Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1893-01-28

trymen calls for something more than a
passing repetition of the facts of his
career. The mere facts were easily re-
cited. 1t were a 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 a military school at Blue Lick
Sp%ings, KY; finding there and taking
in marriage Harriet Stanwood, a 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 seat in congress; seven terms a
pember 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-
tions 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-
tions of this remarkable career.
But biographical annals do not suffice
in the case before us. The so called life
- IL. II, n -fol1 fo1
is known in the quick memories of his
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 partiality,
faithfully portrayed upon the screen in
the backward look of memory.
Blaine was favorably but paradoxcal-
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 a Quaker COM
monwealth and of the cross blood OF
Presbyterian and Catholic! Was he
not from birth the product of contradict
ory conditions and inconsistent elements
of life?
It concerns us little to note the cir
cumstances in the early career of James
G.. Blaine. His ambitions, intellectual
powers and easy attainments were re-
marked from his boyhood. Tradition
has made it evident that he was youth
of unusual powers. Glimpses of great
purpose fash out her0 and there. His
collegiate trainipI NJ Washington col
lege was not uns sssable to the promo
ton of his n2sass9s ;tsses. AS youth ne
gained mucl reroasic practice Con-
tention made ,>'.3, eo at least gave him,
his bent. Al III college he gathered
many of the L.. !I...-- .lssaI, literary and SCI
entific resources which were to stand
him so well in hand in his ripper years.
Blaine's mind was one of those that are
particularly susceptible to the influences
OF education and environment. The
completed man, as he appeared IN TINS
remarkable parsonage, was very different
from the completed man as he is discov-
ered in such characters as Franklin and
Henry. Thaddeus Stevens and Lincoln.
Blaine from his earlier years grew and
assi,nilated to himself all the sap and po-
tency of his surroundings; he aourished
in his soil and sprang from the arena.
We may pass by the somewhat obscure
influences of his domestic estate. Inc
world knows that in this regard ne was
not a happy or an inspired man. inns
has been true of too many or our recent
great Americans Somehow or otner 10
American life it rarely happens nova
ys-though it seemed to happen IN tne
colonial epoch often--that the domestlc
reaction upon the man of genius ana
purpose works out its most benencens
results. Blaine has been indeed sngu-
larly unfortunate in his family. Many
are dead. Themo promising has lately
fallen; others are broken with hurt.
Doubtless the proud man. as husband