Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-28
PROPRIETOR and editor Of the Kennebec

| RnllaQelpnla CODFehblOH VI Ao"O'
which nominated Fremont. After serv-
ing as Speaker Of the Maine Legislature
he was sent TO congress, and began his
national career in 1862 with the ont
break of the war. During the Forty
second and Forty-third congresses he
was kpeaker OF the house. Mr.. Biaine's
administration Of the speakership is
regarded as one of the most brilliant
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 dexterlty and
physical endurance, his rapid as
patch of business and his hrm
and impartial spirit were recoE-
nized on all sides. 1t was during his
occupancy of the Speakers chair, In
1874. that he took the floor aud sue
ceeded in defeating the passage OF the
original "force bill" The political re-
vulsion of 1874 placed the Democrats In
control of the House, and Mr.. Blaine
became the leader OF the minority.
The session preceding the Presiden-
tial contest OF 1876 was a period OF
stormy and vehement contest. On the
second Of May resolution was adopted
| In the House TO investigate an alleged
purchase by the Union Pacific Railroad
! Company at an excessive price OF cer-
tain bonds of the Little Rock and Fort
/ Smith Railroad. 1t soon became evil
dent that the investigation was aimed
at Mr.. Blaine. An extended business
correspondence on his part with Warren
| Fisher. of Boston, running three years
and relating to various transactions,
had fallen into the hands Of clerk
named Mulligan, and it is alleged that
the production of this correspondence
would confirm the imputation against
Mr.. Blaine.
When Mulligan was summoned TO
Washington, Mr.. Blaine possessed him.
self of the letters togeter with mem
orandum that contained d full index
and abstract. On the fifth OF June he
rose to a personal explanation and after
DENYING the power Of the House to com
pei the prod of his private papers
and his willingness to go to any eXtrem-
ity in defense of his rights, he declared
that he proposed to reserve nothing.
HOLDING UP THE LETTERS
he exclaimed: "Thank God, l am not
ashamed to show them. There is the
very Original package and with some
sense OF humiliation, with mortlhca-
ton | do not attempt to conceal, with
sense OF outrage, which / think any
man in my position would feel, invite
the confidence of 10000 of my country.
men while ! read these letters.
The demonstration closed with dra-
matte scene. Josiah Caldwell, one OF
the originators of the Little Rock and
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 let
tiers, Mr.. Blaine turned to the chair
man of the committee and demanded TO
know whether he had received any dis
patch from Mr.. Caldwell. Receiving
an evasive aaswer. Mr.. Blaine asserted,
as within his own knowledge, that 1.-THE
chairman has received such dispatch
completely and absolutely generating
me from this charge, and you have sup
pressed it"
In 1875 Mr.. Blaine was appointed to
the Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation OF Senator Morrill,, and
| the next winter was elected by the Leg
isl&ture to the succeeding term. His
| career IN the Senate was both brilliant
and distinguished as it had been In the
House. He was called from the Senate
| TO enter President Garheld's Cabinet as
! Secretary of State. 1t was while pass
ing through the railroad depot leaning
on Mr.. Blaine's arm and pleas
antly chatting with him about
his coming holiday that
! Garfield received the assassin's
fatal bullet. The death Of Mr.. Garfield
led to Mr.. Blaine's retirement from the
| Cabinet in December, 1882. From that
date until he entered Mr.. Harrison's
Cabinet as Secretary of State he was in
private life, except during his campaign
| for the Presidency in 1884.
| During his retirement he wrote his
Twenty Years in Congress" work OF
great historical value.
1t was in accordance with his original
suggestion and due to his earnest ef-
forts that provision was made in the
Mckinley bill for the reciprocity
treaties which formed such prominent
features of national policy. The Samoan
difficulties, the complications arising
ont of the lynching OF Italians at New
Orleans. aud the killing OF American
seamen at Valparaiso were also dis
posed of while Mr.. Blaine was at the
| head of the State Department The
events preceding and attending the re-
! cent Minneapolis convention are too re-
cent. almost. 30 need recounting. Mr..
blaine was induced to permit his name
to be used as candidate, and resigned
! his Mace I'm the cabinet. Whether In
public position or in private life, he al
ways remained central figure in ma
! tional affairs.
BLAINE's LIFE IN WASHINGTON.
For nearly thirty years Mr.. Blaine
has been a resident OF this city. While
be never gave up his home and home
life in Maine, be always had a
home in this city. It was only few
wears after coming here as a member OF
| Congress that he bought the residence
| s2l Fifteenth street where he lived so
many years. This was about the year
| 1863 when he was elected Speaker OF
the House for. the first time. The house
he bought was one OF
row which had just been built
and we're regarded at the
time as one Of the chief architectural
features OF the city. Fernando Wood
occupied the house at the corner OF
Fifteenth street. Gen. Vliet and later
Gen. Sherman were among those who
lived in the other houses. He made his
home in sol Fifteenth street for over