The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-02-29
DEFENDS HIS WIFE
The Secretary of State Makes
a Statement.
ABOUT HIS SONS MARRIAGE
Father DuOey Blamed By Mr. Blaine for
Performing the Ceremony,


WASHINGTON, Feb 29-Secretary Blaine
has furnished a long statement relating
to the marriage of his son, James g., ir,
TO Marie Nevens, and their divorce. He
says that he and his family have borne
quietly every publication inspired by the
young woman, but the last outrage of
the kind, embodied in the decision Of a
Judge at Deadwood, Oak, says Mr.
Blaine, assumes character which makes
it impossible to remain longer silent.
Mr. Blaine makes the following state
ment:
"Since the separation of my son and
his wife three and half years ago, my
family have borne every misrepresenta-
tion, 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 horror of the public
discussion Of private matters, combined
with regard for the future of my
grandson, to permit so much calumuy to
unanswered.
"A letter which / addressed to the
Rev. Thomas l. Ducey at the time of the
marriage win distinctly state the impor-
tant facts bearing upon that event.
"AUGUsTA, Me, Sept, 49, 1884.
'RFv THOMAS l. DUCEY-Sir: On We'd
uesday morning last my youngest son,
James g. Blaine, jr,, 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 my son and Miss Nevins
were unaccompanied by friend or rela-
tive, and 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 at
tachment to Miss Nevins, whose charac-
ter Iwish to say at the outset, in not at
all in question, and Of whom, but for
this rash marriage, i have never heard
breath of censure o
"Mv son was born October -, 1868,
and is not. therefore, is years old. He
was living here in his own home, in the
house in which he was born, surrounded
NV ueiehbors who had known him all his
life. under the daily care of tutor who
was fitting him for college, which he
hoped TO enter this autumn. To faolll-
tate his preparations 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 Nevins, in company with
her sister and her father, came to
Augusta on Monday, August l6
''On Friday, September 3, eighteen
dGys after her arrival in Augusta, my
son, who had never seen her nor heard
her.name until she came here, left his
home without permission, and without
the knowledge Of any member Of his
family, aud accompanied Miss Neyins
and his sister to their mother in New
York. On Saturday, the 4th, the young
persons presented themselves TO you for
marriage.
Through my oldest son, Walker
Blaine. who went to New York as soon
ss heard these unhappy tidings, | learn
that James misrepreseuted his age to
YOU. stating that he was within month
or two of 2l But he did not according
10 your own narrative to my son Walker)
conceal from you the vital fact that he
was a minor: he did not conceal from
you, but openly avowed, that | had no
Inowledge whatever of his inteptio to
be married, and that his special design
was TO keep all knowledge of it from me.
"iu this concealment he sought your
bid and allotment and you held his
secret under consideration from Satur-
day antil Monday, agreeing with my son
not to advise any member of my family
of his rash purpose You 'ook him to
the Archbishop in order that dispensa
tion might be secured TO enable Miss
Nevins, who was reared Catholic, tC
marry my son, who was born, baptized
and reared Protestant You knew that
during the long interval in which yOr
=
within moments reach by telegraph
and yet you never gave the slightest in
tiD.ation to me, the most deeply inJer
ested and responsible party.
''ln defence of this conduct you
alleged to my son Walker the con
fdence reposed in you as a priest bl
my son. The confidence of the con
iessional is always respected, bu
10y your use Of condolences reposed in yoI
outside the confessional, even by thos
not of the Catholic communion, you per
become an accomplice before the act o
any crime or any imprudence to whicl
you may listen. 1t is not for me to ad
wise a minister Of your intelligence tina
your position is absolutely untenable
would be dangerous TO society, an
would not be respected by any court c
the land.
''lOu uuther alleged in justification {
your action that If you had not performe
the ceremony some one else outside you
communion would have done it. This
common dcfeuce of evil doing, and
unworthy Of priest aud a man
"A week ago my boy was under m
protection-the most helpless, the lea
responsible member of my family; e
ratio. but comfortable through his stron
affections; an object of constant watc
fulness to his parents, his brothers an
his sisters; source of constant anXiei
but not of despair because he is Of got
abilities, As readily influenced TO u
right as TO the wrong, and because Il
patience Of love can never know we8l
ness. To-day, through your agenc
this boy in years, in experience, in jud
ment, in practical capacity, leaves n
home aud my care, burdened with d
full responsibilities of Ia man. with {
welfare Of woman ia his keeping
II am powerless. l cannot questi
the legality Of the marriage. 1 shall
distance and at every disadvantage e
deayor 10 guide my son, but as faith
living under the divine institution Of 1
family as "a citizen living under the
vine order OF society, / protest agair