St. Paul daily globe., 1893-01-28
HIS LIFE'S VOYAGE.
Biog rarhy and Leading Incl
dents OF His Career.

dents OF His Career.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-JameS Gill
espie Blaine was born on the 3lst of
January. 1880. at West Brownsville,
Pa, in house built by his Ereat-grand-
father before the War of the Revolution,
which still stands. The Gillespies and
the Blaines were people of standing be-
fore the Revolution. Col. Blaine, who
was commiSsary general Of the Northern
department Of Washingt0n'S army dur
ing the Revolution, was James q.
Blaine'S great grandfather. When
eleven years Old he went to live with
his uncle, Thomas Ewing, in Ohio,
where his mothers father, Neal Giles
pie, an accomplished scholar. directed
his studies. Later he attended Wash
ington college, at Washington, Pa.
graduating at the age of seventeen.
After leaving college he taught school
at Blue Lick Springs. Ky. 1t was as a
professor in the military school there
that he made the acquaintance OF the
lady who afterwards became his wife.
Later he went to Philadelphia, where
he taught school and studied law. But
after two years he abandoned his law
studies, went to Maine and became
proprietor and editor OF the Kennebec
journal. He was in at the birth of the
Republican party, and was delegate
to the Philadelphia convention of 1856,
which nominated Fremont. After serv-
ing as speaker of the Maine legislature,
he was sent to congress and began his
national career in 1852, with the oui-
break OF the war. Duting the Forty
first, Forty-se 'ond and FOrty-third con-
crosses he was speaker of the house.
Mr.. Blaine's administration of the
SpeakerShip is commonly regarded as
one of the most brllians and successful
in the annals of the house. He had rare
aptitude and equip ment for the duties
OF presiding officer. and his complete
mastery of parliamentary law, his deX-
terity and physical endurance, his rapid
dispatch of business, and his firm and
impartial spirit were recognized on all
sides. 1t was during his occupancy of
the speakers chair in 1874 that he took
the floor and succeeded in defeating the
passage OF The original force bill. The
political revolution of 1874 placed the
democrats in control of the house, and
Mr. Blaine became the leader of the
minority.
The session preceding the presiden-
tal contest of 1876 was a period of
stormy ana vehement contention. On
the I'd of May a resolution was adopted
in the house to investigate an alleged
purchase by the Union Pacific Railway
company, at an excessive price, OF Ger
tain bonds of the Little Rock IL Fort
Smith railroad. 1t soon became evident
that the investigation was aimed at Mr..
Blaine. An extended business cOrre-
spondence on his part with Warren
Fisher, of Boston, running through
years and relating to various tians-
fnli INF tn
of clerk named Mulligan.-
and it is alleged that the production OF
this correspondence would confirm the
imDutation against Mr.. Blaine. When
Mulligan was summoned to Washing
ton MI Blaine possessed himself OF the
letters, together with memoranda that
contained full index and abstract. .On
the 9TH of June he rose to personal eX-
PLANTATION, and after denying the power
of the house toj jcompel the production
of his private papers, and his wiling
ness to go to any extremity III defense
Of his rights, he declared that he pro-
posed to reserve nothing. Holding up
the letters, he exclaimed:
"Ihank God, | am not ashamed to
show them. There is the very original
package, and with some sense Of humili-
alton, with modification L do not at
tempt to conceal; with a sense of out
rage which think any man in my posi-
ton would feel, invite the confidence
of forty million Of my cOuntrymen
while read these letters"
The demonstration closed with a
dramatic scene. Josiah Caldwell, one
of the orginators of the Little Rock Il
Fort Smith railroad, who had full
knowledge of the whole transaction,
was travelling in Europe, and both
sides were seeking to communicate
with him. After finishing the reading
of the letters. Mr.. Blaine turned to the
chairman of the committee and de-
manded to know whether he had re-
ceived any dispatch from Mr.. Caldwell.
Receiving an evasive answer, Mr..
Blaine asserted. as within his own
knowledge, that the chairman had re,
ceived such dispatch completely and
absolutely exonerating me from this
| charge, and you have suppressed it,"
In 1875 Mr.. Blaine was appointed to
| the senate to fill the vacancy caused by
| the resignation of Senator Morrill,, and