The Portland daily press., 1893-01-28
JAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE.
Leading Events Of His Life and Pub.
Lie Services.
THE MOST REMARKABLE POLITE
CAL CAREER SINCE CLAY'S.


tIcs-He Was Leader From the Very
First-His Services in Congress, and the
Long Contest for the Presidency-One
of the Most Remarkable Careers in the
History of American Politics.
Before five national conventions James
G.. Blaine has been the favorite candi-
date of large and enthusiastic portion
of the greatest and most glorious politi-
cal party that has ever existed in any
nation in any age. A parallel to this
twenty years of influence, always power
full and often dominant, is to be found,
if at all, only in the political career of
He nry Clay. Clay appeared first in the
Pre- sidential arena of 1924, and it was not
until twenty years later, that the
rear guard of his devoted army of adj
mirers finally abandoned the field in 1S4S
when Zachary Taylor was nominated.
Both Blaine and Clay were each nomi-
mated for the presidency and each was
defeated before the people, the former
once and the latter twice. But if Clay's
name was before the American people
longer it was not so continuously pre-
sented. In 1924 Clay was a young man,
and had it not been for the conditions
which at that time governed presidential
contests, he would hardly have made
much headway. In 1928 he did not figure
prominently at all. but in 1882 he crap
pied jackson and divided with him
very nearly equally the million or more
votes then thrown in the nation. In 1S40
ho hoI sniff f1rin lxr 40 70
the nominatio though unsuccessfully
with the elder Harrison; and in 1874 he
was again so absolutely the master of his
party that he received the nomination
unanimously, only to be defeated at the
polls by Polk, the protege of his deadly
enemy, Jackson. The flame of Clay en-
thusiasm f1ickered feebly in the conven-
ton of '4S. and then died out forever.
Mr.. Blaine did not figure in the presi-
dental arena so long; but he operated
with vastly greater forces and under far
different conditions. Clay's greatest
contests were in leading party natur-
ally in the minority against the intrench-
ments of the opposition. Blaine's great
est battles were with powerful and
deadly enemies who strove to prevent
his ascendency in a party powerful and
possessed of power. 1t was Clay's fate
to lead his party when its chances were
poor and to see others lead it when its
chances we're good; it was Blaine's fate
to gain the ascendency in his own party
only when the developments of American
politics had made that ascendency a
doubtful possession. The similarities of
thetwo me- are to be found in the per-
sonal hold which they obtained and held
for long periods over large masses of
men. In this respect their careers are
unique in he political history of Amer
lea. The great fame of Daniel Webster
procured him only un certain recognition
in three presidential years. Stephen A.
Douglas, who as a popular leader will
rank with Blaine and Clay, figured in
but three presidential conventions be-
fore he was overwhelmed by the upris-
ing of 81.
As is well known Mr.. Blaine was born
in Pennsylvania. His ancestors on both
sides had long inhabited that state. A
paternal ancestor had been an officer of
Washington's army; on his mothers s side
he was descended from one of the oldest
Catholic families of Pennsylvania. His
byterians through many generations.
Mr.. Blaine was born at West Browns
vile, Jan. 31st, 1880. 1t was one, of the
privileges of young Blaine's youth to
1--we for time in the household of a rela-
tive, the famous TOM Ewing of Ohio,
under the tutorship of William Lyons, a
brother of the Lord Lyons of that time,
and an uncle of the Lord Lyons who was
afterwards British minister at Washing
ton. In 1S47 he completed -four years
course at Washington Jefferson college,
taking excellent rank, especially in Eng
lish studies. Immediately after gradu-
ating he obtained place as teacher in
the Western Institute, an institution of
some note at Blue Licks spring, Ken
4tucky. During the three years that he
remained there he met Miss Harriet
Stanwood, of Augusta, Me-, who was
teacher in a neighboring seminary for
young ladies. Their acquaintance cul-
minated in a marriage in 1851.
In the spring of 1851 he returned to his
fathers home with his young wife, and
began the study of law in his fathers
office. But in 1852, answering an adver-
tisement for teacher in the Philadel-
phia Institution for the instruction of
the blind, he obtained position which
he retained for two years.
He Comes to Maine.
In the summer of 1854, through the in
fuence of his wife and her family, he
was led to come to Augusta. where he
established his home in the autumn of
1854. On the tenth of that November,
in company with Joseph Baker, and
with the financial aid of his brother-in-law
Jacob Stanwood, he bought the Kenne-
bee Journal. This was his debut upon
the political stage Of Maine. The Re-
publican party also was just coming
upon the stage, and the party name that
was afterwards to be written so broad on
the pages of the history of human free
dom, was so strange in mems ears when
young Blaine penned his editorial intro
duction, that it was spoken of as the
Morrill,, or Republican party" In Janu-
AIRY, 1855, Mr.. Baker retired from the
partnership and Mr.. John L. Stevens,
now minister to Hawaii, was admitted.
Beginning as partner, Mr.. Stevens has
been life long friend and business and
political associate of Mr.. Blaine. Mr.
Blaine was editor of the Kennebec Journal
until 1857. The anti-slavery agitation was
acute, and no small portion of his work
was the writing of vigorous editorials on
this absorbing topic. Now it was a well
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