Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-03-04
James G.. Blaine Sr., Makes State.
ment About His Sons DOmes-
tic Relations.
He Says His Wife Did Not Try
to Separate the Young
s Couple,
And that Mrs. Blaine Jr., is
a Deceitful, Scheming
Mink.
Blaine's Personal Statement.

n WASHINGTON, Feb. 29.-Mr. Blaine
furnished to the Associated Press for
publication the following under the
heading: "a Personal Statement
Since the separation of my son and
his wife three and half years ago my
family have silently borne every misrep.
resentation; every slandrous attack;
every newspaper interview which it has
pleased the now divorced wife to inspire.
One person aimed at has been Mrs.
Blaine, and we have perhaps been at
fault at allowing publio discussion of
private matters, combined with regard
for the future of my grandson, to pc rmit
80 much calumny to go unanswered.
The last outrage of the kind embodied
in the decision of the judge at Dead.
ter which makes it impossible to remain
longer silent. Toiremain silent would be
7 TO accept and perpetuate great wrong
to my wife, greater wrong to my grand
son than even the publication Of the
sary in speaking that I should give a
summary, as brief as possible, of the
marriage and incidents which followed it
]! !ttuu lou W LILO 5cp dIdUlOus
8 Then follows letter dated Sept. ID,
1885, and addressed to Rev. Thomas I.
Ducey, New York; the rector who per-
formed the marriage ceremony, in which
{ Mr.. Blaine takes the reverend gentleman
severely to task for consenting to unite
9 minor-a mere lad only II years and 10
months old, to young lady of 21. The
letter closes as follows:
A week ago my boy was under my pro-
tection-the most helpless, the least re-
sponsible member of my family; erratic,
but controllable through his strong
affections; the object of constant watch
fulness to his parents, his bothers and
his sisters; source of constant anxiety,
but not Of despair, because he is Of
good abilities, as readily influenced to
right as to wrong, and because the
patience of love can never know
agency. this boy in years, in ex-
perience, in Judgment and in prac-
stical capacity, leaves my home and
my care burdened with the full RESPONSE
bilities of man, with tile welfare of a
woman in his keeping. I am powerless.
"a cannot question the legality of the
marriage. shall at distance and at
every disadvantage, endeavor to guide my
son. But as a father, living under the
divine institution of family, as a citi-
zen living under the divine order of
society, / protest against your act. As a
servant of God to whose ministry you
are ordained, call God to witness be-
tween you and me. OF whatever evils
resulting from this deplorable marriage
my son may be author or the victim, the
guilt will be on your head.
JAMES G. BLAINE.
/, When I wrote this letter I believed
Sthat Miss Nevins had no other RESPONSE
Hility in the marriage than in eonsenting
Rmy sons appeal, and was blameworthy
Hr this alone. Since then am prepared
II say that the marriage was arranged
" her far more than by my son; that
|k 3 did everything to promote it; sug-
|e ted every arrangement anticipated
III provided for every emergency, and
IAS in fact, but for her personal active
IND untiring agency the marriage would
Never have taken place. In this she
hoWed knowledge and forethought. not
Db be expected in woman Of q years.
Then follows long account of how
Miss Nevins planned the marriage, urged
haste and secrecy; the council at the
family residence ip%sugusta; how Blaine,
sar. offered q house, carriages, driver
BSpd ~, 800 3 year to the young couple to
sstttle down in Augusta; the refusal ,of
n oher and fight Of young Mrs. Blaine.
h denying Of the generally accepted
theory that Mrs. Blaine, Sr., was unkind
the young wife, or in any way assisted
n the final estrangsment OF the young
apuple, Mr.. Blaine concludes as fol-
m: S5,
p Far Be il from me to hold my son
+ ameless. Though WHOM his youth, his
b pc1mpleted educati6, his separation
Npm. the Influences OF home, and the ex-
apge of q life full Of hopes and antici-
tions Tor one of premature cares and
songenial comp onship are consid-
dI hold him more sinned against