The record-union., 1893-01-28
LIFE OF THE DEAD STATESMAN.
Brief Sketch of Els Career From Child
hood to the End.

hood to the End.
James Gillespie Blaine was born in
West Brownsville, Pa, January 81. 1880.
His early education was sedulously culti-
waited. He had the advantage of excel
lent teachers at his own home. and for a
part of the year 1871 was at school in Lam
caster, Ohio, where he lived with his
relative, Thomas Ewing, then Secretary
OF the Treasury. In association with
Thomas Ewing, Jr., young Blaine began
his preparation for college under the in
struction ofa thoroughly trained English
man, William Lyons, brother of Lord
Lyons, and at the age of thirteen years
entered Washington College, in his native
county, where he graduated in IS47.
He had a marked taste for historical
studies, and eXcelled in literature and
mathematics. In literary society he dis
played the political aptitude and capacity
that distinguished his subsequent career
Some time after graduation he became a
teacher In tie MlI4tary Institute at Blue
Lick Springs, Ky. Here he became ac-
quainted with Miss Harriet Stanwood
of Maine, to whom he was subsequently
married.
Mr.. Blaine soon after returned to
Pennsylvania, where, after some study of
the law, he became a teacher in the Penn
adelphia. After an association of two
years with this institution he removed. in
1854, to Augusta, Me-, where he has since
made his home. Purchasing an interest in
the knnebec Journal, he became its editor,
and within three years was master
spirit in the politics of the State. He en-
gagged in the movement for the formation
of the Republican party with all his
energy, and his earnest discussion of the
rising conflict between freedom and
slavery attracted wide attraction. In
1856 he was a delegate TO the National Re-
publican Convention which nominated
General Fremont for the Presidency. In
1888 he was elected to the Legislature, re-
manning member through successive
annual elections for four years. and sery-
ing the last two as Speaker.
In 1862 Mr.. Blaine was elected to Con-
gress, where in one branch or the other
he served for eighteen years. To the
House he was chosen Tor seven success
sive terms. His growth in position and
influence was rapid and unbroken, and
he had not been long a member of the
House before he acquired high repute as
a fOrcible and effective debator. In run
ming discussions his ready resources and
alert faculties were singularly fitted. lie
was bold in attack, quick in repartee and
apt in illustration. His close study Of
political history, his accurate knowledge
of the record and relations of public men,
and his untailing memory, gave him
great advantages.
Mr.. Blaine earnestly sustained all
measures for the vigorous prosecution of
the war, but sought TO make them
judicial and practical. In this spirit
he supported the bill for a draft,
but opposed absolute conscription.
He contended that it should be relieved
by provisions for Communication and sub
stitution, and urged that an inexorabIe
"a Il ~
even under the absolutism of Napoleon.
At the same time he enforced the duty of
sustaining and strengthening the armies
in the field by using all the resources of
the nation. ard strongly advocated the
Enrolment Act.
The measures for the reconstruction of
the States that had been in rebellion
largely engrossed the attention OF Con-
gress from 1865 till 1869. and Mr.. Blaine
bore a prominent part in their discus
sion and in the Work of framing them.
In 1868 Mr.. Blaine was chosen Speaker
of the House of Representatives and
served by successive reflections for six
wears. His administration OF the Speaker
ship was regarded as one of the most
brilliant and successful in the annals of
the House. His rapid dispatch of busi-
ness and impartial spirit were recognized
on all sides. The political revulsion of
1874 placed the Democrats in control Of
the House, and Mr.. Blaine became the
leader of the minority.
At the Republican National Conven-
ton in 1876 Mr.. Blaine's friends brought
his name forward for the Presidential
nomination, and on the seventh ballot he
only lacked twenty-five votes OF receiy-
ing the honor, but a union OF the support
ers of all other candidates gave the nomi-
nation to Governor Hayes.
Immediately after the convention he
was appointed United States Senator to
fill the unexpired term made vacant by
the resignation of Senator Morrill, Of
Maine, and in the following winter was
chosen by the Legislature for the full en-
suing term. In the Senate he engaged in
the discussion OF current questions. lie
opposed the creation OF the Electoral
Commission tor the settlement of the dis
puted Presidential election in 1876. hold
ing that Congress did not possess the
power that it proposed to confer on the
commission. On the currency question
he always assumed a pronounced posi-
ton. He strenuously opposed the Bland
silver bill. lie favored bimetallic cur
rency, and equally resisted the adoption
of the single gold standard and the depre-
citation OF silver. On the Chinese ques-
ton he early declared himself decidedly
in favor OF restricting their immigration.
He argued that there were only two