The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-29
BLAINE LINEN HUNG OUT.
.---------------
Other Side Of the Family Scandal
Given to the Public in
\
Detail.
Young Mrs. Blaine Described as q
Bold, Designing, Vixeniah
Woman. .. ...
lilo Other mot.ier-in-L Law Presented in An
Unenviabls Light--Will the Other
Side Reply?

+ WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.--Mr. Blaine fur
n1shes the associated press the following
under the caption, "a personal statement
Since the separation Of my son and ha
wife three and 4 half years ago, my family
nave silently horne every misrepresenta
t1on, slanderous attack, md newspaper in
tervlsw it has pleased the now divorced
wife to inspire. The person aimad at be-
ing Mrs. Blaine. we perhaps have been a
fault IN allowing tho horror of public dis.
cussion OF private matters, together witt
regard for the future of my grandson, tx
permit 30 much calumny to go unanswered
The last outrage of the kind. embodied in
the decision Of the judge at Deadwood, as
sumes official character, which makes i
impossible longer to remain silent. 10 d,
so would be to accept and perpetuate ,
wrong to my wife and greater wrong te
my grandson than even the publication OF
the truth can infiict. letter + addressed
to Rev. Thomas I. Ducey, at the time Of the
marriage gives important facts bearing
upon that event:
AUGUSTA, Me-, Sept. 13 1886. Rev
Thos I. Ducey: Last Wednesday morning
my youngest son, James G. Blaine, Jr.,
shocked me by the announcement that on
the preceding Monday you had united him
IN marrlage,in your own rectory with Miss
Mary Neving; that my son and Miss Nevins
we've unaccompanied by friends or rela-
tiyes, two of your household servants being
the soIs witnesses. NV sons announcement
was the first knowledge any member Of the
family had of even an attachment for Miss
Nevins, whose character is not at all in
question, and of whom, except for this
rash marriage, have never heard breath
of censure.
''My son is but III he has been living here
under the daily care of a tutor who was fit
ting him for college. In order to continue
his studies he desired to remain here during
the summer while the rest of the family
were at Bar Harbor. Monday, Aug. l6,
Miss Neyins, her sister and father, came to
Augusta. Eighteen days afterwards my
son, who never heard of her until she came
thera, laht h.s home without the permission
Or AnsHaaage of any OF the family and ac-
conapanied Miss Nevins to New York. The
next day they presented themselves to YOU
for marriage. Whils he misrepresented his
age, he did not. according to your own
statements afterwards made, conceal from
you the fact of his minority, or the fact
that his family knew nothing of his in
tended marriage. You agreed not to inform
his family. You took him to the archbishop
in order to secure a dispensation 80 that
Miss Nevins, Catholic might marry nv
son, a Protestant. You knew I was in a
moments reach by telegraph, yet never
gave the slightest intention to me, the most
deeply interested and responsible party of
what was going on.
sin lAfancA of this con1uct Won o1 lopaI
the confidence reposed in you as priest
by my son. The confidence of the confess
sional is always respected. but by your use
of confidence reposed in you outside of the
confessional, even by those not of Catholic
communion, you perforce become accom-
plioe before the act of any crime or i'm
prudence to which you may listen. You
further alleged if you had not performed
the ceremony some one outside of your
communion would have done it. This is
the common defence of evll-doing, and is
unworthy of priest and man. A week
ago my boy was ander my protection, the
most helpless, least responsible member of
through his strong affections; an object of
constant watchfulness to his parents,
brothers and sisters: 4 source of constant
anxiety, but not despair. because he is of
good abilities, as readily influenced to right
as wrong, and because the patience of love
Va
your agency, this boy i'll years, in
experience, in Judgment i'll praoti-
cal capacity, leaves my home
and core. burdened with full responsible
ties of a man; with the welfare of q woman
in his keeping. | am powerless. cannot
question the legality of the marriage.
shall, at distance and disadvantage, try to
guide my son. But as u father, living
under the divine institution of tho family;
as a citizen, living under the divine
order of society, protest against your act.
[ call Goa to witness between you and me,
of whatever evil resulting from this deplor-
able marriage my son may be the author or
victim, the guilt be on your head.
JAMES G. BLAINE
When Iwrote the foregoing letter, | be-
lieved Miss Nevins had no other RESPONSE
bility in the marriage than in the consent
ing to my sons appeal. Since then l am
prepared to say that the marriage was ar
ranged by her far more than by my son.
She did everything to promote it, suggested
every arrangement, anticipated anu pro-
vided for every emergency, i'll fuct, but
for her personal active, untrue
agency, the marriage would never have
taken place. In this she showed know
ledge and forethought not to be expected in
a woman of 81 years of age. Within
ten days after her arrival in
Augusta. within q week after first
meeting my son. she WAS thus adjurinp hrm
for several successive days; Write
nothing until / see you. Lot mo know at
once about the law Of marriage. | cannot
come to mo n moment? Am alone. Do
not send up your card. DO not ask any
questions that may lead people to suspect
We are III the mouths of every
man, woman and child in Augusta. Every
look every flush of your face is talked of.