St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-29
MARIE WAS TO b Anne.
Papa James Tells How Miss
Nevins Misappropriated His
Tender Scion.
fhe Young Lady's Methods Of
the Most Brilliant and
Dashing Order.
Er. Blaine Denies That Mrs.
Blaine Separated the
Young Couple.
& Very Brown Roast for the
Rev. Thomas Ducey, Of
New York.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S.-Mr. Blaine
furnished today for publication the fol-
lowing, under the heading IA Personal
Statement":
Since the separation of my son and
his wife. three and half years ago, my
family have silently borne every mis-
representation, every slanderous at
tack, every newspaper interview which
1t has pleased the now divorced wife to
inspire. The one person aimed at has
been Mrs. Blaine, and we have perhaps
been at fault in allowing a horror of the
public discussion Of private matters,
combined with regard for the future
of my grandson, to permit so much
calumny 10 go unanswered. The 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 remain silent would
be to accept and perpetuate great
wrong to my wife-a greater wrong to
Hlv grandson than even a publication of
the truth can intlict upon him. 1t is
necessary in speaking that should give
summary, as brief as possible, of the
marriage and the incidents which fol-
lowed it and led to the separation. A
letter which | addressed to Rev. Thomas
l. Ducey, at the time of the marriage,
will distinctly state the important facts
bearing upon that event:
Brown Roast for BUGGY.
Augusta, Me-, Sept. 49, 1sS6-Rev Thomas
]. Ducey. Rector St Leos Church. 16 East
Twenty-ninth Street New York C.ty-Sir:
On Wednesday morning last the Sth inst,
my youngest son, James G. Blaine Jr.,
shocked me by the announcement that on
the preceding Monday he had been united in
marriage to Miss Mary Nevins; that you ba1
performed the ceremony i'll your own rectory:
that my son and Miss Neyins were unaccom-
panied by friends or relatives, and that two
of your household servants were the sole
witnesses. My sons announcement gave the
first knowledge that 1 or any member
of my family had of his marriage, or
even Of his attachment to Miss Nevins-
whose character / wish to say at the out
Bet is not at all in question, and of whom but
for this rash marriage L have never heard q
breath of censure My son was born Oct
l., 1868. and is not, therefore, eighteen years
old. He 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, who was fit
ting him for college, which he hoped TO enter
this autumn. To facilitate his preparation
he desired TO remain here during the sum-
mer, while the other members of the family
were much of the time at Bar HarbOr AS 1
have since learned Miss Nevins, in company
with her sister and father. came to Augusta
OIL Monday, Aug. IL. On Friday, Sept. 3,
Eighteen DAYS After
her arrival III Augusta, my son, who had
never seen her or heard her name until she
came here, left his home without permission
and without the knowledge of any member
Of his family and accompanied Miss Nevins
and her sister to their mother in New York
On Saturday, the 4th, the two young persons
presented themselves to you for marriage
Through my Oldest son, Walker Blaine. who
went TO New York as soon as L heard these
unhappy tdings, learn that James mis-
represented his age to you. stating that he
was within a month or two of twenty -one.
But he did not according to your own mar
rative to my son Walker) conceal from you
the vital fact that he was minor or he did
not conceal from you, but openly avowed
tentiOn to be married, and that his special de-
sign was to keep all knowledge of it from
me. In this concealment he sought your aid
and allotment and you held his secret under
consideration from Saturday until Monday
agreeing with my son not to advise any mem
Der of my family of his rash purpose. You
took him to the archbishop in order that q
dispensation might be secured TO enable Miss
Nevins, who was reared a Catholic to marry
my son, who was born, baptized and reared a
Protestant. You knew that during the long
interval in which you were making these
preparations / was within amoment's reach
by telegraph, and yet you never gave the
slightest intimation to me, the most deeply
interested and responsible party. In de-
Tense of this conduct you alleged to my son
Walker
The Confidence Reposed
IN you as priest by my son. The confidence
of the confessional is always respected; bu
by your use of condolences reposed IN YOU
outside the confessional-even by those not
of the Catholic communion-you, perforce
become an accomplice before the act of any
crime or any imprudence to which you NAV
listen. 1t is not for me to advise a minister
of your intelligence that your position is
absolutely untenable; would be dangerous
court of the land. You further alleged in
justification Of your action that if you had
not performed the ceremony some one else
outside your communion would have done it
This is a common defense of evil-doing anG
is unworthy of a priest and a man. You
might as we'll Justify your murder of mar
by chloroform on the ground that otherwise
some one else would murder him with n dag
ger. week ago my boy was under my pro
tection-the most helpless the least respon
slble member of my family; erratic. but
comfortable through his strong affections
an opJect OF constant watchfulness to his
parents, his brothers and his sisters; a source
Of constant anxiety, but not of despair be
cause he is of coed abilities, as readily inf1u
enced to the right as to the wrong and be-
cause the patience of love can never know
WEAKNESS. Today, through your agency. tbi:
boy in years, in experience, In judgment. in
practical capacity, leaves my home and nv
care, burdened with the full Responsibilities,
of a man. with the welfare of a woman in hi!
keeping. am powerless. l cannot question
the legality of the marriage. l shall at dis
lance and at every disadvantage endeavor t.
guide my son. But as father living unde
the divine institution of the family: as a cit
izen. living under the divine order of society
protest against your act As O. servant O
God to whose ministry you are ordained.
call God to witness between you and me- o.
whatever evils resulting from this deplo
rable marriage my son may be the author o
the victim, the guilt be on your head.
JAMES G. BLAINE.
All lEarie's Fault.
When | wrote this letter ] believed