The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-02-03

His father, Ephraim G. Blaine, was man
tof rugged force of character, and from him
Blaine undoubtedly inherited the great
moral courage and political audacity which
have been characteristic of his political ca
reer From his mother he inherited that
wonderful intuitive capacity which has en-
abled him in momentsef great crises to act
rs though by inspiration From her he
also received that highly sensitive and emo
tional character which has been conspicu-
Gus in his political life.
Elaine Emigrates Eastward.
or course Mr.. Blaine would have devel-
oped wherever he located and in whatever
calling ho selected as life career, but it
was pure chance which made him the man
from Maine. He met while teacher in
Kentucky Miss Harriet Stanwood, who was
also teacher. They were mutually at
tracted, and just after he had passed his
majority they were married. She was a
Maine girl, and she induced her young hus-
band to remove to her home and make it
bis abiding place.
Blaine while in Philadelphia had been at.
tracted to journalism. He has said that he
discovered by )ure chance that he had some
facility with the pen, especially in political
discussion, but it could not have been pure
the spirit that was in him. And acting
upon this impulse he became q part pro-
prietor of II journal, weekly paper
published in Augusta, Me. The profits were
not great, and Mr.. Blaine was if not COM
PEELED at least willing to accept employ
ment as associate editor of the Portland
Advertiser The editor of that paper had de-
tected Blaine's ability as n political writer
and offered him 81 200 year, large salary
for that time and place. Blaine was not
slow in discovering his strength and his
value, and at the end of year he asked for
an increase of salary to 81, 800 and for con-
tract covering period of years.
The proprietor, however, felt that he
could not afford to pay this money, and
Blaine returned to Augusta, determined to
associate politics with his editorial work.
He revealed extraordinary political capacity
at once, was elected n member of the legis-
lature and subsequently speaker, became
chairman of the committee of his party and
within three years was acknowledged pre-
eminent among the politicians Of his state
Exactly the same qualities which brought
him those marvellous tributes of respect and
admiration which were afterward his lot
won for him great victories in n state and
community where politics prevail where
and where personal rivalry and to some ex
tent jealousy have played their parts as
dangerously as in some other states
BIaine's Farsightedness.
Even thus early Mr.. Blaine perceived that
apolitician-and he had unquestionably de
termined to make politics his life business
needed perhaps above other men to be
free from money embarrassments. He
therefore began with great energy bust
ness career which was brief He procured
some contracts from the war department
for furnishing supplies to the soldiers, and
while he was aiding the governor of Maine
to the extent OF his ability in recruiting
and equipping soldiers he was also engaged
In perfectly honorable business of supply
ing the government with raiment for the
army. He did not accumulate much, but
be got enough so that he had home Of his