Evening Star Newspaper, January 27, 1893, Page 1

20,480, No. | in a democracy have ever wielded such a potent influence as James G. Biaine. He was the one whom his party delighted to houor and whose | word waslaw with his followers. With the exception of the presidential chair he achieved every form of success possible to a states- man in s free country. He began at the bottom of the ladder of fame. He rose to the top and with his death there passes The End Came Tod at 11 O'Clock, | away one of the fozemost figures in the history | of the republic. | ardent admirers and devoted 1 " Few mon have had so many ends, He made | many bitter enemios as w: This was but « | natural resalt of the position he filled in life. | But now all animosity 1s buried and friendsand | political foes alike unite in expressions of re- —— | gretatthe pasting away of the “Man from Maine.” THE STATESMAN DEATH = wame= ces A Sketch of the Eventful Life of the Bril- Nant Statesman. James G. Blaine was an ambitious man. Few -_ | men of this generation have been more so, but | what has stood in the way of his ambition has | blocked the progress of his country. Great | Hs F AT AL MAL ADY Preachers, great lawyers, great soldiers and i —_>+—_ THE DETAILS OF THE MOURNPUL EVENT eA His Brilliant Career. ! REPORTERS ON THE WATCH. Peer See great statesmen become national characters national. Blaine was in a much broader sense than this » man of the nation, Hi | made an impression on the national character, which, though it may not be so clear to his con- A Sketch of the Life of because their reputations are widespread, are | | life has | \ the Plumed Knight. HIS HOME IN WASHINGTON His Boyhood and His Long! Public Career. Mr. James G. Blaine is dead. He succumbed | at 11 this morning to the sickness with which he bas battled so stubbornly. Since the 18th of De- | eember, the Sunday when he was so near | oath that the physicians hardly dared say that | there was any hope, Mr. Biaine had shown such great vitality that some-had been led even tobe- | eve that he might be restored to health. The | physicians and others familiar with his malady and ite usual course knew that there was no | ground for hoping further than that Mr. | Biaine’s life might be prolonged a few weeks or | months | The reports from Mr. Biaine’s sick room this Morning were of a more alarming character than for some days It was stated that he was © iderably worse. Jobuston visited Mr. @cloek last night and remained some time St bis bedside When he left he said Mr. Biaine did not look so well or seem so las he had during the past few days. By this statement the doctor did not wish to convey | the impression that Mr. Blaine had suffered a | elapse or that there was any decided change for the worse. | Blaine at 9:30 | ¥ AN UNUSUALLY COMFORTABLE SIOT. Mr. Blaine bad passed an unusually comfort- able night, #0 the report said this morning, and ft was thought that with the return of pleasant weather he might vet live for some time. The | attack of hear’ failure came very unexpectedly | ‘this morning, ami occasioned the utmost alarm among the members of the family. ‘The doctors made a call this morning earlier than usual and were apparently considerably { @oncerned about the condition of the invalid. | Desth Came Feacefally. | Mr. Blaine's death came quietly and peace- fully at 11 o'clock this morning. | At 2 o'clock it was noticed that he had bad a very severe sinking spell. The doctors were | summoned in all haste. Dr. Johnson was the | firet to arrive at the bedside of the dying man. | Dr. Johnat. watonce that there was no Bope for the ex Secretary and that the end of Bis long illness was close at hand. Mr. Hyatt was at the house a very few min- Utes later, and be and Dr. Johnston used their | utmost efforts to revive Mr. Blaine, but it was ef no avail. | 4 SINKING SPELL. At half-past ten o'clock Dr. Hyatt left the house for « few mm: ites and this was the first intimation that those outside had that Mr. | Binine was anv worse than he bad been for sev- eral days past. | In response to @ question from Tax Stan) reporter Dr. Hyatt said that Mr. Blaine had had | @ sinking spell aud was worse than he bad been st any time yet This was all he would say and then hi tm the carriage and drove of rap turned in a few minutesand entered tbe tm haste. e Everytbing was quiet about the house then | and there was nothing to lead pamers-by to think that there had been any change in the @1-hecretary's condition. THE DOCTORS CAELED Back. From 8 o'clock on Mr. Blaine sank rapidly fntil the end. Atl o'clock the two doctors Jeft the house together and walked slowly toward the ‘avenue. They bad gone but a fer steps from the front door when the attention of the vewspaper men was attracted by the butler rusbipg madly out of the house calling for the doctors. MR. BLAINE 18 DEAD. He stopped and spoke afew words in slow tone of voice, and then Dr. Johnston turned and quietly said to the reporters, “Gentlemen, Mr. Elaine is dead.” One more name has been added to the list of fhe nation’s dead. Once more the thoughts of ‘the people are turned toward the man who as the “Plumed Knight” was such an object of @evotion. For years he stood in the very first sank of the great men of the isnd and few men temporaries, will be found by the careful and intelligent student of history in the future. Critics of contracted vision have asked what great deeds be has performed. what statute | bears his name, what great service of any sort he has performed in war or peace. It matters not whether he bas won a battle or penned a law; even the fact that bis political career has been brilliant, that he has been of extraordi- nary service to his party as a leader in their contentions for supremacy, does not figure in the measurement of his statesmanship. Hi ambitious have been for the nation’s glorific: tion. Even his human selfishness sought grati- fication through patriotism. The fame of James G. Biaine will increase with passing years. In life he has held rank with the greatest of his contemporaries and no man of his generation has bad a greater per- sonal following than he. To an unusual degree he enjoyed fame during bis active political ‘TRE DOCTORS’ CARRIAGES, life. His influence has been felt by the whole | country. as it has been by all men, whether friend or foe, who have got into the same at- mosphere with him. His associates in- public life have been astonished by his farsighted- ness. when he has seen clearly things far be- yond the range of their vision and has been prepared fora future into which they could not see. His quick perception, his impetnosity, his wit, his eloquence, his courage, his grasp of great questions and his magnetic influence } ever men have been a marvel to the public meu of his day. Most of the men of the pres- ent who have claim to fame in statesmanship have been content to look up to Blaine as oc- cupying an eminence beyond their reach, but 4 will lie with another generation to appreciate to the full his intellectual greatness, and it takes no great perception to foresee that his- tory of American statesmanship will rank ANXIOUS INQUIRERS. Blaine among the very few of the truly great men. He was a man of extraordinary mind. He | inherited fine qualities from an honorable ancestry, and availing himself of opportuni- ties asa boy he developed those endowments nature gave him so that they might be service- able in later manhood. WIS BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE. He was born on the ist of January, 1890, at | West Brownsville, Pa. in a house built by his great grandfather before the war of the revo- ution, which still stands, though scarred by | time. ‘The Gillespies and the Blaines were | people of wealth and honorable standing be- fore the revolution. Col, Blaine, who was | gommissary general of the northern depart- ‘ment of Washington's army during the revolu- aan chaeatebreiaes Washington held in high j esteem, was James G. Blaine's great grand- (father. When a small child “Jim Blaine” | studied in a little red school house near the | place of his birth and lived the life of an active | country boy, who was not himself intended for afarmer. When eleven years old he went to | five with bis avcle, Thomas Ewing. im Ohio, \ehete his mother's father, Neal Gillespie, an sceomplisbed scholar, directed bis studies. Later he attended Washington College at ‘Washington, Pa., graduating at the age of seventeen. He won distinction as a student, and, indicating that traite of character have been so marked life thar later | he was | Bis follow SCHOOL TEACHER AND JOURNALIST. After leaving college he tanght schoo! at Bine Lick Springs, Ky. It was asa professor in the military school there that he made the ac- quaintance of the lady who afterward became his wife. Later he went to Philadelphia, where he taught school and studied law. After pros- ecuting his studies of law for two years he | abandoned that profession and in 1983 moved | to Maine, locating at Augusta, bought the | Kennebec Jowrnai and began his career us a | journalist, whigh finally led” him into polities, Where his great fam After discon- won, tinuing his associations with the Kennebec Journal! he became editor of the Portland | Advertiser. In 1856 he was a delegate to the | convention at Philadelphia which nominated Fremont. Two years Iater be was elected to the state legislature and was afterward speaker of the lower house. ‘The reputation he pained there sent him to Congress in 1862, when began his congreasonal career of twenty years. Dur- ing the Forty-first, Forty-second and Forty- third Congresses he was Speaker of the House. SENATOR AND CABINET MINISTER Tn 1875 Mr. Blaine was appointed to the Sen- ate to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of Senator Morrill, and the next winter was elected by the legislature to the succeeding term. His career in the Senate was both bril- | liant and distinguished, as it had been in the | House, He wus called from the Senate to en- ter President Gartield’s cabinet as Secretary of State. Theydeath of Mr. Garfield led to Mr. Blaine’s retirement from_ the cabinet in De- cember. 1882 From that date until he en- tered Mr. Harrison's cabinet as Secretary of State he was ib private life, except during bis ¢ampaign for the presidency in 1884, Whether | in public position or in private life, he always semained a central figure in national affairs, During his retirement he wrote his ‘Twenty Years of Congress,” a work of great historical value. . AS A STATESMAN, Mr. Blaine must rank in all impartial history as one of the very first American statesmen, — TAM ES G. BLAINE. He was man of extraordinarily keen percep- | tion and of broad views, The horizon of his | vision encircled the universe and his aym, thies put him iu touch with mankind. Having | extraordinary intellectual endowments, he was | ent student, and not satisfied ax most | nt men are to flash forth the ideas that | come from quick perception, he studied deeply | all questions which culled for his attention and | completely mastered al! that he ever under- took. Capable of dixcovering at a glance what only diligent research discloses to most men, he devoted time to the careful study of details | | and went to the very bottom of a question, toiling as earnestly as the veriest plodder. His brilliancy, therefore, had something substantial in itand his sazacity was as great as his wit. | With natural powers which enabled him tolead | men his aims were always higher than personal aggrandizement and he was never ademayogue. His undertakings were ail ambitious and their maznitude often placed them beyond the un- | | derstanding of the mere politicians, who are in | the majority in affairs of government. His purpose has always been to extend the power and influence of the nation. He would have placed this republic before the whole world. He comprehended the spirit of our free in- stitutions as few men are capable of compre- hending them. He could see what the growth of those institutions should be and wanted to remove all obstacles and encourage their ex- pansion to the logical extreme. In all affairs of government he aimed at that which would be lasting and general rather than that which would be confined and temporary, however tempting might be the inducement to meet present demands. He recognized that the ad- vantage of this government over all others lies | in the seareity of restrictions placed upon the individual and the opportunity it opens to all for the pursuit of prosperity. With liberty as- sured he saw that the progress of the nation depended upon the enlargement of the oppor- tunities for imdividual effort. He believed it to be a function of the government to open up and expand the opportunities of its citizens, and that then individual effort would develop the progress which would place this first among nations. To his mind this whole continent was Rot too large a theater for Ameriean enterprise. Hie saw the undeveloped wealth that lics at our borders: he knew that there was a great com- merce of the western hemisphere to be devel- oped. It was a question whether this wealth and commerce should go to strengthen the monarchies of Europe or whether it should be developed under the institutions which our forefathers planted on this continent; whether ‘this continent should be developed and mado productive for its own people, or whether at | should be merely contributory to a power at | variance with the system of goverrment which | prevails here. AMERICA FOR AMERICANS. To his mind America was for Americans and ali were Americans who came under republican institutions, He regarded it as an unpardonable neglect of duty and almost asa crime against the uman race to fail to improve every oppor- tunity for the development of this continent and to preserve it with all its weait! and power as home for freemen, independent of and superior to foreign despotisms, He saw that there could be but nominai independence where a nation’s commerce was controlled by foreigners in the interest of a foreizn power, and his ambition always was to preserve the commercial independence first of this country and, second, of this continent. All his efforts were directed toward the preservation of lib- erty, the encouragement of industry and the development of commerce, and his grasp of ali great questions was such as to give great magnitude to all his plans; yet eo clear were they always as never to leave « doubt as to the ossibility of their fulfillment, He has always [nd the people with him, for be has made the understand his pu and appreciate his pattiotinm, and Bis failures are enaily attrib. utable to his being in advance of other political Jeaders of his time and to the spirit of jealousy which has thrown obstacles across his path. He has been applauded throughout the coun- tries for policies which he bas formed and his political associates (of both parties) have re- fused or failed to carry out. Measures of which he has been the author have been rejected at the time, and afterward those who were instrumental in their failure have taken them up and got distinction by them, though but partly comprehending and but feebly pre- senting them. — ‘The enemies of Blaine have fat- tened on his ideas, though often inet digesting thom. The greatest leader of this | generation, admired by the whole people and | having a ‘personal following hardly to be | matched in our history for extent and enthusi- asm, envious mediocrity, malice and faleebood | have constantly stood in Blaine’s way seeking to distort and circumyent his most patriotic plans. He has always triumphed over his | enemies in the end, but the harassing guerrilla warfare has retarded his progress, delayed the fulfilment of his prophecies and prevented him from enjoying the ripe But in tl ned fruit of his labors. is his experience is that of most men tood out prominently as the greatest times. ‘Hi8 GREATEST AMBITION. Blaine’s greatest ambition was the commer- cial subjugation of this continent, This in his mind did not imply political domination by the United States over the other republics of the continent. He did not seek annexation, but his broad purposes for the advancement of the interests of his own country necessarily carried a benefit tor the less powerful republics, whose rights he would not encroach upon and whose liberties he would help to. preserve from the insidious encroachments of foreign influence. ‘The only band with which he would hold these nations together is the band of sympathy and mutual interest, At the very opening of his book, “Twenty Years of Congress,” his ambi- tions for his country are disclosed in the ear- nestress with which he of incaleu- So cee cree from id wil yu- siaem of §bis strake of statesmansbip, id de- scribing the efforts made to secure the terri- tory and the good fortune which ually threw it into our hands. he says with evident feeling: “It deems. scan that the acquisi- tet tantaann’ op tatergea wes teeoteed with bittervess surpasing the partisan rancor With which later gencrationshave be familiar. No abuse wus too it, nO it too States was successfully interposed between the necéssities of the one and the aggressive de- signs of the other. Willing to side with either of those great powers for the advantage of his country. not underrating the dangers of war. yet ready to engage in it for the control of the great waterway of the gulf, the President mado | the largest conquest ever peacefully achieved and at acost so small that the total sum ex- pended for the entire territory does not equal the revenues which have since been collected on ita soil for a single month in time of great public peril.” Such statesmanship aa this called forth Mr. Blaine’s admiration, and such he was bimselt capable of performing. | A much inore prudent man than be was represented to be by his ene- mies, he was sufficientiy bold to do the right thing at the right time. whatever interfere He believed it to be tie duty of statesmen of this country to encourage trade between the ple of this continent and the surrounding lands by every proper menns, to secure the greatest freedomin the interchange of products, to encourage the building and floating of great merchant ships, and thus to develop an Ameri- can commerce which would rival the world, bringing wealth and power not only to our own people, but to our neighbors, with whom we would have freedom of trade. He weuld have reciprocity of trade in its broadest sense on BIRTHPLACE. this continent, All his efforts were to secure universal peace and prosperity. WHAT MADZ HIS POPULARITY. ‘Two things made Blaine popular: The people admired and had confidence in bility and he had a sensitive and sympathetic nature, which put him in touch with all mankind and made him always true toa friend. The poses- sion of these qualities produced that attract- iveness which is sometimes called personal magnetism. and so he has been cailed one of the most magnetic men in public life. Yet he was nota man who sought with soft words to placate an enemy. He was as flerce in fight as atiger. Asa leader in parliamentary battles he hardly had an equal, As is usual these qual- ities tirst attracted public attenvon to him, As when he wasa boy he was @ leader at echool among his classmates. firat because of his pluck and will power and then by reason of his mas- | fery au a student, x0 in after life the popularity he won at first’ by his courage was supple- mented and strengthened by the admiration his abilities won for him. He always had the courage of his convictions, for those convic- tions were reached by the application of a quick and philosophical mind to careful investigation and study, Witty and bright in conversation, entertaining in the casual talk of the hour, Mr. Blaine did not keep his more serious thoughts always on exhibition for the public. No man could be more severe on occasion or on occa- mn more amiable. His wit was always avail- le to be cutting or to be kind. but always it was merely a gloss over more serious thought. His manner in both public and in private life was such that without his other qualities he would have been popular. i As a parliamentary leader Blaine has had no superior. His quick perception, his keen wit, his magnetic nature, his broad vision and his studious habits and grasp of great questions made him a power in Congress. Appleton's Cyclopedia, without partiality, thus briefly re- views his congressional career. BIS CONGRESSIONAL CAREER, “To the House he was chosen for seven sue- cessive terms. is growth in position and in- fluence was rapid and unbroken. In his earlier years he made few elaborate addresses, Dur- ing his first term his only extended speech was an argument in favor of the assumption of the war debts by the general government, and in demonstration of the ability of the north to carry the war to a successful conclusion. But be gradually took a part in rnuning discussion and soon aequired high repute asa facile and effective debater. For this form of contention his ready resources and alert faculties were sin- gularly fitted. He was boid in attack, quick in repartee and apt in illustration, His close study of political history, his accurate knowl- edge of the records and re ations of public men and his unfailing memory gavo hit s great ad- vantage. Axa member of the committee on post offices he was largely instramental in se- curing the introduction of the system of postal cara, He carnestiy sustained ail measures for the vigorous prosecution of the war, but sought to make them judicious and practical, In this spirit he supported tho bill for a draft, but opposed absolute conserip- tion, He contended that it should be relieved by provisions for commutation and substitu- tion and urged that an inexorable draft had never beeu resorted to but once, even ander ‘the absolutism of Napoleon, At the same time he enforced the duty of sustaining and strength- ening the armies in the field by asing all the resources of the nation and strongly advocated the enroliment act, The measures for the re- construction of the states that had been in re- deltion largely the attention of Con- grees from 1865 till 1869, and Mr. Blaine bore Cetera Se” Seeeretee work of framing represen- tation upon which the states could be readmit- ted was the first question to be determined. ‘Thaddeus Stevens, ‘of the committee ou reconstruction, had proposed that repre- | garded as treasonable by the British govern- of voting would accomplish the object of pro- venting the sonth from securing representation of blacks unless blacks were made Voters, yet it would make a radical change in the apportion- ment of the northern states, where tho ratio of Voters to population differed very widely in different sections. varying from a minimum of 19 per cent to amaximum of 58 per cent, The result of the discussion was an abandonment of the theory that apportionment should be based on voters. and the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution, as finally adopted, embodied Mr. Blaine’s proposition in substan M16 AMENDMENT TO THE RECONSTRUCTION FILL “On February 6, 1867, Mr. Stevens reported the reconstruction bill. It divided the states Intely in rebellion into five military districts | transa and practically established military govern- | ment therein. Civil tribunals were made sub. ject to military control. While a majority evinced a willingness to accept the bill, Mr. | Blaine declared his unwillingness to support any measure that would placo the south | under military government if it did not, at the same time prescribe the method | by which the people of the state could by | their own action re-establish civil govern- | ment. He accordingly propoved an amendment | Providing that when any one of the Inte s0- called confederate states should assent to the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution and | should establish equal and impartial suffrage without regard to race or color, and when Con- gress should approve its action, it should be en- | titled to representation and the provision for | thilitary government should become inopera- | tive, This proposition came to be known as the Blaine amendment. In advocating it Mr. | Blaine expressed the belief that the true inter- pretation of the election of 1866 was that, in | addition to the proposed constitutional amend- | ment (the fourteenth ),impartial suffrage should | be the basis of reconstruction, and he urged | the wisdom of declaring the terms at once. | ‘The application of the previous question ruled out the Blaine amendment, but it was renewed in the Senate and finally carried through both brantkes. aad’ under. it reconstruction was completed, é ‘he theory that the public devt should bs paid in greenbacks developed great strength in the summer of 1867, while Mr. Blaine was ab- sent in Europe. On his return, at the opening of the next session, he made an extended speech against the doctrine and was the first man in Congress to give utterance to this op- position. PROTECTING NATURALIZED CITIZENS, “The long uvsettled question of protecting naturalized American citizens while abroad at- tracted special attention at this time. Costello, Warren, Burke and other irish-Americans had been arrested in England on the charge of complicity in Fenian plots. Costello had made aspecch in 1865 in New York which was re- ment. and he was treated asa British subject and tried under an old law on this accusation, His plea of American citizenship was overruled and he was convicted and sentenced to sixteen years’ penal Y . other American statesmen. resisted the British | doctrine of perpetual allegiance and main- | tnined that a naturalized American was enti- | tled to the same protection abroad that would be given to a native American, took active part in pressing these questions upon public atten: tion, and as the result of agitation Costello wa: released. ‘The discussion of this case led to t treaty of 1870. in which Great Britain abau- doned the doctrine of ‘once a subject alway subject.’ and accepted the American principle of equal rights and protection for adopted and for native citizens. i ASSPEAKER OF THR HOUSE. “Mr. Blaine’s administration of the speaker- ship is commonly regarded as one of the most brilliant and successful in the annals of the House. He hadrare aptitude and equipment for the duties of presiding officer and his com- = mastery of parliamentary law, his dex- rity and physical endurance, his rapid die- patch of business and his firm and impartial | spirit recognized on all sides, “Though necessarily exercising » powerful influence upon the course of legislation. he seldom left the chair to mingle in the conteste on the floor, “On one of those rare occasions, in March, 1871, he had a ep tilt with Gen. Butler, who hadcriticised him for being the author of the resolution providing for an investigation into alleged outrages perpetrated upon loyal citizens of the south and for being chiefly instrumental in securing its adoption by the republican caucus, THE SOUTHERN AMNESTY Itt “The political revulsion of 1874 placed the democrats in control of the House, and Mr. Blaine became the leader of the minority. The session preceding the presidential contest of 1876 was.a period of stormy and vehement con- tention. A general amnesty bill was brought forward, removing the political disabilities of articipants in the rebellion which had been imposed by the fourteenth amendment to the | Coussitution, Mr. Bigine moved to amend by | making au exception of Jefferson Davis and supported the proposition in an impassioned speech, After asserting the great magnanimity of the government and pointing ou: how far amnesty had already been carried, he defined the grounds of his proposed exception. The Teason was not that Davis was the chief of the confederacy, but that, as Mr. Blaine affirmed, he was the ‘author, ‘knowingly, deliberately, itily and willfully, of the gigantic murders and crimes of Andersonville.’ In fiery words Mr. Blaine proceeded to declare that no mili- tary atrocities in history had exceeded those for which Davis was thus ri ible. His out- burst naturally produced a deep excitement in the House and throughout the country. If Blaine’s object au a political leader was to feeling and activit dential struggle, hesuscceded. ite followed. i} had received $64.009 from the Union Pacific Railroad Company for some undefined services, ‘On April 24. 1876, he rose toa personal expia- nation in the House and made his answer. He produced letters from the officers of the com- pany and from the bankers who were suid to ave negotiated the drafts, in which they de- clared that there had never been any such transaction. and that Mr. Blaine bad never re- ceived a dollar from the company. Mr. Blaine Proceeded to add that the charge had reap- peared in the form of au assertion that he had received bonds of the Little Rock and Fort | with which he presented hi Smith railroad as a gratuity, and that these bonds had been sold throngh the Union Pacific | ‘this he responded | that he bad never bad any bonds except at the | | control of the Congress which put it into the Profit from them, he had incurred a large | Company for his benefit. market price, and that, instead of deriving any Pecuniary loss. ‘A few days later another charge was made to the effect that he had re- ceived as a gift bonds of the Kansas Pacific railroad and had been a party tor suit concern- ing them in the courts of Kansas. To this he answered by producing evidence that his name had been confounded with that of a brother, who was one of the early settlers of Kai and who had boughi stock in the Kansas Pa cific before Mr. Blaine lad even been nomi- nated for Congress, On the 2d of May a reao- adopted in the House to investigate an alleged purchase by the Union Pacific Rail- roud Company at an excessive price of certain bonds of the Little Rock and Fort Smith rail- road. It soon became evident that the investi- gation was aimed at Mr. Bisine. THY MULLIGAN LETTERS. “An extended business correspondence on | his part with Warren Fisher of Boston, running through vears and relating to various trans- actions. bad failen into the bands of a clerk named Mulligan, and it is alleged that the pro- duetion of this correspondence would confirm the imputation against Mr, Blaine. When Mu!- ligan was summoned to Washington Mr. Blaine possessed himself of the letters, together with memorandum that contained a fall index and abstract. On the Sth of June he rose toa personal explanation and after denying the power of the House to compel the production of his private papers, and his willingness to go to any extremity in defense of his rights. he declared that he proposed to reserve nothing Holding up the letters he exclaimed: “Thank God, I am not ashamed to show them. There is the very original package. And with some eense of humiliation, with » mortification I do not attempt to conceal, with a sense of outrage which I think any man in my position would feel, Tinvite the confidence of 40.000,000 of my countrymen while J rend these letters from my | | desk.’ The demonstration closed with a dra- matic scene. Josiah Caldwell. one originators of the Little Rock and Fort Smith railroa mu, was traveling in Europe and both sides were seeking to communicate with him. After finishing the reading of the lettera Mr. Blaine turned to the chairman of the com- ittee and demanded to know whether he had | received any dispatch from Mr. Caldwell. Re- as own knowledge. that the chair- man had received such a dispatch, ‘completely | and absolntely exonerating me from this charge and vou have suppressed it’ A pro- found sensation was created and Gen. Gar- field said: ‘I have been a long time in Con- gress and never saw such a scene in the House.'” MIS CAREER IN THE SENATE. On entering the Senate in 1876 Mr. Blaine at once went to the front asa leader and took a prominent part in the discussion and dispo- sition of all important quéstions. He always took an interest in matters in connection with our foreign relations,and he took an active part | a THE BLAIN | in trying to enlarge our commercial relations, In 1878 he very earnestly advocated the estab- lishment ofa ‘line of mail steamers to Brazil by means of a subsidy. He repeatediy urged this matter, pointing to the successful applica- tion of the policy by foreign countries, and arguing that there was no reason why it should not do for water transportation what it had done for railroads, His object was to build up our commerce with the nations of South and Central America and the adjacent islands. On financial questions he occupied a strong posi- tion, believing in bimetallism and resisting the adoption of a single gold standard or the depreciation of silver. Soon after he entered the Senate he made an elaborate speech on this question, showing a remarkable grasp of the subject and resisting all attempts to de- teriorate silver coinage. On all political ques- tions he took a strong stand. opposed th electoral commission im 1876, holding that Congress did not have the power which it pro- d to confer upon the commission. He led is party in the hard fight over appropriations in 1879, which grow out of the attempt on the part of the democrats to prohibit the presence of troops at the pails and resulted in an extra session of Congress. The democrats refused to make appropriations tnlese this prohibition was agreed to, avd he disputed the right of any caucus or party to declare that they would have certain legislation or they would stop the great departments of the government, On the Chinese question, which was a serious problem during his term in the Senate. he took & position in favor of the restriction of the im- migration of coolie labor. A8 GARPIELD'S SECRETARY OF STATE. His career as Secretary of State opened with great promise, but unfortunately was suddenly ciosed by the assassination of President Gar- field. On entering the department he inauza- rated a policy designed not only to maintain the dignity and power of this country, but to promote peace and commercial prosperity this entire continent. He projected a peace congress tobe held at Washington in which representatives of all the North and South American countri¢s were to take part. His ob- ject was t6 promote such a friendly under- standing between ali the powers as would pre- vent useless and destractive wars and at the | carrying out this plan and his successor aban- doned it The war between Chile and Peru ‘was raging when he entered the cabinet and of the | ho bad fail knowledce of the whole | TWO CENTS Wis RECIPROCITY POLICY. | Itwas in accordance with his original sug- | gestion and due to his earnest efforts that pro- j Vision was made in the MeKinley bill for reci- Procity treaties, which has been eminently suc- | cessful and met with the highest popular favor | throughout the couutrs. He would have gone | | further than this provision permits. When the | suggestion was first made by him the value of it was not fully appreciated by the leaders of | the majority in Congress. but the earnestness | proposition for | reciprocity compelled the consideration of the | committee and at once this plan became popu- | lar throughout the country, and its adoption has redounded to the credit of the party in IN PRESIDENT WARRISON’S CAnINET. | A number of very important questions affect- ing our diplomatic relations were pending | when Mr. Harrison called Mr. Blaine to assume the portfolio of the State Department, These | questions had been gaining for a long time and * | had sorely perplexed his predecestors, Within a short time he had them allsettied or progress. ing favorably toward settlement. In every in- stance he has ahown the vigor which his past career caused to be expected of him and a con- | Servatism which confounded his critica, The plan for an international American congress. which he had first projected. had been adopted with some modification by Congress during the previous (democratic) administration, and, ap- propriating his idea, Congress had made pro- } Visions for the congress of American mations to meet in Washington. The then administration going out of power it fell to the lot of Mr, | Rinino to organize this congress, which he did with most satisfactory results, The bureau of | American republics is now a branch of the State Department and the tact and skill of Mr. Blaine has insured growth of fnendiv tions between this country and all the other countries of this contine As a result of the ovision in the McKinley bill for reciprocity 1 the friendly feeling bronght about by the meeting of the international congress several | reciprocity treaties which promise great nd- vantage to the country have been negotiated and others are in course of preparation. | The complication with Germany growing ont | of the unsettled state of affairs im Samoa was speedily adjusted under Mr. Binine’s direction, | and the seal fishery dispute with Great Britain, which has presented one of the most perplex: ing questions in the kistory of American diplo- mac¥.coming over to Mr. Blaine through several administrations and which was positively threatening the peace of the country when Mr. | Biaine entered the department, demanded his | attention at once upon his entering upon his | duties. He was thus thrown in controversy | with the most skilled diplomats of the world | and in his management of hix case showed him- | self to be easily their equals, being at all times | ready in argument, informed as. to the history | MS. SAMS G. BLAIR, prevatied among members of Congress and bad mmply existed here during the sesnons of Con gress and closed. Like ot! members of both had rooms in some private remdence nd either went out for hit meals or had them eerved in the house. One of the first of these temporary homes wason Sth «treet between E and F streets, im whet was known as the old Garnett Housa He also had rooms in one of the three ree dences ou Fastreet just east of 7th treat and adjoining the Federal building. which have re. cently been torn down. | those of the late Sen His boarding house |i At the * rooms adjomned ‘or Fessenden of Maine cnt mend in 1869. he had roe Fick hou Lone of the fine private residences inthe city, and it was then in a eood resident la for FP street! not the business thoroughfare that it is today VIS PIFTRENTH STRPET Mowe. He made his home at 821 15th street for ower ten years, and then havi nilt the fine resi dence fronting an old house and t The de 5 wed a change in hi ased his Dapont circle house to He was absent from the eity for Ithouch he spent portion of ove or two winters here and occupind the houss on Lafayette square adjoining Gen. Reale’s residence, which 1s now owned by the daughter of the Inte Representative Scott of Penasyl- Vania, Mrs. Scott Townsend THE OLD SEWARD Monse About the beginning of this administration he purchased his late home, incon the le of the aquare. and is known as jouse, ‘The oll place had been an. ome ve and was ina dilapi dated condition. Mr, Binine eave the house « thorough overhauling, and. withont de the quaint features of the old-fashion tecture. hr changed it into an elneant home, with modern equipments and facilities. Thie has been the hom» of the Secretare of State o? the Harrison administration. as it will be known in the fnture. bat it will also be associated in the recollections of members of the fa with the bereavementa which robbed the fa circle of two loved members and plunge’ the of the controversy, vigorous in asserting the | home of Secretary Blaine in mourning. Here right of the United States and sufficiently con- | his danghter went ont asa bride, and here the ceiving an evasive answer. Mr. Blaine asserted, | | servative while always firmly maintaining his | ition, Axa result anamicable agree ment has | been reached for the present and the matter has every promise of being speedily settled by arbitration, The complications arising out of the lynchin, of Italians at New Orleans and the killing | American seamen at Valparaiso were also dis- posed of while Mr. Blaine was at the head of the State Department. | AS A PRESIDENTIAL. CANDIDATE. ‘The presidency has soveral times seemed to be within the grasp ot Mr. Blaine, yet he has | not received that high preferment from tho | | People. In 1876 he had an enthusiastic foilow- | ing in the convention of his party apd all but got the nomination. A suddenly formed com- | bination of his opponents, however, resulted | | in the nomination of Mr. Hayes. In the con. Vention of 1880 there wasa hard struggle be tween his supporters and those who favored a third term for Gen. Grant. Grant's support, though not sufficient to nominate him, re- mained unbroken during a great number of ballots, and Blaine and Sherman united their fercesand nominated Gen. Garfield. In 1884 | he received the nomination. but in the election was defeated by Grover Cleveland, the demo- cratic candidate, whose election was assured by a small majority in New York. There was a general demand for Mr. Blaine to take the WR. BLAINE’S BAR HARBOR uour. nomination again in 1888 and he could have had the nomination by the votes of at least sevon- cighths of the delegates had he beon willing to accept, but he bad long before declined to again be acandidate, and when it became evi- dent that the convention would probably tender him the nomination. in spite of his declination, | he wrote another letter declaring emphatically | that he would not accept the nomination if ten- dered to him. ‘The events preceding and attending the re- cent Minneapolis convention are too recent al- | most to meed recounting. Naturally as the | time for the assembling of the republican na- | tional convention hed thousands of re- publicans all over the land looked to Mr. Biaine to lead the party. ‘Mr. Blaine was induced to permit his name to | be used asa candidate and resigned his place |im tho cabinet, The administration forees, however, were well organized and the nomi- nation went to Mr. Harrison. Up tothe end of his career there has been ‘Ro Name more potent to awake the enthusiasm of the whole country, lurgely without regard to party, than that of James G. Blaine. HIS HOMES IN WASHINGTON. ‘The Different Houses Thst He Occupied im This City. For nearly thirty years Mr. Blaine has beer aresident of this city. He came here in the early years of the war as a member of the House lie life ever since. home wast bere perbaps ton greater extent than is usual with men in last dave of the official career of the Secretary were spent SOCIAL LIFE OF THE BLAINES. ‘The Prominent Place They Have Occupled ia Washington Society for Years. The social life of the Biaine family in this city is so closely interwoven with the publie career of the head of the house that to one famil- far with the latter the other assumes its greatess importance. The personal magnetam which has been such a prominent trait in his charac ter naturally exerted its happiest iuflaences upon occasions of social moment, It is proba- ble the effect of impressions received at such times bave lasted longest with those with whom he came in more frequent contact, while for the many who crossed his path bat seldom is has been an occurrence to be told to others with the greatest pleasure. For the hundreds in the ordinary circles of official soe Jeasant acquaintance with Mr. Il proportion ever exchanged a word with his wife. WHEN WE WAS SPRAKER, Naturally, therefore, the social life, and, in fact, the most trifling details of the every-day actions of the Biaine family, have alwave beca invested with an enormous amount of interest, Since his term in the speakership the soctal strides of the family have been marked, Mra. Blaine liked the companionship of cultivated ople quite as much a+ her hasband, but un- ke him did not care for the big c-owds and official crushes which w: sidered a neces sary evil years ago. Consequently it gaay bo said that she has never p dat inher wife of the Speaker sh e receptions aud alway she ever had the power she would do what she could to remedy thix grievance. or at jnnst to do away with the fatiguing customs attendant npon it, The 15th street residence of the Biaines during this period was really the place shere most of the home memories must clus ter. The elder sons emerged (rom boyhood te man’s estate and from it went to their chosem The elder daughter, Alice, who be- Coppinger, made ber debut inte appeared at all the notal hich then marked the social rece ption: vance of the (amily. THE CHILDREN'S assoctaTRS, Their neighbors were all notables as well as themselves. Hon. Fernando Wood occupied the house corner 15th and Istreets. Next to bim lived Ge wann, then came James G. residence, and adjoming ¢ house on the south side was tt part of the time the residence of G man, The young people frou all these houses were natal ent as their elders. et Busine, now Mra. Walter Damrosch. Jas. G. yoo and Miss Hattie Blaine played and frolicked through childhood to more mature yer when the finishing touches to their education became the great question in their career. Miss Margaret Blaine went away from thi house for ber first trip to Europe, where she remained a yearat school in Paris, Young Jim weut from it to enter college. a proces ou repeating untd many stitutions in the vic endeavoring to in’ is head, which seemed all ployed in devising some new sort of boyish mischief fun. The result was that Jim spent considerably more time at home than in school. and he cntered society at an extremely youthful age, Miss Hattir Blaine, whe bad hw lively temperament, was, bo to keep it under control, and liag of the household then and has never lost this endearing prominence. The faw ly ehar- acteristics then so markea in each of the ebil- dren bave not changed as the years rolied om. The long eummer «pent here by President Gar- field's cabinet while dying in the White House was a remarkable one for the Blaines They bad expected to move up to their new house on Dupont circie early iu the fall and to commence there the brilliant social life which was to mark Mr. Blaine’s high position as Seo- retary of State. It was a keen for them to leave the 15th street house, whieh was endeared with so many fond associationa, They liked the convenient neighborhood, fact, never did like the big house on circle for this reason. ‘MISS ALICE BLAINE'S MARRIAGE ‘The first welding in the home circle took 6. 1882. The event ves Gent Arthur took the bride in to retaing