DO called upon TO defend the name OF
beloved and honored wife who is a
mother and grandmother. nor did expect
that the grave Of my little child would
be cruelty desecrated. Against such
gross forms Of wrongs the law
gives no adequate redress, and |
know in the end my most effective
appeal against the unspeakable out
RACES which resist must be 10 the no.
Die manhood and noble womanhOod OF
America.
Your friend, very sincerely.
JAMES G.. BLAINE.