Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1893 — DEATH OF BLAINE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DEATH OF BLAINE.

Iffimn DWT LAYS HIS ARMOR DOWN. Close of One of the Most Brilliant Public Careers of the Century. “He Is Freedom's Nou and Fame's, One of the Few Immortal Names that Were Not Born to Die.” ••Death levels all things in. his march. Naught can resist Lis mighty strength, The palace proud, the triumphal arch. Must meet their shadow's length.'* Mr. Blaine died at 10:05 o’clock, Friday morning. Thursday night he had a violent relapse, from which he could not rally; tn his enfeebled condition, and his physicians announced that he had only a short time to live. He passed away peacefully, with all the members of his familly at his bedside. James Gillespie Blaine was born on the list of January, 1830,at West Brownsville,

Pa., When eleven years old young Blaine wenjt to live with his uncle, Thomas Ewing, in Ohio, where his mother’s father, Neal Gillespie, an accomplished scholar, directed his studies. Later he attended Washington College, at Washington, Pa., graduating at the age of seventeen. After leaving college he taught school at Blue Lick Springs, Ky. It was as a professor in the military school there that he made the acquaintance of the lady who afterward became his wife. Later* he went to Philadelphia, where he taught school and studied law, but after two years he abandoned his law studies, went to Maine, and became proprietor and editor of the Kennebec Journal. Ho was in at the birth of the Republican party, and was a delegate to the Philadelphia convention of 1856,which nominated Fremont. After oserving as Speaker of the Maine Legislature he was sent to Congress and began his national career in 1862,'with the outbreak of the war. During the Fortvfirst, Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses he was Speaker of the House. Mr. Blaine’s administration of the Speakership is commonly regarded as one of the most brilliant and successful in the annals of the House. The political revolution, of 1874 placed the Democrats in control of the House and Mr. Blaine became the leader of the minority. 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 Legislature 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 Garfield’s Cabinet as Secretary of State. It was while passing through the railroad depot, leaning on Mr Blaine’s arm and pleasantly chatting with him about his coming holiday that Garfield received the assassin’s fatal bullet. The death of Garfield led to Mr. Blaine’s retirement from the Cabinet in December, 1882. From that date until he entered President Harrison’s Cabinet as secretary of State he was in private life, except in his campaign for the presidency in 1884. During his retirement he wrote his ‘"Twenty Years in Congress,” a work of great historical value. It was in accordance with his original suggestion and due to his earnest efforts that provision was made In the McKinley bill for the reciprocity treaties which formed such prominent features of national policy. Reccntlf a gentleman who was intimately acquainted with Mr. Blaine said that, in his opinion, the latter broke himself down by intemperate work and irregular habits of eating. Mr. Blaine was a high-pressure worker. Whenever he be T came deeply interested In a subject his ardent nature led him to work beyofid his strength,, He would shut himself up in his room, would not allow himself to be disturbed, and would not eat, sleep or rest until he had finished his task. He seemed to have adopted the motto which the great electrician Edison, who works hr much the same way. gave to a youth. “Don’t look at the clock.” He was not, ordinarily, a large eater. But he was very irregular in eating. Apparently he had no marked fondness for any kind of food. He did not care for fancy dishes, and when traveling seldom consulted the menu, but told the waiter to bring him a good meal. He liked plaid, old-fashioned cooking. Whenever he did taste anything which greatly pleased him it was hard to get him to quit. Mr. Blaine died a rich man, even as wealth is reckoned in these days. He was worth close on to a million dollars, if not more than that amount. It is probable that if some of his speculative investments could be sold out under advantageous circumstances, that he would be included in the list of millionaires. His holding of coal lands were large, and with the development of the country must greatly; increase in value if kept intact for several years. He was interested with Secretary Elkins years ago In a sliver mine, out of which ne made considerable money. At the time of his death he owned real estate In the city of Washington which would probably sell under the hammer fcr more than a quarter of a million of dollars. Mr. Blaine’s last appearance in a public capacity at the Capitol, was made before the commerce committee of the Senate during the last session. His powers of mind and body had been failing then, and the fact had been remarked by some of his friends, but on this occasion he seemed to feel the life and fire of youth and his address was characterized by clearness of thought, penetration, energy and vigor of the Blaine of old. The subject before the committee was a bill to grant a French company authority to lay a cable from the United States to San Domingo* The Government of Brazil had given this company the monopoly of the right to lay a cable through Brazilian territory to the West Indies, where It was to connect with a cable from France. Attached to the Brazilian grant was a condition that the cable company should secure cable connections with the United States, Brazil being anxious to have direct communication with this country. In order to comply with this condition, a new and auxiliary corporation to the original French company was organized. It came to the Government of the united States for permission to lay a cable from Charleston or Port Royal to San Domingo, where it was to connect with the cable from Brazil. Mr. Blaine, as Secretary of State, declined, in the name of the President, to grant the privilege requested unless the

company would agree to waive its monopoly rights in Brazil. An attempt was then made to get from Congress what Mr. Blaine had denied, and a bid granting the necessary permission to lay a ckble Tn the Territory inthe United States was introduced. When the bill came up for a hearing before the committee on commerce, of which Senator Frye is chairman. Mr. Jeff Chandie: appeared in behalf of the company. Mr, Blaino replied and astonished the committee by the animation which he displayed. He carried his point, and br a uiiaiji mons vote the committee coincided in the position taken by him.; The visit of Cardinal Gibbons to Mr. Blaine’s house curing his illness, and the known fact that members of his family inclined to Catholicism causedmany persons to think that Mr. Blafne, who, it has been -repeatedly stated, without cpntradiotlqn, was baptized as a child into the Catholic church, desired to re-enter that church on his death-bed. Until the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant was built, of which President Harrison is a member, Mr. Blaine was in the habit of attending the First Congregational church, situatea on the corner of Tenth and G streets, near the business section of the city. He gave 15,000 toward the building of the Church of the Covenant, and when it was ready for occupancy he rented a pew there. The President has issued the following proclamation: r Executive Mansion, 1 Washington, January 27, 1893. J It is my painful duty to announce to the people of the United States the death of James Gillespie Blaine, which occurred in this city to-day at 11 o’clock. For a full generation this eminent citizen has occupied a conspicuous and influential position in the Nation. His first public service was in the Legislature of his State. Afterward, for fourteen years, he was a memberof the National House of Representatives, and was three times chosen its Speaker. In 1876, he was elected to the Senate. He resigned his 1 seat in that body in 1881 to accept the position of Secretary of State in the Cabinet of President Garfield. After the death of his chief he resigned from the Cabinet, and devoting himself to literary work, he gave the public in his “Twenty Years In Congress” a most valuable and enduring contribution to our political literature. In March 1889, he again became Secretary of State and continued to exercise this office until June, 1892. His devotion to the public interests.his marked ability and his exalted patriotism have won for nim the gratitude and affection of his countrymen and the admiration of the world. In the varied pur-’ suits of legislation, diplomacy and literature his gen His has added new luster to American citizenship. As a suitable expression of the national appreciation of his great public services and of the general sorrow caused by his death. I direct that on the day of his funeral all the departments of the Executive branches of the Government at Washington be closed, and that on all public buildings throughout the United States the'National nag shall be displayed at half staff, and that for a period of thirty days the Department of State be draped in mourning. Benjamin Harbison. By the President: John W. Foster, Secretary of State. There was universal sorrow throughout the country on the announement of the fatal termination of Mr. Blaine’s illness. Telegrams of sympathy from prominent men of all parties poured in upon the stricken family. The President and Cabinet called immediately upon receipt of the sad news. The House and Senate adjourned as a mark of respect. Mr. Halo made the announcement, Mr. Cockerell made the motion of adjournment in the Senate. At Madison, Ind., all the bells In the city were tolled. The Indiana Legislature adjourned, andon motion of Senator Magee a committee was appointed to prepare a suitable memorial in that body.

JAMES G. BLAINE.