The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-02-29
THE BLAINE DIVORCE
The Secretary Discusses His Do
mestio Tribulations.
HIS DEFENSE OF HIS NAMEsAKE.
The Generous Offers Made TO the
Young Harried Couple,
AND REJECTED BY YOUNG MRS. BLAINE.

Marriage Ceremony when Young
Blaine Was Under Eighteen Years
of Age-Mrs.I BIaine's Harsh Treat
ment at the Hands of Mrs. Nevins
and Her Daughter.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 90. - Secretary
Blaine has furnished to the United Press
a lengthy statement relating to the
marriage of his son, James G., Jr., to
Marie Nevins and their divorce. Hesays
that he and his family have borno
quietly every publication inspired by the
young woman, but the last outrage of
the kind, embodied in the decision of
judge at Deadwood, s. D., assumes
character which makes it impossible to
remain longer silent.
The statement opens with letter
written by the secretary to Rev. Father
G. Ducey, who officiated at the wedding
at the time, in which he protests against
the act of the priest. The arrangements
for the wedding, the secretary says. Miss
Nevins made and was responsible for.
and in minute detailed statement Of
facts he asserts tho falsity Of the asser-
tion that MRS. Blaine broke up the mar
aiaSe ItltttlOtLS VI UtT son anu MS wife,
The latter refused the offer made by the
secretary for the maintenance of the
young couple. Mrs. Blaine at no time
In thought, word or deed, attempted to
separate them. "On the contrary" says
the secretary in closing, '.she did not
fail by hberallty, by consideration and
by extenuation to foster in every prac-
ticable way their happiness, if happiness
to them had been possible"
"Since the separation of my son and
his wife, three and a half years ago, my
family has silently borne every mis-
representation, every slanderous attack,
every newspaper interview which il las
pleased the now divorced wife to in
spire. The one person aimed at has
been Mrs. Blaine, and we have perhaps
been at fault in allowing a horror of tho
sublic discussion of private matters,
combined with regard for tho future
of my grandson, to permit so much
calumny to 20 unanswered. The last
outrage Of the kind, embodied in the
decision of the judge at DCadwood,
8. d., assumes an official character
which makes it impossible to remain
l1nger silent.
ITO remain silent would he to accept
and perpetuate a great wrong to my
wife-a greater wrong to my grandson
than even u publication of The truth
can infiict Upon him. 1t is necessary in
speaking that should give a summary
as brief as possible of the marriage and
the incidents which followed it and led
to the separation.
IA letter which l addressed to the
Rev. Thomas l. Ducey at the time of
the marriage will distinctly state tho
important facts bearing upon that
event.
The letter to Father Ducey, dated
Augusta, Me-, Sept. 10, 1856, is as fol
lows:
"On Wednesday morning last, the eth
inst, my youngest son, James G. Blaine,
Jr., shocked me by the announcement
that on the preceding Monday he had
been united in marriage with Miss Marie
Nevins; that you had performed the
ceremony in your own rectory; that my
son and Miss Neyins We're unaccoinpan-
led by friend or relative. and that two
of your household servants were the
sole witnesses. My sons announcement
gave the first knowledge that | or any
member of my family had of his mar
rlage or even his attachment to Miss
Nevins, whose character, | wish to say
at the outset, is not at all in question,
and of whom, but for this marriage, |
have never heard breath of censure.
My son was born Oct. Il, 1858, and
Is not, therefore, IS years old. lie was
living here in his own home, in the
house where he was born, surrounded
by neighbors who had known him all
his life, under the daily care of tutor
aVho was fitting him for college, which
be hoped to enter this autumn. To
facilitate his preparation he desired to
femain here during the summer, while
khe other members of the family We're
much of the time at Bar Harbor. As |
AaYe since learned, Miss Neyins, in
company with her sister and her father,
CAME TO Augusta on Monday, Aug 10.
On Friday, sept. 3, eighteen days after
her arrival in Augusta, my son, who
had never seen her nor heard her name
until she came here, left his home with
out permission, and without the knowl-
edge of any member of his family, and
accompanied Miss Neyins and her sister
to their hlothor in New York. On Sat
urday, the 4th, the two young persons
presented themselves to you for mar
xiage.
:" ".Through my eldest son, Walker
Blaine, who went to New York as soon
as l heard these unhappy tidings,
learn that James misrepresented his age
to you, stating that he was within q
month or two Of II. But he did not
4accorulnS TO your own narrative 10 my
son Walker) conceal from you the vital
hct that ne was q minor; he did not
sonceal from you, aut openly avowed,
MAT had no knowledge whatever Of lis
Sntentions to be married and that his
special design was to keep all knowledge
sf it from me- In this concealment he
Sought your aid and allotment, and you
leld his secret for consideration from
Saturday until Monday, agreeing with
bay son not to advise any member
of my family of his rash purpose You
took him to the archbishop in order that
dispensation might be secured to en-
catholic, to marry my son, who was
born, baptized and reared Protestant.
You know that during the long interval
In which you were making these prepa-
rations was within moments reach
by telegraph, and yet you never gave
the slightest intimation to me, the most
deeply interested and resnonsihla marty