The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-03-03

AUGUSTA, Me-, Sept 13, 1886
Rev. Thomas l. Ducey, Rector St. Leo's Church.
New York:
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 mar
riage with Miss Marie Eevins; that you had
performed the ceremony in your rectory; that
my son and Miss Nevins were unaccOmpaned
by friend or relative, and that two of your
household servants were the only witnesses.
My sons announcement gave me the first
knowledge that | 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 outset Is not at all in question and of
whom-but for this rash marriage-I have
never heard a breath of censure.
My son was born Oct. Il, 1863, and Is not
therefor Is years old. He was living here in
his own homo when the house where he was
born surrounded by neighbors who had known
him all his life under the daily care Of n tutor
who was fitting him for college, which he
hoped 70 enter this autumn. To facilitate his
preparation he desired to remain here during
the summer, while the other members of the
family were much Of the time at Bar HarbOr
As have since learned, Miss Ncvins in COM
pany with her sister and her father, came TO
Augusta on Monday, Aug, l6 On Friday, Sept.
3, eighteen days after her arrival in Augusta,
my son, who had never seen her or heard her
name until she came here left his home with
out 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 eldest son, Walker
Blaine, learn that James misrepresented to
you, stating that he was within month or two
of q. But he did not according to your own
narrative TO my son Walker conceal from you,
hnf INF fhat / ha1 mn 1yT,nt r1nIf,
whatever of his intention 10 be married and
that his special design was to keep all knowl-
edge OF 1t 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 ad-
wise any member of my family of his rash pur-
pose. You took him TO the archbishop in order
that dispensation might be secured TO enable
Miss Nevins who was Catholic, 10 my son
who was born, baptized and reared Protest
ant. You knew that during the long interval
in which you were making these preparations
/ was within moments reach by telegraph,
and yet you never gave the slightest intima-
tiOn TO me, the most deeply interested and re-
sponsble party.
In defense of this conduct YOU alleged TO my
son Walker the confidence reposed in you as a
priest by my son. The confidence of the con-
fessiOnal is always respected, but by your use
of condolences repOsed in you outside the con-
communion, you become an accomplice before
the act of any crime or any imprudence TO
which you may listen. II is not for me to ad-
wise a minister Of your intelligence that your
position is absolutely intenable, would be dan
gerOus TO society, and would not be respected
by any court in 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 IL.
This is a common defense of evil doing and is
unworthy Of priest and man. You might
as well Justify your murder of aman by chloro-
form on the ground that otherwise some one
else would murder him with n dagger.
A week ago my boy was under my protec-
tion-the most helpless, the least responsible
member of my family; erratiC, but controllable
through his strong affections; an object of con-
stant watchfulness by his parents, his brothers
and his sisters a source of constant anxiety,
but not of despair, because he is of good abili-
ties, as readily influenced to the right as to the
wrong and because the patience Of love can
never know WEAKNESS. Today, through your
agency, this boy in years, in experience, in
judgment, in practical capacity, leaves my
home and my care, burdened with the full re-
sponsibilities of a man. with the welfare of a
woman in his keeping.
| am powerless. l cannot question the le-
gality of the marriage. | shall at a distance
and at every disadvantage endeavor 10 guide
my son But as a father, living under the
divine institution of the family, as a citizen
living under the divine order Of society, / pro-
test against your act. AS a servant Of God to
whose ministry you are ordained, call God To
witness between you and me. OF whatever
evils resulting from this deplorable marriage
my son may be the author or the victim, the
guilt be on your head. JAMES G.. BLAINE.
Miss Nevins Was Blam eworthy.
When l wrote this letter / believed
that Miss Nevins had no other RESPONSE
hilitY in the malriaoa than In cnnsantinn