Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-29
James G. Blaine Says His Son was
InVeigled Into Matrimony by
MISS NARY NEVINS, WHO WAS 21,
While Jimie Jln0r wss no. Yet iS-Mr. Blaine
Speaks at Last bat berely to Ezonerats
His VIE Who Never COnnived 70 Bring
40 ut a SeparahOn-Qute a Sen
salonal Story Of a ShOr.
CogrShip.

statement"
Since the separation OF my son and
his wife, three and half years ago, my
family have silently borne every mis-
representation, every sianderOuS at
tack, every newspaper interview, which
/, has pleased the now divorced wife TO
inspire. The one person aimed al has
been Mrs. Blaine, and we have perhaps
been az fault In allowing q horror of the
public discussion of private matters,
combined with regard for the future
Of my grandson, 70 permit so much cal
uuny TO 90 unanswered.
The last outrage Of the kind en-
bodied in the decision OF the judge at
DeGdwOOd, Oak, assumes an official
character, which makes IL impossible to
remain longer silent. To remain silent
would be 10 accept and perpetrate u
great wrong 70 my wife-a greater
wrong % my grandson than even pub
uCation OF the truth can inflct upon
him. IL is necessary in speaking that
should give Q summary, as brief sS pos
sible, OF the marriage and the incidents
which followed IT and led TO the separ-
alton.
4 letter which I addressed to the
Rev. Thos. I. Ducey, at the time
Of the marriage, will distinctly
state the important facts bearing upon
that event. The letter is dated
Augusta, Maine, September lSt, 1856,
and ia part says:
..Ou Wednesday morning last, the sth
inst, my youngest son, JAS. G.. Blaine,
D.. shocked me by the announcement
that on the preceding Monday he had
been united in marriage with Miss
Marie NevinS, that you had performed
the ceremony in your own rectory; that
nv son and Miss NevinS were
unacCompanied by friend or
relative aud that two Of your household
servants were the sole witnesses. My
sons announcement that gave the first
erowledge that /, or any member OF
.gs family, had Of his marriage, or even
Il lis attachment TO Miss NevinS-
those character l wish 10 say at the
.ufset, is not at all in question and Of
whom. but for this rash marriage,
..ve never heard'a breath Of censure. "
'E'he letter then states that his son was
.Ichicgn years old and adds, Eighteen
..vs after Miss Nevins arrived in Au-
guSta, my son who had never seen her
nor heard her name until she came here,
Iaft his home without permission aud
w.taou. the knowledge of any. member
OF MIS- family and accompanied Miss
Eevins and her sister 20 their mother in
New York. On Saturday the 4th,
the two young perSOcS presented
themselves TO you for marriage. l learn
that James misrepresenteG his age TO
vau. stating 70 you that he was within
month or Two of twenty-One, and he
orerly avOwed that / had no knowledge
Whatever of his intention 20 be MARI
aud that his special design was 70 keep
@. knowledge OF 1t from me. Ia this
ccncealment he sought your aid and
allotment, aud you held his secret IN
der consideration from Saturday until
Monday, agreeing with my son not 10
a.yl,e any member of my family
Of his rash purpose. You took
Inn % the Archbishop iu order
tla, dlSDenSatiOn might be secured 70
enable Miss Nevius, who was reared d
Catholic, 20 marry my SOn, who was
bora and reared Protestant. You
kuau that during the long interval in
which you were making these prepara-
tons was within a moments reach by
telegraph. and yet you never gave the
s.stest iutimatiOn TO me, the most deep
is Interested and responsible party.
In defense of this conduct you alleg-
ed % my son Walker the confidence, re-
posed iu YOU as priest, by my son. The
confidence OF the confessional Is always
respected, but by your use OF conf
te-ces rep0sed In you outside the con-
is'>.g1al, even by those not o. the Cath
Ole communion, YOU pcrfOrCe become an
ssgCup.ce before the act Of any crime
o- any imprudcuce TO which you may
.s.ea. A week ago my boy was under
ny pr0tection-the most helpless, the
le-s, responsible member Of my family;
e'r-ac but controllable through his
Nt1-g affections; an object OF
.lstant watchfUlneSS to his parents,
-S brothers and his sisters a source OF
..ls-aI, anxiety, but not OF despair,
,--lgSe be is OF good abilities, as read
influenced 70 the right as 20 the
wong, and because the patience of
'e can never know WEAKNESS. To-
4 -H through your agency, this boy in
l.2rs in experience, in Judgment, in
Haeuca. capacity, leaves my home and
-I care, burtened with the full re-
.l> 5,llties OF u maa, with the Wei
are OF a woman IN his keeping"
I1e letter closes as follows: "AS a
.'aut OF God 20 whose ministry you
ordained, call God 20 witness be-
seen you and me. II whatever evils
-.-,tinE from this deplorab'e marriage
son may be the author or the victim
,Nlat be on your head
~r Blaine then says: When j wrote
~ letter l believed that Miss NeyinS
10 other responsibility ia the mar
'han In cOnsenting 10 my sons ap-
~ and was blameWOrthy for this
r.., Since then I am prepared TO say
b.. 'le marriage was arranged by her
.-fe -lfe than by nv son; that she did
..1Iug 70 promote it; suggested
Via, arrangement; anticipated and pro-
a.. .oF every emergency and that, in
,-.r7. o-; Tor her personal active aud
ing agency the marriage would
49, nave taken place. In this she
ss5u Snowledge and forethought not
M peeled IN a woman CT 81 years
lrn'l'n ten days after her arrival in
Es ssa' within one week from the day
b, 1,S' ~ met my son, she was adjuring
Wi luS Tor several successive days:
l. - nothing until see YOU" LET
s,-,Si--sO" at once about the law" (Ot
SsEss.se.l i can't wait TO hear" at
lsors me III" Can you come to me
'-'' am alsnei do not send up