The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1893-02-02

JAMES G. BLAINE.
trymen calls for something more than a
passing repetition of the facts of his
career. The mere facts were easily re-
cited. It were brief and cursory task
to recount the capital events and land
marks of his life. Born in West Browns
vile, Pa, ON the 31st of January, 1880:
educated first at home and afterward at
Washington college; teaching for short
time in q military school at Blue Lick
Springs, KY; finding there and taking
in marriage Harriet Stanwood, a teacher
like himself; returning to his native state
to teach in Philadelphia; going with his
young wife to her home in Maine and
making that state his future home;
editor at twenty-four of the Kenne-
bee Journal; associate editor of the Port
land Advertiser; bounding into politics;
reaching the legislature of Maine and
then seat in congress; seven terms a
member Of the house of representatives
and for six years speaker Of that body;
briefly in the senate-an arena unsuited
to his genius; aspiring to the presidency;
NOtCu LUZ EdtIOllC1 SOuN Sl&-
tons of his party and once nominated:
twice secretary of state in the cabi-
nets of his competitors; leader of his
party; publcist; diplomatist of the first
rank; creator of policies national and In
ternational; statesman, author, man OF
genius, and therefore an enigma-sucb
have been the critical stages and evolu-
80 1,,o l-oh 1o ooraa7-
But biographical annals do not suffice
in the case before US. The so called life
of Blaine is already twice-told tale. II
is known in the quick memories of his
countrymen and to the world. Blaine
deserves rather now that outward
bound he passes the remotest bar of hui
man vision-to be fairly estimated, justly
interpreted to the understanding of his
countrymen, revealed without partiality
faithfully portrayed upon the screen in
the backward look of memory.
Blaine was favorably but paradoxical
" bora-favorably because of the en-
placement of his birth. Pennsylvania is
one of the empire states of the Union
Out of her borders many Of the great
have arisen. But he also came paradox
ically. He was born in Quaker COM
monwealth and of the cross blood of a
Presbyterian and Catholic! Was he
not from birth the product of contradict
DRY conditions and inconsistent elements
of life?
It concerns US little to note the cir
cumstances in the early career of James
G. Blaine. His ambitions, intellectual
powers and easy attainments were re-
marked from his boyhood. Tradition
has made it evident that he was youth
Of unusual powers. Glimpses of great
purpose fash out here and there. His
collegiate training at Washington col
lege was not unfavorable to the promo
ton of his native forces. As youth he
gained much by forensic practice. Con-
tention made him, or at least gave him,
his bent. Already at college he gathered
many of the historical, literary and sci
entific resources which were to stand
him SO well in hand in his ripper years.
Blaine's mind was one of those that are
particularly susceptible to the influences
of education and environment. The
completed man, as he appeared in this
remarkable parsonage, was very different
from the completed man as he is discov-
cred in such characters as Franklin and
Henry, Thaddeus Stevens and Lincoln.
Blaine from his earlier years grew and
assimilated 70 himself all the sap and po-
tency of his surroundings; he fourished
In his soil and sprang from the arena.
We may pass by the somewhat obscure
influences of his domestic estate. The
world knows that in this regard he was
not happy or an inspired man. This
has been true Of too many Of our recent
great Americans. Somehow or other In
American life it rarely happens nova
daysEthough it seemed to happen in the
colonial epoch often-that the domestic
reaction upon the man Of genius and
purpose works out its most benefcent
results. Blaine has been indeed singu.
larly unfortunate in his family. Many
ere dead. Themost promising has lately
fallen; others are broken with hurt.
Doubtless the proud man, as husband
and father, has suffered much and wept
bitter tears over his losses and wounds.
May all these be closed-as they will be
with the closing Of the gravel
Blaine's rise to public notice was aus
picious, but not singular. He entered
easily and successfully into the stormy
life of politics. He devoted himself te
that pursuit with native zest under the
sharp spur of an unusually active am
bition. His early experiences in jour
aalism stood him well in hand The
period in which he held the editorial per
was precisely that in which the old style
of explosive and redundant oratory was
giving place to the exacter and truel
forms Of speech.
The transformation demanded that tht
orator of the new period should be maj
of exact language and cogent argument
Blaine's quick and capacious mind con
formed readily and in excellent measur,
to the new demand, and when he ad
vanced to the national platform he wen
with the equipment of perfect linguistic
forms, fair measure of imagination
and ever improving argumentative re
sources.
The editorial career Of Blaine had a.
intrinsic as well as secondary merit. 3.
his pen he commanded his first public
applause. The young Republican part
HAD Che T3o<b<$<, 1o< fo~ Ia <>onf7 {6nko