The Indianapolis journal., 1893-01-28


Mr.. Blaine's mother was Gillespie, a family
distinguished in Pennsylvania for many genera
tions, even ante-dating the revolution; Neal
Gillespie, Mr.. Blaine's maternal grandfather,
was man OF large property, and was respected
for his high character. ability and learning. On
his fathers side the family for generations were
Presby terians, while his mothers people were
Irish blood. -
The parents of Mr. Blaine set good deal by
schooling" and they gave their children the
best education the schools OF the locality afford
ed. James q. first attended school In little red
school-house in the neighborhood when he was
tel years OF age. At the age or eleven years he
was sent to school in Lancaster. o.. where he
lived In the family OF his uncle, Thomas Ewing,
who married his mothers sister--one OF the first
men OF his time. not only in Ohio but in the
Whig party. This was the same family which
reared Gen. william T. Sherman, the great lead.
or of the late war. At that period he was we'll
advanced in his studies for one OF his age. his
father. who was weleducated man. and his
grandfather Gillespie. an accomplished scholar,
having directed his early training. When nine
years of age he recited "Plutarch's Lives to his
grandfather. and 1t Is said that he knew that au-
thor almost by heart.
When Mr. Blaine was a little past thirteen
years OF age he entered Washington College,
which was not famous institution, but OF
those small colleges useful in this country in
educating practical and strong men, where per
sonal contact between teacher and pupil be-
comes valuable means or education and high
incentive TO work. He was not what was called
He was graduated when little past seventeen
years or age, in 1Si7, and was ore or the three
In the GLASS who took the honors He was Sc
iected TO deliver an Grafton. and took for the
subject "The Duty OF an Educated American"
AS TEACHER AND EDITOR.
Upon leaving college Mr.. Blaine did not sit
down and wait for occupation to come to him.
On the contrary, he pushed out into the world TO
find employment, and, like most pushing, earnest
young men, he successful. In a short time
he obtained situation as teacher in the West
ern Military Academy, located at Blue Lick
Springs KY, a school where there were $50 boys.
He was popular with the pupils. who trusted and
made friends with him from the first. While
gagged in this institution Mr.. BlaiEe made the ac
quantance Of Miss Harriet Stanwood, who was
teacher in a young ladies' school at Miliersburg.
whom he subsequently married After remain
ing In that school between three and four years.
Mr. Blaine returned to Pennsylvania. where he
became an instructor in q school for the blind,
where he remained two years
But Mr.. Blaine did not lind teaching entirely
TO his taste. and consequently sought other
fields. While he was casting about for some
thing to do he applied to his uncle. Hon. Thomas
Ewing, who was at that time Secretary OF the
Interior in the Cabinet of President Taylor, for
clerkship. The wise statesman refused any such
assistance with firmness, but did offer him half
section of land.
Having secured an interest in the Kennebec
Journal, in Augusta, Me- the birth place of his
wife, Mr.. Blaine removed TO that State in 1853
He was then little past twenty three years OF
age. Here was a vocation suited to his tastes
and a1ording q field for the exercise or his abli-
ties. For it he abandoned teaching and reln-
he was admitted TO the bar in Maine. Mr.. Blaine
began his work by reading through the files of
the paper which he was to edit for several years.
Thus he made himself familiar not only with the
tone OF the paper, but with the history Of Maine
politics. Always the recognized organ OF the
WhiG party i'll Maine Mr.. Blaine came to the
control OF the Kennebec Journal at a time when
the Whig party was breaking up and new
party, hostile to slavery extension, was forming
| In Maine. Mr.. Blaine came TO the work with all
the enthusiasm OF youth, and gave to 1t
masterrul ability and industry which at
tracted the attention OF the leaders and the rank
and file of the new party. Mr.. Blaine did not
write essays, but ne had the capacity to write
| frequent and short editorials which everybody
read. talked OF. and which had powerful intlu-
ence when the new party was forming: In con-
trOversy he was so formidable that the Demo-
cratic editors learned To let him alone He did
all sorts OF work and did all well.
Mr.. Blaine was editor of the Kennebec Jour-
nal four years During that period the utter
men in Maine. In 1858 he was chosen chairman
of the Republican State committee, position
Presen ne ared abne se an of of
twenty-four years. On relinquishing the con-
| duct of the Kennebec Journal Mr. Blaine was
beset with offers on every hand by those who
appreciated his talents, but he finally accepted
the edtOrship of the Portland Advertiser. though
still continuing his residence In Augusta. He
conducted the Advertiser almost two years,
when he retired During these years OF marvel
| Gus success Mr.. Blaine did not rest from hard
politics. but general literature and history.
Indeed, 1t may be said that he presents an inns.
tratlOn OF the truth OF the quotation, "GenuS
| is only an infinite capacity for hard work"
| BEGINNING OF HIS PUBLIC CAREER.
| Mr.. Blaine was delegate to the national con-
vention which nominated Colonel Fremont for
| President in 1856 On his return to Augusta
| meeting was held to ratify the nomination. and
| Mr.. Blaine was called upon to tell the story of
| the convention. 1t the first time he had
ever appeared before q large audience and he
was embarrassed for q few moments, but he
soon warmed TO his work. and with confidence
came words, so that his maiden public speech
was pronounced success. From this time
| forth he was sought not only in Maine, but else
where as campaign speaker. After the sweep
ing victory in 1856 in Maine Mr.. Blaine was
called to other States. He addressed all sorts Of
audiences. 10 New Jersey, standing upon
truckwagon, he faced a rather rough audience.
| He was accused Of being u Know-nothng. and
one of the crowd put that question to him to
| certain whether he should be permitted to speak
or not His reply was: 81 hold that man mas
+, an undisputed right TO two things: his religion
and his wife" ''Go on. young man." said
stalwart Hibernian who was sitting astride the
| pole of the wagon filling his pipe. "thats sound
doctrine His readiness saved him and he had
| respectful hearing.
Repres sentatives, and remained there four years,
| the last two OF which he was Speaker. Early in
1862 Gov. A. p. Morrill, signified TO his cOnstitu-
| ents that he did not desire reelection to the
| national House, whereupOn, with singular unan-
| unity, that sturdy constituency. which had
| always been served by men of national reputa-
| tiOn, turned TO that young man, then thirtytwo
years or age, as the man TO represent IL during
| the storm of the great rebellion
| The Thirty-eighth Congress met the first Mon
| day of December. 1868. Mr. Blaine was then in
| his thirty fourth year. 1t is needless TO say that
| he was The earnest supporter OF the Lincoln ad-
| minstratiOn. and of every war measure. Ii Mr..
| Blaine had been judged by his course during the
greater part or the first House of which
| he was a member, his future prominence
could not have been predicted. One of its young
| est members, he was silent but watchful, earn
| est, and always in his place. Financial meas
md IN n N fcn M nf ha1 haara
| largely settled by the preceding Congress For
| the first Congress in which Mr.. Blaine appeared
| il reserved TO take steps for the final aboli
| tion of slavery. The Republican majority in the
| House was but twenty, so that the chances for
| the adoption OF a proposition to amend the Con-
| stitutiOn by abOlishing slavery were not encour-
| ing The Democratic leaders resolutely re-
| sisted the overthrow OF slavery In Congress rs
did the Democrats in the confederate army
| struggle to overthrow the Union The proposed
amendment was adopted In the Senate, but sub
| sequently failed in the House. and became an is
sue in the presidential election OF 1864.
Mr.. Blaine was reelected 10 the Thirty-ninth
| Congress, where he began to take a more active
| part than he did in the previous House He had
acquired an intimate knowledge of the rules
] Thls Congress had 10 deal with the question of
reconstruction, coming, as II did, at the close Of
| the war.
In 1868. when President Lincoln issued his
| emancipation proclamation, 1t is doubtful, If it
| had been submitted TO vote OF the people, If il
would have been ratified. but now the demand
| throughout the North for the overthrow of
| slavery was made by every loyal man. Slavery
| overthrown. the next issue was that OF clothing
l the late slave with the dignity and power OF
citizenship. The country, as rule was not
ready for that. Even as late rs 1866 the votes