Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

flor writing and his eagerness to
have a hand In the great political
contests of the time, as well as his
desire for greater pecuniary reward
than teaching in blind asylum
afforded, all urged him to become
connected with the leading paper Of
Maine. Mr.. Dorr, with the other peo-
pie of Augusta, had become some
what acquainted with Mr.. Blaine on
his short visits to this city, and had
concluded that he was just the man
wanted by the Journal. He pre-
scented the matter in such a light,
during their journey. that Mr.. Blaine
at once took 1t into consideration.
and consultation. There was but
little hesitation. and he very soon
came to Augusta, having resigned
his position in Philadelphia, and
opened negotiations for the purchase
of an interest in the paper. At that
time Mr.. and Mrs. Blaine lived at
Mrs. Blaine's old home, the STAN
wood mansion, on Green street. Mr..
Blaine was then "a years of age.
Mr.. Simpson was willing to dispose
of tho paper, and in the issue Of
November TO- 1854, It was announced
that the Kennebec Journal estab-
lishment had been sold to Messrs.
Joseph Baker and j. c. Blaine. who
would thereafter conduct it's editorial
and business affairs" Mr.. Simpson
removed to Belfast, where he was,
for long and successful period, the
publisher and editor of the Belfast
Journal. In his farewell address to
the patrons of the Kennebec Journal
he spoke thus of the new owners:
'Mr. Baker Is well known to the
readers Of the Journal. To him
belongs the credit for whatever of
industry. tact and vigor its COL
umns have exhibited during the
last six months, during which time
they have been under his control.
Mr.. Blaine comes to us compare
lively a stranger. 1t is but just to
say that he Is a gentleman of de-
cided talent. of liberal education,
extensive travel, and acquainted
with the public men and measures
of the country"
Mr.. Baker soon found that the ex-
actions of his profession as a leading
lawyer made 1t Improbable for
him to retain an active part in the
paper, and his ownership continued
over a period of less than two
months, making the whole period
Of his connection with the Journal
at the Maine bar that makes his
among the first, Mr.. Baker died, full
Of honors, November 80, 1883.
The place of Mr.. Baker on the
Journal as part owner and fellow
editor with Mr.. Blaine was taken by
John l.. Stevens. another distin-
tinguished name that adds lustre to
the history of our paper. Mr.. Stevens
had never met Mr.. Blaine until "a
hours before the time when they be-
came joint owners and editors of tho
paper. He had been a Universalist
minister, but his interest in the
had become greater than that in
theological questions. An unsigned
article on the political situation,
which he had written, was seen by
Mr.. Blaine and copied into the Jour-
nal with strong commentator. On
his part Mr.. Stevens had noted and
admired with what signal clearness
and ccgency, with what superior
insight and intellectual force, the
young Pennsylvania was handling
the prevailing topics Of public dis
cussion in the editorial columns of
the Journal. Without the knowledge
of either meeting was arranged by
mutual friends and, as stated above,
within a day from that first meeting
they had become associate editors
and owners of the paper. A stock
company had been formed with the
shares held by the leading .Repub-
leans of the State, but Messrs. Ste
vens and Blaine had controlling
interest. This was early in January,
1855. and it was the beginning of a
friendship between these two young
men-Blaine was % and Stevens 80
that continued to their mutual ad-
vantage without a break for 81 years.
Mr.. Stevens, born and schooled in
old Kennebec, avOwed on assuming
editorship that his earliest political
knowledge was drawn from the col
umns written by Luther Severance,
whose light still fingers on us like
the rays Of the sun on the mountains,
ere 1t goes down." and spoke with
reverence and JOY through a medium
made almost classic by his labors."
Mr.. Blaine also often expressed his
high appreciation of the labors of
Mr.. Severance. Later, when accept
ing his first nomination to Congress,
he declared that up to that time he
counted it the chief honor of his life
to have followed Luther Severance
in the editorship of the Kennebec
Journal, which he founded and nur-
tured and to which he had given
character and prominence through
out the State"
The Kennebec Journal had been
founded as an outgrowth of the
dominant political sentiment in
Maine, that a little later became
crystallized into what was known as
the Wing party. It was from the
first an active and ever loyal party
paper. and the Wing party from its
birth to its death had most vigor-
Gus and tireleSs champion in the
Journal. In victory or defeat it never
wavered, and the note it gave forth
was never Of uncertain sound. When
the time was ripe for the birth of
new party, which was to wage a
holy warfare for the rights of men
and the perpetuation of the Ameri-
can Union, the Journal girded itself
for the battle with characteristic en-
ergy and enthusiasm. And from that
day to this it has loyalty followed
the fortunes and fought in every
fight of the Republican party. AS
it's political editor, with Mr.. Stevens,
in the stirring political times follow
ing 1854. Mr.. Blaine won his first
fame and influence. and started on
that matchless public career that has
made his name so grand part of
American history. His first editorial
was on the principles and position
Of tha new Renuhlican Marty ana