Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-07-03
NUMBER 81,


James q. Blaine
eii Having read several Biographies q
!. this distinguished gentleman, the writ
,, er adds another.
II Mr.. Blaine was born in Union tow
ship, which is in the east part of Wash
ington county Pennsylvania.
\ His birthplace was less than te,
miles from the place where the write
first found himself.
Ephraim 8. Blaine, the father O
James G. Blame, whilst owning /
large tract of land which has since hi,
day become very valuable, was him
self "land poor"
His wife the mother of James q.
was a native of Ireland, of the name o1
Gillespie. She had very little educa.
ton, but was sound-hearted level
headed woman, no better and certain.
ly no worse than scores of her neigh.
bors. In Ireland her family was Ro-
man Catholics, but i'm Washington
county, pennsylvania, in respect to
the Ritual of the church, she wasssIoose
on the handle"
+. S. Blaine, while not.prominent in
any Church, was careful to keen on
friendly terms with the Scotch Irish
Presbyterian element which then rul-
ed w Washington county, Pennsylvania.
The district in which James G, Blaine
and the writer were born, was bound
ed on the north by mush and milk.
Oh the east by towleadedness and tow
trowsers, with the legs well rolled up
and letters in the post office, on the
south by hickory switches, and on the
west by bare feet. Its principal pro-
ducts We're excellent wheat and more
rye, some potatoes, a good deal of buck
wheat, and strong Scotch Irish Pres
byterianism, reinforced by good strong |
rye whiskey.
In such community, of course the
Whig Party did not have any show.
+. 8. Blaine and the father of the writ
er were the political leaders in their re-
Spectlve townships. AS went Squire
Blaine so went Union township. As
went "old John Callahan SO vent
feters township, adjoining Union. AS
Already said, E. s. Blaine did not dis
play any particular religious inclina-
Ion at any time, whilst "eld John CAL [
ahan" was very influential elder i'm
he only Scotch Irish Presbyterian con-
,regation in the two townships. e. s. ,
Blaine aspired to political office. "Old ,
'ohn Callahan" never did, but chose to !,
'e the power behind the throne great j
r than the throne. He made and un-
made men at his pleasure. He was q
necessity to 3. s, Blaine, and tl~-tf'
Tere intimate aud firm friends
orothonotary of the county, and III ap- {
pointed the. writers father School Di-
'ecter for Peters township under the
hen new Common School System.
This kept the two men in..clOse official
'elations.
BY this time the writer was large ,
enough to Ne entrusted with business,
md often went to Washington, the I
county seat, and frequently saw Jim
Blaine. But Jim was going. to college,
which he entered an exceedingly FRESH
nan, and he was ststuck up" He new
IF was genius, but @llis scholarship
vas respectable and eminently practic-
II. He probably learned more in his
athers office than. he did at college.
He did not inherit from his mother the
best element of the Irish character, and
ne has been compelled to disciplined
himself severely What was Stubborn
ness in the boy is, by courtesy, called
firmness. now and snllennessi is toned
iown to dignitye The great main
spring Of his character always has been
an intense selfishness. yelled aud mod
fled by great tact and carried out by
perseverance. When he
first struck out for himself he went to
but
'sWestward the star of empiretook its way"
and he was in the line of emigration.
His works folloyed him. Then he
went to Maine, resolved that if he could /
not keep ahead ofemigration, he would
get behind it. In that he was sharp
There has been vast amount Of spec
ulation as to why he went to Maine.
He went there to get out OF the drIft.
And now the Presidency is probably
within his reach. Has he climed up or |
has it "shtooped a ieetie?,' Whoknows?
One thing is clear: his election Will be
owing more to the Democratic weak
ell than Republican strength. i
Owing to our early associations,
have watched Mr.. Blaine more closely
than any other of our public men. he
has been successful politician always
Ia statesman, never.
THOMAS CALLAHAN
DIR. JAcKsoN,s PENETRATING LINIMENT.l
Keep this valuable remedy on hand IN case
of accident. 1t gives prompt relief and y |
certain cure for rheumatism, severe burns,
o,,ts b,,,;sas or seaids. for horses or cattic IL