Continuation of 1884 Gatesville Sun:
James Gillespie Blaine, the nominee of the Mr. Blaine's public life has not been free from reproach
Republican party for president of the United and he has been severly condemend by some of his own
States, was born January 31, 1830 in Union party papers for his corrupt practices. We do not desire
Township, Pennysvania. He comes from the noted to speak of these in detail. We merely hinted at them
Scotch-Irish stock, his ancestors having been last week. It is no satisfaction to know that the rep-
among the pioneers who a century and a half ago utation of the candidate of the party, to whose defeat
ascended the great limestone valley in which we shall lend our best efforts, is so stained. In
Carlisle is situated, and founded the village. consequence of his accepting bribes and other similar
The stone Presbyterian church which the second practices, some of the reputable Republican papers of
generation built, is still standing, and near by the country, notably the New York Times, Boston Herald,
is the old-fashioned house where Mr. Blaine's and Advertisereld Republican, Illinois Zeitung,
grandfather, Colonel Ephriam Blaine, lived for and others refuse to support him. To our mind the greatest
many years. This officer was originally a Colonel crime of his life, was when, as senator he voted to confirm
of the Pennsylvania Line, but during the last four the infamy of the electoral commission.
years of the revolution he was Commissary -General Mr. Blaine is now in his fifty-fifth year. Although
of the northern department, and during the terrible above medium height, he is so compact and powerfully
winter of Valley Forge did his best to keep the built that he scarcely seems tall. His features are large
wolf of famine and destitution from the American and expressive; he is slightly bald and his neatly trimmed
camp. Colonel Ephriam Blaine's son "Squire Blaine" beard is prematurely gray; his brows are lowering--his
as he was known in the community, was married to eyes are keen. On the floor of congress he manifested
Miss Gillespie, a devout member of the catholic marvelous power and nerve. His voice is rich and mel-
church, but the subject of this sketch adhered to odius; his delivery is fluent and vigorous; his gestures
the traditional faith of the Blains. The second of are full of grace force; his self-possession is never
their five sons was the subject of this sketch, lost. He appeared on the stump in almost every northern
James Gillespie Blaine. state, and is an exceedingly popular and effective
James entered Washington College in 1843, being campaign orator. His faculties have a keen edge, his
thirteen years of age, and became at once both memory is remarkably retentive, and his practical
prominent as a scholar among the two or three of men and affairs has a broad range. This comprehensive
hundred other lads from all parts of the country, knowledge, broad rather than deep, is one of the secrets
and because of his splendid physique, he was also of his popularity. He knows men from one end of the
a leader in all manly athletic sports. He was not country, and he knows what they are thinking about. He
a bookworm , or a burner of midnight oil, but he has kept abreast with the average thought of his time---
was a close student and possessed the happy faculty Not above or below it.
assimlating knowledge from books and tutors far more His home in Augusta, near the state house, is a plain
easily and quickly than most of his fellows. In two-story house. Several institutions in the state have
debating societies he has held his own well, and was received benefactions from him and his charity and
conspicuous by his ability to direct and control generosity are appreciated at home. In his own house
others. he is a man of culture and refinment, a genial host,
At the end of the usual four years' course, at courteous gentleman. No man in public life is more
college he was graduated , in 1847, with the most fortunate in his domestic relations. He is the companion
distinguished honors of his class and went forth and confidant of his six children, and they fear him no
into practical life well fitted in acquirements and more than they fear one of their own number. Mrs. Blaine
training to deal with its problems, and bearing as is the model wife and mother, and more is due to her strong
a crown of of youthful the affection and esteem of Judgement, quick perception, and heroic courage than the
all his associates. world will ever know.
From his alma mater young Blaine went to Blue The eldest son, Walker Blaine, is a graduate of Yale
Lick Springs, Kentucky, and became a professor in college and of the law school of Columbia college. He is
the Western Military institute, in which there were a member of the bar of several states, and has been credit-
about 450 boys. Col. Thornton F. Johnson, and his engaged in public life in Washingston. The second son,
wife had a young ladie's school at Millersburg, Emmonston is a graduate of Harvard college and the
twenty miles distant. It was at this place That Mr. Cambridge Law school. The third is James J. Blaine, jr.,
Blaine met Miss Stanwood, who belonged to an exc- a lad of fourteen. The three daughters are named Alice,
ellent family in Massachusetts, and she afterward Margaret and Harriet. The eldest was married more than a
became his wife. year ago to Brevet Colonel J. J. Coppinger, U.S.A.
After a few years work as a teacher, Mr. Blaine ________________________________
returned to Pennsylvania, and began studying law.
He read law carefully, and obtained a thorough True courage never counts cost in adhering to principle.
knowledge of its principles, but never presented ________________________________
himself as a candidate for the bar.
Miss Stanwood was a native of Maine, and after JOHN A. LOGAN
her marriage to Mr. Blaine was anxious to have him John Alexander Logan, the Republican nominee for
make that state his home. This he determined to vice-President, was born near Murpheysboro, Jackson
do, and in 1853 the young couple removed to Augusta, county, Illinois, February 29, 1826. His father was a
where they have ever since made their home. In the native of Ireland and his mother of Tennessee . He
following Mr. Blaine entered into partnership with enjoyed slight educational advantages, his father
Joseph Baker, a prominent lawyer in that town, and affording most of the boy's early instruction.
the two purchased the Kennebee Journal, of which His first public service was in the Mexican war.
Mr. Blaine at once became editor. The Journal was He enlisted as a private, became lieutenant, served as
a weekly, one of the organs of the Whig party, and adjutant of his regiment, the first Illinois infantry,
exercised considerable political influence. In and came out quartermaster.
1857 Mr. Blaine disposed of his interest in this On returning home he began the study of law in the
paper and became editor of the Portland Daily office of his uncle, Lieutenant-Governor Jenkins, of
Advertiser. In the campaign of 1860 he returned Illinois. He attended lectures at Louisville, and took
temporarily to his post on account of the illness his diploma in 1851. His legal ability and winning ways
of its editor. His career in journalism lasted were recognized the next year by his election as prosecuting
only six years, but was marked throughout by attorney in the third judicial district of the state. He was
ability and success, and it served to give him a three times re-elected to the legislature.
good introduction to the world of Politics and Mr. Logan at this time was a Democrat, and was chosen a
statesmanship. presidential elector in the Buchanan campaign. Two years
When the old Whig party went to pieces, Mr. later he was sent to Congress. This was at the time Roscoe
Blaine joined hands with Governor Anson P. Morrill Conkling first entered that body. Mr. Logan was re-elected
in organizing the Republican party in the in 1860. In that year he was an ardent advocate of Stephen
Tree state. His vigorous attacks on the Buchanan A. Douglas, and he addressed a mass meeting in Cooper
administration made him a power in the new organ- Institute in New York city, in behalf of the "Little Giant."
ization. In 1858, when he was in his twenty-nineth Gen. Logan's position at the beginning of the war has been
year, he was elected to the legislature. He served the subject of much dispute. He has, with much vehemence,
two years on the floor of the lower house and two denied that he ever entertained any but the most "loyal"
years in the chair, where he displayed the policies sentiments. He has always taken care however to do so in
of parliamentary leadership and control that general terms, and has been equally careful not to meet certain
afterwards gave him such renown in the national persons who strongly maintain he was a secessionist. The senior
legislature at Washington. It is also worthy of editor of the paper while he was in the Confederate army, met
mention that he took on active part as public speaker more than one soldier who was enlisted in the Confederate army
in the Fremont campaign of 1856. by Gen. Logan.
In 1862 Mr. Blaine was nominated for congress in Gen. Logan took the field with 31st Illinois infantry in
the Kennbee district and was elected by a majority September with McLernand's brigade. He had a horse shot from
of 3,000 votes. In 1869 he was elected speaker of under him at the Battle of Belmont. He was engaged at Fort
the forty-first congress, and re-elected in 1871 and Henry, and in leading the assault at Fort Donelson was badly
1873. In 1875 he was the nominee of his party, but wounded. For gallant and effective service he was steadily
the Democratic party having obtained control of the promoted. He greatly assisted Grant in the northern Mississippi
house, Hon Michael C. Kerr was elected over him. campaign of 1862; and as Major-General of volunteers commanded
He was appointed to the United States Senate by the the third division, seventeenth army corps, under McPherson, in
governor of Maine, July 13, 1876, to fill the vacancy the movement against Vicksburg in 1863. Besides brave fighting
caused by the resignation of Senator Morrill, who at Port Gibson, he rendered noble service at Champion Hills.
then became secretary of the Treasury. He was He succeeded Gen. Sherman in command of the fifteenth corps in
subsequently elected for the unexpired term and for November 1863, and made Huntsville, Alabama, his headquarters.
the insuing term expiring in 1883. He joined the grand army which was to march through Georgia next
Mr. Blaine's diplomatic career began with his year, and distinguished himself at Resaca, Dallas and Kenesaw
appointment as secretary of state on March 5, 1881 mountain. At the battle of Atlanta he succeeded McPherson, on
and ended with his resignation on Dec. 19, three the latter's fall, and with marked magnetism rallied the Union
months after President Garfield's death. The two forces. After Sheerman fairly started for the sea Gen. Logan
principal objects of his foreign policy, as de- went north to make speechs for Lincoln and Johnson. He rejoined
fined by himself, were these: First, to bring Sherman at Savannah, and shared in the grand review at Washington
about peace and prevent future wars in North and in May, 1865.
South America; and secondly to cultivate such Having declined President Johnson's offer of the mission to
friendly commercial relations with all American Mexico Gen. Logan returned to the civil service of his country
countries as would lead to a large increase in the as a Congressman being re-elected to his old seat in 1866. He
export trade of the United States. It was a pacific remained there until his election to the Senate in 1871l.
policy and was wholly in accord with the Monroe Among the most conspicuous of his acts was a powerful speech on
doctrine and the characteristic traditions of reconstructionl which was reprinted and widely disseminated
American diplomacy. as a campaign document. On the title page was an announcement
Continued
