Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-02-02
Beginning of His Career.

Soon after graduation Mr.. Blaine became
teacher in the Western Military Institute at
Blue Lick, Ky. Here he met Miss Harriet
Stanwood of Maine. Miss Stanwood was
| teacher in q seminary for young ladies at Mil
lersburg, and the two were shortly afterward
married. Mr.. Blaine returned with his wife to
| Pennsylvania and became a teacher in the In
stitute for the Blind at Philadelphia. Instruc-
| tion was chiefly oral and the young teacher
| was given charge of the higher class In litera-
| ture and science For two years Mr.. Blaine
was associated with the school. In 1854 he
moved to Augusta, Me-, where he has since
| made his home. He purchased half interest
| in the Kennebec Journal and became it's editor
lie had O ready faculty for the work and with
in three years was master spirit in State
politics.
He engaged ardently in the formation of the
Republican party. In 1856 he was a delegate
to the first national convention Of the Repub-
llcan party which nominated John @. Fremont
for the Presidency. IL was shortly afterward,
at public meeting when he first claimed at
tention public speaker. At this meeting
he rendered an official report, stammering in
he gained confidence and wound up in man
ner which called attention to him as a public
orator. In 1857 he broadened his newspaper
field by assuming the editorship of the Port
land Advertiser. His political genius, how
ever, had eclipsed the Journalist within him.
In 1883 he was elected to the State Legisla-
ture and was afterward successfully chosen
for four years. The last two years in the House
he served that body as Speaker At the begin
ming of the civil war Mr.. Blaine gained distinc-
tion in the debates which grew out of that
crisis. At the time of his election to the Leg
islature he was made Chairman of the Repub-
lican State Committee, and for twenty years
he held that office. During this time he led
and shaped every political campaign in the
State of Maine. He was elected to Congress in
1862 and for period of eighteen years he was
a member of one or the other houses of Con-
gress. His growth in political strength and
influence was rapid as IL was unbroken. Dur
ing his first term in Congress he made only one
extended speech. This was an argument in
favor Of the assumption of the State war debts
by the general government and contending
that the North was able to carry on the war to
a final conclusion. He broadened In this ar
gumentative field, however and gained a
reputation as an effective debater.
His Career in Congress.
His career in the National Congress was an
eventful one. His antagonism to the Stevens
reconstruction bill in 1867 created a stir In the
nation, and after seeming defeat his amend
ment modifying this proposed military law in
the South was carried through both House
Speaker of the House, acting in that capacity
for six successive years His career In the
House has always been regarded as exception
ally brilliant. The political revulsion of 1874
placed the Democracy in power in the House
and Mr.. Blaine became the leader Of the Re-
tial contest OF 1876 the session OF the House
was a stormy one, and In the general am
nesty bill, removing the disabilities of partici-
pants in the rebellion. Mr.. Blaine stood up
for sn exception in the case of Jefferson
Davis. One Of his most notable speeches was
from Mr.. Hill, OF Georgia.
In 1876 he was called upon to defend his po-
lttical character against charges OF bribery
from the Union Pacific and other railroad com
penies. The Mulligan letters were produced
and the stormy scenes Of May and June OF that