The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-02-03

trymen calls for something more than
passing repetition of the facts of his
career. The mere facts were easily re-
cited. It were brief and cursory task
to recount the capital events and land
marks of his life Born in West Browns
vile, Pa, on the 31st of January, 1880:
educated first at home and afterward at
Washington college; teaching for a short
time in military school at Blue Lick
Springs, KY; finding there and taking
in marriage Harriet Stanwood, teacher
like himself; returning to his native state
TO teach in Philadelphia; going with his
young wife to her home in Maine and
making that state his future home;
editor at twenty-four Of the Kenne-
bee Journal; associate editor of the Port
land Advertiser; bounding into politics;
reaching the legislature of Maine and
then a seat in congress; seven terms a
member of the house Of representatives
and for six years speaker Of that body;
briefly in the senate-an arena unsuited
to his genius; aspiring to the presidency;
four times voted for in national conven-
tons of his party and once nominated:
twice secretary of state in the cabi-
nets of his competitors; leader of his
party; publicist; diplomatist Of the first
rank: creator of policies national and in
ternational; statesman, author, man OF
genius, and therefore an enigma-such
have been the critical stages and evolu-
tons of this remarkable career.
But biographical annals do not suffice
in the case before us. The so called life
of Blaine is already twice-told tale. 1t
is known in the quick memories Of hi:
countrymen and to the world. Blaine
deserves rather - now that outward
bound he passes the remotest bar of hui
man vision-to be fairly estimated, justly
interpreted to the understandings Of his
countrymen, revealed without Partially.
faithfully portrayed upon the screen In
the backward look Of memory.
Blaine was favorably but paradoxical-
ly born-favorably because of the en-
placement of his birth Pennsylvania is
one of the empire states of the Union
Out of her borders many of the great
have arisen. But he also came paradox
ically. He was born in Quaker COM
monwealth and of the cross blood of a
Presbyterian and Catholic! Was he
not from birth the product of contradict
DRY conditions and inconsistent elements
of life?
1t concerns us little to note the Cir
cumstances in the early career of James
G. Blaine. His ambitions, intellectual
powers and easy attachments were re-
marked from his boyhood. Tradition
has made it evident that he was youth
of unusual powers. Glimpses of great
purpose fash out here and there. Hi:
collegiate training at> Washington col
lege was not unfavorable to the promo
ton of his native forces. AS youth ht
gained much by forensic practice. Con
tention made him, or at least gave him
his bent. Already at college he gathered
many Of the historical, literary and sci
entihc resources which were to stan(
him so well in hand in his ripper years.
Blaines mind was one of those that ar,
particularly susceptible to the influence
of education and environment. TIL
completed man, as he appeared in thi
remarkable parsonage, was very differen
from the completed man as he is discov
cred in such characters as Franklin ant
Henry, Thaddeus Stevens and Lincoln
Blaine from his earlier years grew AM
assimilated to himself all the sap and pc
tency of his surroundings; he fourishe
in his soil and sprang from the arena.
We may pass by the somewhat obscur
influences of his domestic estate. TIL
world knows that in this regard he wa
not a happy or an inspired man. Thi
has been true of too many of our recen
great Americans. Somehow or other i
American life it rarely happens nova
days-though it seemed to happen in tn
colonial epoch often-that the domesti
reaction upon the man of genius an
purpose works out it's most benefcen
results. Blaine has been indeed singr
larly unfortunate in his family. Man
are dead. The most promising has latel
fallen; others are broken with hur
Doubtless the proud man, as husban