The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-01
MIR. BLAINE,s LETTER.

H..
The letter of Secretary Blaine, contain
ing a statement of the facts leading up to
the Blaine divorce suit and defending his
wife against the criticisms passed upon
her by Judge Thomas, of Deadwood, will
have a notable effect on public opinion
concerning the family affairs of the
younger Baines. The letter seems fair,
candid and truthful. 1t is supported by
extracts from letters written by young
Mrs. Blaine, and, coming from Secretary
Blaine, it cannot fail to cause a revulsion
of popular feeling, which has hitherto
been altogether with young Mrs. Blaine.
The language of Judge Thomas, as it ap-
pears in the full text of his decision, is as
follows:
The testimony shows that the first two years
of their married life was all that could be wished
for, and the cause OF enlargement and separa-
ton, so far the court is able to judge from the
testimony, is the unfriendiiness on the part of
the family OF the defendant, especially his
mother.
But Il seems that Mrs. Blaine the elder. did
all in her power to make the life OF the plaintiff
unhappy. She was evidently opposed TO the
for her son was to have them separated, and it
would seem from the evidence in the case she
had laid shrewd plan and surrounded them by
circuHstances which would result in an apparent
desertion on the part OF plaintiff. mother words,
she so treated tho plaintiff, at the Same time In
viting her to make the house her home, as to
cause her to be SO unhappy that she would
leave, and therefore she could claim on the part
OF her son that he was deserted by his wife.
As soon as he got under the domination OF his
mother, he seemed to become greatly estranged
from his wife and treated her with neglect aud
fnattention, and the evidence shows that his de-
sertion was the result of the Vaccinations Of
his mother
He seems to have been estranged from her by
his mother.
Mr.. Blaine denies without qualification
that his wife sin thought, word or deed
attempted to separate man and wife. On
the contrary, she did not fail, by liberal
ity consideration and extenuation, to
foster in every practicable way their hap
piness."
He declares that his son, when a boy
of II, fitting for college. was married in
September, 1886. to Miss NeYins, then 81
years of age, by a Catholic priest, who not
only knew that he was a minor; that his
family knew nothing of his intended mar
riage, but agreed not to inform his
family, most reprehensible act for
any clergyman with reputation to lose.
Mr.. Blaine evidently believes that Miss
Nevins was the aggressive party in pro-
curing this marriage. In August, 1883,
Mr.. Blaine offered the young couple his
Augusta home and $500 year until his
son could earn that income. After two
weeks residence at Augusta young Mrs.
Blaine departed for New York while her
husband was absent with his father on
campaign tour. Forty-four days after
wards she returned with her mother, who
treated the elder Mrs. Blaine with great
rudeness and in two hours departed again
for New York. Young Mr.. Blaine, from
the time of his wife's first departure had
of his own free will decided not to reioin
her. mo restraint was attempted, de-
sired or needed to insure the separation"
and the elder Mrs. Blaine was in no way
responsible for the decision of young Mr.
Blaine not to live again with his wife.
This in brief is the substance of the elder
Mr.. Blaine's statement.
The mistake of the Blaines was in not
having the facts stated in court. Judge
Thomas is not to be blamed for structures
based upon the only evidence which he
had before him-evidence which was
neither denied nor impeached. The press
and the public are not to be blamed for ac-
cepting the uncontroyerted evidence and
the opinion of the judge rs final. Many
things have been said in regard to the case
which would not have been said if the
facts contained in Mr.. Blaine's letter had
been known 10 the public. The Posr-IN-
TELLIGENcER is glad TO acknowledge that
the comments which it made would have
been vastly different if these facts had
been brought out in court, or had at that
time been given to the public in any au-
thoritative manner.
Mr.. Blaine's letter is manly and
courageous defense of wife and mother.
winch is none the less admirable because
it comes late. Its tone will touch the
American people and its statements will
convince them. Mr.. Blaine does not de-
fend his son-he merely points TO his
youth-but he does defend his wife right
calamity and his letter vindicates her
against the aspersions that have been cast
upon her as a woman and as q mother,