Blaine Is Dead

A NATION'S r.OSS. Wasiiingtov, Jan. 2t.- James G. Blaine is dead. The end carne shortly before 11 a. m. Friday. It was preceded by a suelden relapse and the doctors sent word to the members of the cabinet that the worst was feared, yet so of ten had the same report been made that it was treated less seriously than it should have been. The secretaries, however, scarce had time to turn to their department duties before word came that the great man had succumbed to the sickness with which he has battled so stubbornly. Since December 18, the Sunday when he was so near death that the physicians hardly dared say that there was any hope, Mr. Blaine had shown such RTeat vitality that many had been led to believe that he might be restored to health. The physicians and others familiar with nis malady and its usual conree knew that there was no pround for hopinjr further than that Mr. Blaine's life mig-ht be prolong-cd a few weeks or tnonths. A PEACKFUI. END. Death carne peacefully. As the end drevv near the members of the family drew around the bedside and there they staid until all was over. Drs. Hyatt and Johnston came out of the red house a few minutes after the death and gave the ncws to the death watch. To a correspondent Dr. Hyatt said: "The end was poaceful as any I have seen We thought at 9:30 that he coukl not live throujih the day. He had at that time suflerea the relapse and althoush we administered the most powerful restorativcs they failed to produce the slJfrhtest appreciable effect. On the contrary, he continued to sink; but as the end approached hls old-time clearness of mimi came back and his mental strength seemed to increase. At the same time he did not speak The members of the family were all summoned and gathering around the bed watched with anxlous eyes for sonfe signs of revival. We continued to apply the restorative romedies, but they had no more effect than water. He seemed coascious of his condition, but he did not speak. I doubt if he could speak. At half past 10 it was plain to see that he had but a few minutes longer to live. we coma do nothtnf? more. And as he Bhowed no signs of pain we merely watched and waited. His eye grew biÏRhter and it seemud at times as if he were about to speak. Hut his Ups did not move. His breathing became fainter and fainter, and at just a minute or twobeforell he took ono look around the room, peerecl into every face, ciosed his eyes and.wlthout a cry of pain,' or aiiht that would Indícate he was doing more than falllnj? into a peaoefu] sleep, he died. " THE NKWS SPREADS. The news of Mr. Blaine's death spread like wildfire. Crowds pathered on tlie corner and visitors fiocked to the house. Dr. Hamilton, who was the house when the announcement of death was made, at once entered and remained with the family for some tune. Word was sent to the president immediately after the death. At 11:25 President Harrison, accompanied by Private Seeretary Haliord aud Dr. Parker, vtalked over to the Blalne mansion. The president showcd inarked signs of grief. Postmaster General VVanamaker followed the footsteps of the president. The president received warning of Mr. IJlaine's death throug-h a press bulletin, which informed him that Mr. Ulaine could not live throiiffh the day. He immediately had the substance of the dispatch telegraphed over the departmental wires to the various cabinet omcers. lt was only a few minutes later that Mr. Montg-omery, the operator at the white house, reecived unother message addressed to the president, "lilaine is dead," was all that he waited to hear, and started on the run for the room of Private Seeretary Halford. The cabiuet was immediately notified and carne to the cabinet meeting; at the usual fcour fully pre pared. I'RESIDENT'S PKOCLAMATIl.X. The president has issued the followinfr proclamation: Executive Mansión, Washihotok, January 27, 1693.- It is my painful duty to aanounce to the public of the United States tho death of James Gillespio Blalne. which oecurrec in this ctty today at 11 o'clock. For a full eneratiou this eminent Citizen has .oceupiei a consplcncus umi infiuontial position in the nation His ürst public service was in the legislatura of hls state. Afteriards for fourteen years he was a meaiber of the natiooal house of representatives, a&d was three time ohosen lts speaker. In 170 he was elected to tho senate. ib'ned his seat in that body in 1881 to aocept the positian of secretary of state in the cabinet of President GarHeld. After the traglc death of hls ohief, he resigned troto the cabinet anddevoteü himself to llterary work, gave to the public in his "Twenty Years of Cbtycress" a most valuable and enduring contribution to our political literature. In March, 1889, he agaln bccame secretary of state, and continued to exercise this office until June, 1832. His devotion to the public interests, hls marked abülty and his oxalted patriotism have won for him the gratitude and aftection of hls countrymen and the admiration of Uta world. In the variea pursuits of Iegtalatlon, dipiomaoy and literaturo his í;cu)us Lr.rf udded ncw luster to American L'itlzenshlp. As a sultable e::press:o!i _f the aatlonal approbatlon of lii.s f,-ri:.it pnbUo services and of the general sorrow caused by his drath, I direct that on tíxc. c'.:iy of his luneral all the departiif tbe exeentive branch of the government ai Washington be cloaed aqJ ihat on all public bu:ldin;;s througliuut the Untted State.s tte national flag bo diapLiyetl at kalf staff; acd ' that for a period of thirty day-i the department of state be draped in mourning. Benjamin Harrison. By the President: John VV. Foster, Secretary of State. FKELINO IN CONGREH8. In congress theoutburst of sympathy was spontaneous and deep. Ko puljlic man who bore the brunt of fierce politicai battles held kindlier personal relations with his adversaries than Mr. lílaine. Of recent years, particularly, olil aniraosities have died out, and there is hardly any one in congress to-day who did not, on the occasion of Mr. Blaine's visits to the capítol, take paina to do him honor. The announcement of Mr. Blaine's death was made to the senate by Mr. líale, who has been for many years one of the closest personal and political friends of the dead statesman. His remarks were followed by a motion of Mr. Cockrell (dein., Mo.), which was adopted, that the senate adjourn out of respect to the memory of the deceased. The death of Mr. Blaine brought the business of the house to a sudden termination. A few committee reports were made (including a bül to repeal the federal election laws), and then after brief and affeeting speeches by Mr. Milliken (who represents Mr. Blaine's old district) and Mr. Holman (who served many years with hira in the house and who has always been his personal íriend) the house out of reepect to the memory of the dead statesman adjourned. LEGISLATUBES AD.JOURN. Dispatches from various state capitals announce the adjournment of the following legislatures upon receipt of the news of Mr. Blaine's death: Illinois, New York, California, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Colorado, South Dakota, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Indiana. Missouri. Kansas and Arkansas. STORY OP HIS UFE. James Gillespie Blainc, aecoDd son of Ephraim L. and Maria Gülespie Blaine, was bom at the Inüian HUI farm, Washington county, Pa., JanuaryOl, 1830. The old stone house In which he was born was the flrst structure of the kind ever erected west of the Monongahela river. It waa built by the great-grandfather of Mrs. Gillespie Blaine in 1778, and it now stands within the city Hmits of West Brownsvillr. From his father the son inherited the hurdy, energetic quulities of a Scotch-Irish ancestry. Ephraim Blaine, his great-grandfather, was commissary general of the American army from 1778 to the close of the revolution in 1783. This great-grandfather was possessed of ampie rneans, and during the trying times of privation in Valley Forge the continental rmy was materially aided from his private purse. The grandfather for whom young Blaine was named Brst chose a political career. A protracted stay in üurope af ter hehad flnished hia studies estrangedhim from this early ambition. He returned to America in 1793, and as a special bearer of dispatchus delivered to the American government a treaty with some foreign power. Afterward he retired to private Ufe. The father of James G. Blaine was born and reaied in Carlisle. On reaching maturity he spent a number of years in South America, in the West Indies and in Europe, returning afterward to Pennsylvania. In 1818 he removed to Washington county. He had inherited considerable wealth and owned landed property in the western part of the state. These lands, however, had not been developed, and a large family made heavy drains upoa his means. In 1825 he deeded to the economites a tract of land now oecupied by the site of Philadelphia. Other lands, since fourcd rich in minerals, were sold for almost nothing. Mr. Blaine's mother was a woman of strong character and superior intelligence. She was a devout Catholic, but the son adhered to the Presbyterian convietions of his paternal ancestry. The son Jamesi receiVed every udvantags ol education. He had excellent opponunities affonled by private tutors at home, and during the year 1841 he was at school in Lancaster, O. Whlle nero he lived in the family of Hon. Thomas Ewing, then secretary of the treasury. Seeretary Ewing was his uticlo. James entered the freshman class of Washington college in November, lSia At this time, it is said, the youns boy was able to recite Plutarch's Lives from memory. He had a murked taste for literature, mathematies and liisturical studies. In tho literary society he dlsplayed a politicul aptitudo and capaciïy which afterward distinguished him. At the age of 17 years and 8 montha he was graduated in a class of thirty-three, sharing iirst honors with John C. Hcrvy, who was afterward superintendent of public instruction at Wheeling. Soon after graduatinu Mr. Blaine becamo a teacher in the Western Military institute at Ii:c Lick Spring, Ky. Here he met Miss Hurriet Stanwood, of Maine. Miss Stanwood teaotter in a seminary for young ladies at Miilcrsburg, and the two were shortly afterward married. Mr. Dlaine roturned with his wife to Pcnnsjivania and became a teaoher in the Pennsylvunia Instituto for tho Blind at Iphia. For two yearu Mr. Iilaine was MUNnuBieu wiin mis school. }n 1834 he moved to Augusta, Me, where he has since made nis home. Ho purcbased a half interest in the Kennebeo Journal and bccame its editor. He had a ready iaoulty for the work, and witlim three years was a mastcr spirit in state politics. He engaged ardently in the formation of the republican party. In 1866 he was a delégate to the flrst natfonal convention of tho republican party which nominatcd John C. Fremont for the presidency. It was stortly afterward, at a public meeting, when he (lrst claimed attentioa as a pubüc speaker. At this meetim,' he rendered an official report, stammeriug in confusión at the outset. Uut as he proceeded he gained confldence and wound up in a manner which called attention to him as a public orator. In !8S7 he broadened his newspaper field -umins the editorslüpof the Portland Aderttser. His poliiical genius, however, had edlpaed the journalist within him. n 1858 he was elected to tho state legislatura and was afterward successlvely cnosen for four years. The laat two years in the liouse he served that body as speaker. At the bezinning of tho civil war Mr. Blaino gained distinctlon n the debates which grew out of that crisis. t the time of hls elcction to the legislature he roa made chairman of the republican state commitlee and for twenty years he held that office. During this time he led and shaped very political eanipaign in the state of Maine. He was elected to congress in 1802 and for a period of eighteen years he was a member of one or the other houses of congress. His career in the national congress was au cvuntful one. His antagonism to the Stevens' reconstruction bill in 1867 created a stir in the nation, and after a secming defeat hls amendment modifylng this proposed military law in the south was carrled through both house and senate. In 18C9 Mr. Blalne was elected speaker of the house! acting In that cauucity for six successi re years. This career In the house has ways [een regarded as exceptlonally brllliant. Tho polltical revulsión of 1874 placed the democracy in power in the house and Mr. Jilaine became the leader of the republican minority. Preccding the prenldential contest of 1816 tho scssion of the house was a stormy one and in the general amnesty bill, removing the disabillties of partiefpants in the rebellion, Mr. Blaine stood up for an exeeption in the case of Jefferson Davis. One of hU most notable speeches jras made at this time under tho spur of opposllion from Mr. Hill of Georgia. In 1876 he was called upon to defend nis politicul character against charges of bribery from the Union Pacific and other railroad companies. The Mulligan letters were produoed and the stormy scènes of May and June of that year followed. June 5 Mr. Blaine, rising to personal explanation, denied the right of uongres o compel the production of hls private papers. He eipressed tris witlingness to stand any examination, and having poBseased himself of these letters lie declared hls purpose to reserve nothing. He stood up in thu house holUIng the letters in hl haud. He proceedcd w read them. At thia Mme Joslah Caidwell, one of the originators of the Little Rock & Pon Smith railroad, was tnivelinR in Europe, and eftorts had been made at Mr. Blaine's suggestion to reach liim by telegraph. Af ter readlng these letter Mr. Blaine turned to the chairman of the Investis;ating committee and dermnded to know if any answer had been reccivod from Mr. CaldwelL The chairman returned an evasive aiiswer when Mr. Blaine turned upon him, chargintt, as within hls own knowledge, that the chairman had received such a dispatch, "completely and absolutely exonerating me from this charge, and you have suppressed it" Of this scène Gen. Garfleld once sald that it exceeded anything he had ever seen in congress. June 11 was the time of the republicau national ccmvention. The prevlous Sunday he imu úeen prostratea by the heal and fears were entertained for his Ufe In the convention, however, his friends stood firm. On the flrst ballot he received 285 votes out of the total of 754. The remainder were dtvided between Senator Morton, Secretary Bristow, Senator Conklinff, Gov. Hayes and others. On the soventh ballot his voto rose to 351, laoking only 28 of a nomination. A combination upon Hayes however, clofeated him. Mr. Blaine entered the senate soma months later. Again in 1880 hls friends of four years bcfore stood by him in the national convention. The tlrst vote stood: Orant, 304; Blaine, B84; Sherman, 93; Edmunds, 3i; Washburne, 30; Windom, 10, and Garlleld, 1. On the final ballot, however, the Blaine forces united on Garlleld, who was nominated. After his election Mr. Blaine was made secretary of state. He was in thfl cabinet ten months. After Gartleld's death Mr. Blaine retired from thn (iMnet On his retirement he was for the örst time in twenty-three years out oí public station. He took up his well-known historical work, "Twenty Years of Congres," and issued the flrst volume in January, 1884. In this year he waa again before the republiean convention for the nomina tion to the presidency. Onthefourth ballot he received 541 of the 813 votes and was nominated. President Arthur was his chlef competitor. This campaign was a peculiarly bitter one. The result hinged upon New York, which went democratio and elected Grover Cleveland. He returned at once to hls history and completed the second volume in 1888. Later he traveled extensively in Europe, his health being much broken. At the time of the republiean convention in 1888 he refused to accept the nomlnation, cabling trom Scotland to the Chicago gathering to that effect Several months earlier he had written a letter refusing to be considered a candidate. He worked for the success of Mr. Harrison in the succeeding campaign and at the bepinninsï of the present natlonal administration he loreu me presidenta caBluet as secretary of state. His distinguished career In that position is well remembered. The Pan-American congress, the reciprocity treaties anrt othur striking inciden ts rendered his work remarkable. Owing to personal diilereuce with the president he resigned his position in the cabinet a few days before the meeting of toe natlonal conten tion ot his party. Though a short timo before he had decllned in set terms to be a candidato before the convention he permitted his friends to uso his name. On the flrst ballot, however. President Harrison was renominated Though in bad health Mr. Ulaíne wroto a letter and made a speech for his party during the campaign lately closed. DUST TO DUST. Washington, Jan. 31.- The ceremonies accompanying the, burial of James G. Blaine yesterday were in themselves as simple as tliose whieh vvould characterize the interment of the humblest citizen. A brief service of prayer at the house; a simple procession of hearse and carriag-es to the church; a service there which breathed thanksg-iving for the Hfe that had been lived an.d confidence in its glorious future; a limited cortege follovving the body to Oak Hill cemeter.y; a committal of the casket to its grave surrounded by a throng of thousands standing patiently and reverently upon the trampled hiliside; a half-hour afterward a deserted burial place, the place of the dead marked only by a mound of flowera making a brilliant dash of color contrasting against the discolored snow, and all was over.