Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-02-09
Highest of all in Leavenng Power-Latest u Report
Re-! e! Rskiag BsMasgz
ABSOLUTELY PuRE
ABSOLUTELY PURE

tive, Thomas Ewing, the secretary oi
the treasury. At the age OF 13 he en-
tered Washington college in his native
county, where he was graduated in
1S47. Some time after graduation he
became teacher in the western mill
tary institute at Blue Lick Springs,
Kentucky. Here he formed the ac-
quaintance of Miss Harriet Stanwood,
of Maine, who was connected with a
seminary for young ladies at the neigh
boring town of Millersburg, and to
whom, within few months, he was
married. He soon returned to Penn
sylvania, where after some study OF
law, he became teacher in the Penn
sylvania institution for the blind at
Philadelphia. After an association of
two years with this institution, he re-
moved in 1854 to Augusta, Maine,
which he made his home through his
entire career. Purchasing an interest
in the kennebec Journal he became
it's editor, his ready faculty and tren-
chant writing being peculiarly adapted
to this field. He speedily made his
impress, and within three years was a
master spirit in the politics OF the
state, and was actively engaged in the
movement for the formation of the
Republican party ,.and mis- earnest and
incislve discussion OF the rising con-
fiict between freedom and slavery at
tracted wide attention.
In 1856 he was a delegate to the
first Republican national convention
which nominated General Fremont
for the presidency, and took an active
part in the campaign which followed.
In 1857 he broadened his journal
istic career by taking the editorship OF
the Portland ME-. Advertiser. In
1858 he was elected to the Maine legis-
lature and served for four years, the
last two as speaker. The same year
that he was first elected to the legisla-
ture he was chosen chairman of the
Republican state committee and held
the position for twenty years.
At the beginning of the civil war Mr..
Blaine gained distinction not only for
parliamentary skill but for his foren-
sic power in the debates that grew out
of that crisis. In 1862 he was elected
to congress where he served in one
branch or the other for eighteen years.
He was elected to the house tor seven
successive terms. He earnestly sup
ported all measures for the vigorous
prosecution of the war, but sought to
make them judicious and practical.
The measures for the reconstruction
of the states that had been in rebel
lion engrossed the attention OF con-
gress from 1865 to 1869, and Mr..
Blaine bore a prominent part in all
their discussions and in passing them.
In 1869 Mr.. Blaine was elected
speaker of the house, and served for
six years. The political revulsion OF
1874 placed the Democrats in control
of the house and Mr.. Blaine became
the leader of the minority.
In 1876 Mr.. Blaine was the most
prominent candidate for the presiden-
tial nomination. In the national con-
vention he came within twenty-eight
votes of receiving the nomination, but
a combination was formed which re-
suited in the nomination OF Ruther-
ford B. Hayes, of Ohio. Mr.. Blaine
entered heartily into the campaign
and made many speeches, coming as
far west as Iowain his stumping tour.
Immediately after the convention
Mr.. Blaine was appointed by the
governor of Maine senator from that
state to take the place OF Senator
Morrill,, who had gone into Grants
cabinet. He was elected at the next
session of the legislature for full
term in the senate. He opposed the
electoral commission which was ere
ated to settle the disputed presi-
Dental election between Hayes and
Tilden. He also opposed Hayes
southern policy, and held that Hayes
own title to the presidency was in
volved in what he had surrendered OF
federal control of the southern states.
In the senate he made several speeches
on the currency question and opposed
the Bland silver bill. When it was
seen that it would pass he tried to
amend to make the silver dollar
weigh 425 grains instead of 412h
In 1850 Mr.. Blaine was again a can
didate for the presidential nomina.
ton. General Grant was also a can
didate for the nomination, and his
forces were led by Conkling and Logan
The balloting continued for three days
when it became evident that Mr.
Blaine's friends that he could not bt
nominated. 1t was then decided tC
withdraw Mr.. Blaine and throw hi,
whole force to General Garfield, who
stood as it were between the two con
tending factions of Blaine and Grant
and the result was that Garfield wa
nominated, receiving 399 votes Il
| Grants 306. Garfield was elected
president and Mr.. Blaine went int,
his cabinet on March 4, 1881, as sec
retary of state. His career in tn
cabinet was cut short by the assassi
nation of President Garfield on tn
2nd day of July, 1881, as Mr.. Blain
resigned on the 10th OF September.
While in the state deI Mr.
Blaine had begun some extensive plan
to bring the American republics to
gether by means of a pan-Americal
congress. These plans were aban
doned by his successor in Presiden
Arthur's cabinet and were not takel
up again until Mr.. Bayard becam
secretary OF state under Presiden
Cleveland. The congress OF repub
lies was finally held and Mr.. Blaine a
secretary OF state under Presiden
Harrison had the satisfaction @
opening it with a speech.
On his retirement in 1881 Mr.. Blain
was for the first time in twenty-thie e
years out of public life, and he 500
entered upon the composition OF hi
Twenty Years in Congress, the frs
valume of which was issued in Apri
1854, and the second In January
1856. 1t had a large sale.
When the republican national cor
vention met in Chicago in 1884, MI
, Blaine was nominated for the pres
dency, beating President Arthur o
the fourth ballot. Grover Cleveland
the Democratic candidate, was elected
The campaign was very bitter on
, from beginning to ending and the r,
suit was decided by the contest in tn
, state of New York, which gave Clev
land 1,047 more votes than Nj
Blaine.
Mr.. Blaine then devoted himself
) the completion of his literary worl
taking no part in public life. AS tt
, time for the national convention {
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