Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-02-01
Mr.. MANleYs TRIBUTE


In recent issue OF the Boston Herald
Hon. J. H. Marley pays the following
tribute to the memory Of Mr.. Blaine
The first time | ever saw Mr.. Blaine was
in the fall Of 1854. IA mere boy
formed my acquaintance with him in 1855
1t .eon rpened into an admiration on my
par. which has increased with the years
that have passed. have watched his pub
lie life from that day antil now, and regard
il as the great pleasure of my life that |
hare been permitted TO know much of his
prShte and family life, and have received
during all these years his warm friendship.
think the first political speech he ever
made was In Augusta. on his return from
the national Republican convention Of 1856.
lie was n delegate to that convention from
this district, and cast his vote for John c.
Fremont
In the campaign of 1860, he took most
conspicuous and active part in this State,
and acquired then great reputation as
public speaker, and won for himself the
admiration and love of the citizens of
Maine He attended the rational eouven-
ton at Chicago, not as a delegate, but ~ a
warm friend of Abraham Lincoln, earn
estly desiring his nomination, and by his
personal influence divided the Maine dele
CATION. which was supposed to be unani-
mously for the nomination of Mr.. Seward,so
that il cost a portion of its votes on the first
ballot for the nomination of Mr.. Lincoln.
He conducted the editorial pages of the
ksssEBEc Journal in that campaign and
at the same time, spoke nearly every night
in various sections of the State. Both by
pen aud voice he el0queutly urged the
election of Mr.. Lincoln. and most vigorous
ly denounced the great wrong OF human
slavery.
remember distinctly that during this
campaign he was invited TO speak at Clinton,
In this county. 1t was a strong Democratic
town, and the leading character and spirit
in the town, the late Gideon Wells. was a
radical Democrat Mr.. Blaines political
friends advised him not to speak in Clinton.
They told him that all meetings held by
Republicans had been interrupted, and that
he would probably meet the same fate and
have TO answer many sharp aud pointed
questions This advice only increased Mr..
Blaines desire 70 20 to Clinton. He was
eager for the fray, and on the appointed
night he was there, and addressed large
crowd. In the Goarse of his speech he did
not hesi'ate To lenounee In scatlnng terms
the iniqMty of slavery, anl the great wrong
of permitting that Institution to exist
During his remarks Mr. Wells thought
he saw q grand opportunity to interrupt
and squelch him. He arose in the audi-
ence. and said ~ would like TO ask the
speaker question
Nr. Blaine instantly stopped and sN-
pressed bis Willingness to he asked any
question and bis readiness to answer so far
ns he had the ability 10 do 80.
H. rzff Al IL.
"Do understand YOU, sir. to denounee ns
wicked the institution of slavery. and to
condemn the slave owners Am correctg"
Mr.. Blaine promptly replied You are.
MIR. Wells then said II want to ask
You, sir. If George Washington was not a
slave owner"
lie was quickly retorted Mr. Blaine.
Mr. Wells then said with an air of tri-
umph: DO YOU dare, sir in this audi
ence, to denounce George Washington, the
father of his country"
quick rs lightning. Mr. Blaine saw his
opportunity, and rising TO his full height
with all the power and mpe;uosity of his
young manhood, he quickly retorted: No
man honors the memory of George Wash
ington more than do, but | want 10 tell
the gentleman that even George Washing
ton, with all his greatness and his power,
did not dare to enter the presence of his
Maker until he had manumitted every slave
he ever owned"
And thus closed his speech. He was a
hero in that vicinity from that hour, anil
although Mr.. Wells remained until the day
of his death strong Democrat. he ever
after had . great admiration aud personal
liking for Mr.. Blaine
II is not strange that the people of Maine
have always had an intense admiration for
Mr. Blaine for he early displayed the great
est interest in the State of Maine. He. on
more than one occasion showed his devo-
ton to its people. and his admiration for his
adopted State. It was early in bis political
career, in reply TO an onslaught the late
"Sunset" Cox made upon the State of Maine
in regard to the fishing boun-
ties which the State received. that Mr.,
Blaine replied TO him, saying, in part This
much. sir, have felt called upon to say in
response 10 the eloquent and carefully pre-
pared speech of the gentleman from Ohio.
] have spoken in yindication OF state that
is as independent and a. proud as any with
in the limits OF the tuion. have spoken
for Il people as iligh-toned and as honorable
as can be found In the wide world. have
spoken for particular class, many Of them
my constituents, who are as manly and as
brave as ever faced the oceans storm; and
so long. sir, as I have seat on this floor
the State of Mainc shall not he siandered
hy the gentleman from Ohio. or by gentle
men from any other state.
The Public Career Of M. Blaine
i. so closely interviewer with the history of
his country that il is known of all men, but
th..s 81 - af., far
acter is better known TO those Who shared
and enjoyed hi. friendship He was tender
and atfeetionsie, generous 10 the truest and
nohless sense. His love of home anl family
was intense. Whea abroad ii lsss-ss he
always loHged for home.
la y letter from Paris in October of 1887
he said Il would rather be in Augusta
today than in Paris with all its gayety aud
glitter. 4 little touch of real home feeling
is worth the whole world of fashion,"
In letter from Sorrento in April of 1883
be said I'VE are having delightful times
in southern Italy, plaeAins oranges from
the trees and bashiag in the sunshine as
genial as fine July day in Augusta We
are on the south 81 .e OF the BAY of Naples,
and look out upon Vesuyias. 10 miles dis
fans. with great flames shooting from the
crater every night. But long TO be back
in Maine
Ia letter from the same place IN the
same mon,h he said II beg yoa will not
fail to continue yoar letters. AMI make
them more frequent. They are grea. re-
source 10 me. away of, 1900 miles from
home. As write this, Mrs. Blaine is SIT
ting on balcony from one of our windows
that looks over precipiee 500 feet high,
with the Bay of Naples below, the city IL
miles across the bay. directly opposite !,
Vesuvius on the right, with great volume
of smoke issuing from the crater; the
Island of Capri and esrthquakc-shaken
Isehia on the left; Pompeii distinctly Wis
ible with a glass she hollis in her hand, and
with another sweep of the glass she can
distinctly see the island to which Brutus
fled
After the Murder Of czsar.
end rhere Cicero visited him in his exile.