The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-29
BLAINE DEFENDS HIS son.
A Personal ABATEMENT REGARDING
THE HOPS MARRIAGE

He Denies That Mrs. BIaine, by Word or
Deed. Sought to Separate the 1ii.Msted
Coupie-A Seating Letter to Father Du.
cey. Who Performed the Marriage Cere.
money-l1e says That Mis-. Ncvins Madc
All the Arrangem ents for the Marriage,
nnd 'i'hnt Yourg Blaine, n Youth OF IL.
Wn.the Dup.-StM He Tried 10 Make the
hest or IL, ana On.rcd the Couple . Home
una An Allowances OF 81, 500 Year-Bu:
the Young wife Refused 10 Live in Au-
susta and Left for New York During
the Absenc. OF Her Husband.
WASHINGTON. Feb aS-Secretary BLAINE this
evening furnished to the United Press. n long
statement relating to the marriage Of his son.
james q. Blaine. Jr.. 10 Marie Sevlns. and
their divorce. It is us follows:
PERSONAL STATEMENT.
-" Since the separation OF my son and his
wife. three and n half years ago. my family
have silently borne every misrepresentation.
every slan,erous attack every newspaper in
tervicw which it has pleased the now divorced
VIE to inspire. Tho ono person aimed Mt hns
been Mrs. Blaine. aud we have perhaps been
ut fault in allowing n horror of the public dis
cussion of private matters.combnod with II
regard for the future OF my grandson. to per-
init 50 much calumny to go unanswered.
Tho last outrage OF the kind. embodied in
the decision of the Judge at Deadwood. OAK.
assumes an official character. which makes it
impossible to remain longer silent To re-
main silent would be- to accept and perpetuatc
II great wrong TO my wifca greater wrong to
my grandson than even publication OF tho
truth can intiirt upon him. 1t is necessary in
speaking that should give n summary. AS
brief rs possible. of the marriage and the in-
ciients which followed it and led TO the sepa-
ration. A letter which addressed to the Rev.
Thomas J. Ducey at tho time of the marriage
will distinctly state the important facts bear
ing upon that event:
AUGUSTA. Me-. SEPT. -. 1856
IN. Rv Tiprr, !. D,csv RstOr 81 LEI. church. 10 Is
T"eg.njmh r,t.t. N',r !oh.
SIE: On Wednesday morning last my young
est son. James 4. Blaine. Ir. shocked me Gy
the announcement that on the preceding Mon
day he had been united in marriage with Miss
ceremony in your own rectory: that my som son
and Miss Ncvins were unaccompunied by
friend or rclntv". and that two Of Your house
sons announcement gave the first knowledge
that or any member Of my family had Of his
Nevins. WHOSE character wish to saw ut the
outset j. not at all in the question and ~
Mn"n,. but for this rash marriage have never
Ny son was born Oct ~. 1863. and is not
therefore lS years Old. He was living here in
IN. surrounded ly nrighhors, who had known
him all his life, under the daily care If Il tutor
Who vas "a i,tIG MIN '"r e"eG WhiSh he
preparation h" desired to. remain here Turing
the summer. while the other members Of rhe
Al hnve since learned. Miss Nrvns. in com
pans with he, sister and her father. came to
SEPT. 5. eighteen days aitor her arrival in Az
gnsta. my son. who had never seen her nor
heard her name until she came here lei, his
home without permission and without the
,Sss Iiss Xsyn; and Ter sisisr to
tho +th. tho young persons presented them
selves T to you for marriage. ,.u.
,rh Through my ED eldest son; WqlSer h,qinc.
unhappy ,iding-. ! learn that James misrep-
lr.ented his age to you, Stain: that be was
according 10 your own nurrat,v" to my son
Walker conceal from, you the vita! fact that
hut " "peny nyowe% that III had " no k ,%
Whatever "f his intention to be married. and
that hi, special design wHs to ke.r all kMowi
he sought your aid and allotment. and
YOU held his ri secret uG and. c"nsid.ration
with my son not to advise any menu
her OF. my faulty of his rash. purpose. You
him t" the ArG Gn IL order th9t
my son who, was, born. baptized. and reared !,
tcrvnl in which You were making these rr"nu-
rations | was within IL moments reach by .eo-
Ertnph; md yet YOU never Gpyc tie sli%htes
In defence Of f" iris conduct you alleged to
ASA priest .y my son. The contdenc" of tho
confessions, IS always respected. but BY, your
confessional. even by those rot Of the Catholic
rnIm conn ynu nerforfre become an accom-
Ial li.-f,
!%tsSsnes yor '"i,Ss o" sS%:
10 soesty and Would not re- res ST. Ey any
court Of the land. You further alleged in JUS
tlnsation q your action that il you had MT
your communion would have done it, This sa |
common defence Of evi! doing.nnd is unworthy |
your murder Of man by cl,l"roform on tho |
ground tint otherwise some one else would |
mnsder him With n dagger.
ton tho most ilrlpless. tho least rc-ronsihl, |
m , Of ny , family; rrratic. but conrna;;
constant watscifulne-s to his parents. his
brothers, and his sisters; a source Of constant
aia not Of TO inf Of
right as to, tho wrong. and because the pn-
tIenGe OF love can never know WEAKNESS.
years; IN experience. in Judgment in practica
GapaGGityi , len I'VE, NIX home and ny care. bur,
with tho welfare Of woman in his Keeping
am ,powerless. | cannot question the legal
lty OF the marriage. shall ut distance and
nj every disadvantage, endeavor to guide my
son. b!it AS Y father living under the divine
81 he family. Ms II citizen living
under the divine order Of society, |, protest
against y0nr act. AS n servant Of God to
whose ministry You are ordained. call God to
witness between you and me. or whatever
evils resulting from this deplorable marriage
guilt 10 on your head. JAMES Z" q. i,LiISf."
Nv, When | wrote this letter l believed that
Miss Neyins haa no other responsibility in tho
peal. and was blamewortliy for this alone.
since then am prepared to- say that the mar.
ny son; that t, she did everything 70 promote
pated aud provided for every emergency. am!
nat. IN fact. but Tor her personal, active. and
lntiring agency, tho marriage would never
nave D, tn aa nj I,lacc In tits she showed
IN a woman Of II Years. Within ten days
.iter mr. arrival IN August. within one, week
rom the day she first met my son. she was
'Sinrng ,i him thus for several successive days;
makes mo III. u.s." "''' -
Can you come to me moment. I am alone. DO not