The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-02-02

KENNEBEC JOURNAL OFFICE WHERE
BLAINE WAS FIRST ArPRENT1cED.
In the debates which grew out of that crisis
At the time OF his election to the legislature he
was made chairman OF the republican 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
His Career In Congress.
He was elected to congress in 1872 and for q
period Of eighteen years he was q member OF
one or the other houses Of congress. His career
in the nationa! congress was an evcntful one
His antagonism to the Stevens reconstruction
bill in 1857 created stir in the ma tion and after
seeming defeat his amendment modifying this
proposed military law in the south was carried
through both house and senate In 1869 Mr.
Blaine was elected speaker OF the house,
acting in that capacity for six success.
sive years. This career in the house has al.
ways been regarded as exceptionally brilliant
The political revulsion OF 1874 placed the de-
mocracy in power in the house and Mr.. Blaine
became the leader Of the republican minority.
Preceding the presidential contest OF 1875 the
session of the house was Q stormy one and in
the general amnesty bill, removing the disabili-
ties Of participants In the rebellion, Mr.. Blaine
stood up for an exception in the case Of Jefier.
son Davis. One OF his most notable speeches
vas made at this time under the spur Of opposi-
lion from Mr.. Hill of Georgia
In 1876 he was called upon to defend his polit-
.cal character against charges OF bribery from
the Union Pacific and other railroad compa-
MES The Mulligan letters were produced and
the stormy scenes Of May and June Of that year
followed. June Mr. Blaine rising to personal
explanation, denied the right OF congress
to compel the production of his private papers
,He"expressed his willingness to stand any
examination. and having possessed himself
OF these letters he declared his purpose to re-
serve nothing He stood up in the house hold
ing the letters in his hand. He proceeded to
read them. At this time Josiah Caldwell, one
OF the originators of the Little Rock & Fort
Smith railroad, was travelling in Europe, and
efforts had been made At Mr.. Blaiue's suggestion
to reach him by telegraph After reading
these letters Mr.. Blaine turned to the chairman
OF the investigating committee and demanded to
know II any answer had been received from Mr..
Caldwell The chairman returned On evastve
answer when Mr. Blaine turned upon him,
charging. as within his own knowledge, that
the chairman had received such o dispatch,
completely and absolutely exonerattng me
from this charge, and you have suppressed it. ?"
OF this scene Gen. Garfield once. said that 1t ex.
ceedcd anything no had ever seen In congress
Asa Candidate for President. ~
Juno II was the timo of the republican ma
ttonal convention. The previous Sunday he
had been Frustrated by the heat and fears were
S'''Se s~'no~ AyA AAAo AAbS1 Az sesO OouvSASAVus
however. his friends stood nrm On the drst
ballot he received 2SS votes out OF the total Of
7A. The remainder were divided between Sen.
ator Morton, Secretary Bristow. Senator Conk-
ling. Gov. Hayes and others On the seventh
ballot his vote rose to 35l, lacking only e3of .
nominations. A combination upon Hsyes, aox.z
ever, defeated him. @Ea Y r.
8l0sthO oo0Ste.@ - ~ -
Mr.. Blaine entered the senate some months
later. Again In 1850 his friends Of four years
before stood by him in the national convention.
Tue frst vote Stood: Grant, S04: Blaine, .8s;
Sherman, 81; Edmunds, -: Washburne, 80:
Window, 10, and Garfield. I. On the final bal.
lot, however, tho Blaine forces united on Gar.
0eld. who Ms nominated. After his election