The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-02

Dldlne luTDlsBeS 10 II6 ASSOCl2l6Q 1reES
today for publication the following, under
the heading of "a Personal Statement"
Since the separation of nv son and his
wife, three and one-half years ago, my
family have silently borne every misrep-
resentation, every slanderous attack, every
newspaper interview, which it 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 a re-
gard for the future of my grandson. to
permit such calumny to go unanswered.
The last outrage of the kind, embodied
in the decision of the Judge at Deadwood,
S. D., assumes ar official character which
makes it impossible to remain longer
silent.
To remain silent would be to accept a
wrong to my wiie-a greater wrong to my
grandson than even a publication of the
truth can inflict upon him. 1t is necessary
in speaking that should beas brief as pos
sible concerning the marriage and the Incl
dents which followed it and which led to
the separation. A letter which 1 addressed
to the Rev. Thomas 1. Ducey at the time
of the marriage will distinctly state the
important facts bearing upon the event:
AUGUSTA, Me-, Sept. Is, 1885,
Rev. Thomas ]. Ducey, rector ST. LeO's church,
10 f. Twenty-ninth-st., New York:
SIR-On Wednesday morning last. the 9Th
inst, my youngest son, James G. Blaine, jr.,
shocked me by the announcement that on the
pecedng Monday he had been united in mar
riage with Miss Marie Nevins; that you had
performed the ceremony in your own rectory (;
that my son and Miss Nevins were unaccom-
panied by friend or relative; that two of your
household servants were the sole witnesses.
My sons announcement gave the first knowl-
edge that | or any member of my family had
of his marriage, or even of his attachment to
Miss Nevins-whose character. l wish to say at
the outset is not at oil in question, and of
whom, but TO. this rash marriage,
have never heard breath of
censure. Ny son was born Oct. u, 1888 and
is not, therefore, eighteen years of age. 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 fitting him for
college, which be hoped TO enter this autumn.
To facilitate his preparation he desired to re-
main here during the summer while the other
members Of the family were much of the time
at Bar Harbor AS / have since learned Miss
Nevins, in company with her sister and her
father. came to Augusta on Monday, Aug. 16.
On Friday, Sept. 8, eighteen days after her ar
rival in 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
to their mothers in New York. On Saturday,
the 4th, the two young persons presented them
selves to you for marriage. Through my eldest
son, Walker Blaine, who went TO New York as
soon as heard this unhappy story. learn that
James misrepresented his age to you, stating
that he was within q month or two of twenty
one. But he did not (according to your
own narrative to my Walker) con-
ceal from you the vital fact that he
was a minor; he did not conceal from you, but
openly avowed, that had no knowledge what
ever OF his intention 70 be married and that his
secret design was to keep all knowledge of il
from me. In this concealment he sought your
aid and allotment, and you held his secret
under consideration from Saturday until Mon
day, agreeing with my son not to advise any
member of my family of his rash purpose. You
took him to the archbishop in order that dis
pensaton might be secured TO enable Miss
Nevins, who was reared a catholic, to marry
my son. who was born, baptized and reared O
protestant You knew that during the interval
in which you were making these preparations
was within a moments reach b. telegraph, and
yet you never gave the slightest intimation to
me, the most deeply interested and response
bic party.
In defense of this conduct you alleged to my
son Walker the confidence repOsed in you as
priest by my son. The confidence of the con.
fessionAl is always respected, but by your use
of confidence expressed outside of the comics.
sional even by those not Of the catholic com.
munion, you, perforce. become accomplice
| before the fact OF any ermc or any imprudence
| TO which you may listen. It is not for me to
| advise minister of your intelligence that your
| position is absolutely untenable, would be dan
| gerous to society and would not be respected
| By any court OF the land. You further alleged
| in justification of your action that il you had
| not performed the ceremony some one else out
| side your communion would have done it.
| This Is a common defense OF evil-doing and il
unworthy of priest and man. You might
Gs well justify your murder OF man by chloro
form on the ground that otherwise some one
else would murder him with dagger.
A week ago my boy was under my protec
I tion-the most helpless, the least responsible
| member Of my family; erratc but comfortable
4 through his strong affections; object of con
stant watchfulness to his parents, his brothers
and his sisters, source Of constant anxiety
1 but not of despair. because he is of good abil
litiss, as readily influenced to the right the
&Frong, and because the patience of love car
never know weariness. To-Day, through your
agency. this boy in years. in experience, IL