Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-02-02
BLAINE DEAD.

scanty income. Ready money Mr.. Blaine
did not possess, but he was anxious to
purchase the Journal, and his brothers
in-law, Jacob and Eben G. Stanwood, Of
Boston, advanced their credit, and the
Maine career of Mr.. Blaine then began.
1t may be here stated that Mr.. Blaine
conducted the paper successfully. He
paid all obligations incurred promptly
made living, and when, in 1857, he
went to the Portland Advertiser, he sold
his interest in the Kennebec Journal for
such price that he stood forehanded
to the amount of $l7 900. This money
he invested in Pennsy lvania coal lands
which netted him very handsome re-
turn.
From 1S59-62 Mr.. Blaine represented
Augusta in the state legislature, and
served as speaker of the house in 1862.
He had already assumed a commanding
position as one of the leading Republic
cans Of Maine, and enjoyed the conf
dence of Hannibal Hamlin, William Pi t
Fessenden, Lot M. and Arson p. Merrill,
men who were then political leaders. In
1858 he was chosen chairman of the
Republican state committee, a position
which he held with great ability for
nearly twenty years. His mental make
up we'll qualified him for such post
He could sit at his desk and map out an
entire route for a campaign speaker,
setting down just the proper dates for
giving him times OF arrivals and depar-
lures of his trains from given stations
and this wholly from accurate memory.
As head of the state committee Mr..
Blaine shaped every campaign of Maine
and led the Republicans to remarkable
victories. His tact and good nature,
added to wonderful foresight, perfected
party organization which might serve
as mode for sister states.
In 1862 Mr.. Blaine was elected to serve
in the thil ty- eighth congress from the
third Maine district having unprecedent-
ed majority of over 5000. The rebellion
had then come upon he land, and the
issues before the country were vital. Mr..
Blaine thus spoke to his constitutions !:
1.-The great object with US all is to subdue
the -peedily, eff ctually and
finally. In our march to that end we
must crush all intervening obstacles. If
slavery or any other institution stand in
the way, it must be removed. Perish all
things else. the national life must be
saved" Before going to congress Mr..
Blaine had done much and effective work
in organizing and equipping the Maine
troops " no had gone to the front, and
oil his bravery in those days the historian
Of Augusta thus speaks: "During the
rebellion probably no man in Maine ex.
erted more powerful influence in the
patriotic course pursued by the state"
The thirty eighth congress met on the
first Monday Of December, 1868, anG
Schuyler Colfax of Indiana was chosen
speaker over Samuel s. Cox of New
York by distinctive Republican vote Of
tn for ~ 0e ho En-
were unrepresented. In this congress
were seated for their first term many
men who were destined to a nationa
reputation. Henry Winter Davis, tn.
brilliant orator from Mary land, was il
many respects the most conspicuou
figure. Robert G. Schenck came from
Ohio. HE was able in every respect
but bis peculiar gift was in leading ant
controlling the committee of the whole.
James A. Garfield then first appeared il
congress, also Mr.. B. Allison, John A
KassOn, GrOrge s. Boutwell,, Samuel J
Randall. William r. Morrison and Fran
els Herman, ali men who stepped GU
from the crowd and became the observed
of all observers. And these were tn,
men that Mr.. Blaine became associated
with at the beginning of his politica
career. Congress adjourned July 4
1904 ana the members went nome TO pre-
pare for the tremendous campaign O
that year. In this campaign Mr.. Balm
delivered remarkable speech on ''Th,
Ability of the Am, rican People to Sup
press the Rehellion," which was circu
lated as campaign document.
Mr.. B aine Was again nominated TO
congress i'll the thru Maine district, ant
triumphantly reelected. Congress re
assembled on the first Monday of Decem
Der, 1864, and Mr.. Lincoln's messag
showed that the actual disbursements TO
the past fiscal year, as reported by tn
treasury. were the startling sum of 1865,
234 ,Os7 So. A hard problem, but bolol
and wisely faced by The national legisla
ture. Long before this period Mr.. Balm
had won and enjoyed the close confidence
of Pre- sident Liz coin, and rs Maj r. B-n
Per ley PoOre testifie d from actual know
edge, few men in Washington were close
to the great chief magist,a'e than tn
young representative from Maine. Thos
were anxious times for all connecte,
with the government, but steady faltl
and tireless energy bore them on. In hi