Chapter I: Introduction

Mountains are the homes of giants,--giants in brawn and giants in brain. The giants of brawn may be the more numerous, and in the sense of muscle and fisticuffs, more powerful; but not in the sense of manhood and power that achieves results that are far-reaching and that endure,--results that thrill a nation’s heart and command the admiration of the world.

Whoever makes you proud that you are a man,--that you are an American citizen,--makes you feel that life is not only worth living, but that to live is joy and glory,--such an one lifts you up toward those higher regions from which man has evidently fallen, and gives some glimmer and hint of the old image and likeness in which we were created. That man who comes from nearest to the nation’s heart and gets nearest to the world’s heart, brings with him lessons of wisdom, goodness, and love which shall work like leaven with transforming power.

Great not only in brains, but great in heart, also, are the giant men of true greatness, who come down from the mountains into the arena of the world’s activities. They need no introduction. The world awaits them, recognizes, and hails them. They know and are known; they love and are beloved. Place awaits them, and they enter; fitness fits; life is a triumph, and they are happy. Such men, fresh from nature’s mint, bring consciences with them,--consciences unseared, into the battle of life.

These are not only the germ of character and the source of joy, but chief among the elements of that stupendous strength which makes victory their birthright, and victory is the birthright of every good, true soul that will work to win. Only the false and the indolent are sure to fail; the true and industrious are ever succeeding.

Especially great in powers of will are the men who come forth from the nation’s strength and give themselves back in exalted service to a nation’s life. The great streams that flow into the ocean, went forth of the ocean in mists and clouds of rain. The great men of Rome were the products of Rome. The great men of Germany and France are the products of those respective countries. And so the great men of America are the products of America. It took generations to produce the heroes of the Revolution, but when the hour struck, they came forth, full armed with a purpose that blood could not weaken, clad in a panoply that no host could destroy. Washington blazed forth as an orb of greater magnitude in the chair of state, in time of peace, than in the saddle in time of war. As a warrior he cut out the work, as statesman he made it. Statesmanship is more the work of the whole man and of a life-time. Garfield was splendid upon the field of battle, but while there he shone as a star among suns, while in the halls of state he shone as a sun among stars. There was a steady grandeur of purpose, a magnificence of character, a wealth of intellect, a power of thought, a loftiness of courage, of that high, heroic type which moral stamina alone can produce, which created a greater demand for him in the councils of the nation than in the battle-front when warriors were the nation’s sorest need. Others could take his place in Tennessee, but not in Washington.

Among the nation’s great productions, born midway between the war of the Revolution and the war of the Rebellion; born in times of peace, for times of direst carnage and divinest peace again, a very prince of the land; born to lead, and born to rule; springing at once with the bound of youthful blood into the foremost ranks of the nation’s monarchs of forces, and emperors of kingly powers, is he who leads to-day the giant forces of the great nation’s conquering host, the Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE, not of Maine, or of Massachusetts; not of Minnesota, or the Golden Gate, but of America. He is a man of the nation’s heart, a man of the nation’s brain, a man of conscience, and a man of will; large, vivid, and powerful in his consciousness, wherein he realizes, in most brilliant conceptions, both the power and glory of men and things. He came forth from the mountains of the Alleghanies, a giant from the nation’s side.

Never since the nation’s youth was there such demand for any man. He is emphatically the typical American, and the yeomanry would have him. They caught his spirit, and would not shake off the spell of his genius. They forget not to-day that he was Garfield’s first choice, and sat at Garfield’s right hand. They remember, as only they who think with the heart can remember, that as his pride and confidant, he was by Garfield’s side in that awful hour of holy martyrdom, thrusting back the terrible assassin with one hand, and with the other catching the falling chief. Garfield knew him, Garfield loved him, Garfield sanctioned, honored, trusted, and exalted him. And the sentiments of that great heart which beat out its life-blood for the nation’s glory then, it is firmly believed, are the sentiments of the nation’s heart to-day.

CONTENTS.

I.

THE BOY.

Old Hickory--National Highway--Indian Hill Farm--The
Alleghanies--Daniel Boone and the Wetzells--Scotland
of America--Birth-Place--Ancestors--Mother--Valley
Forge--The Old Covenanters--Dickinson College--Cradle
Songs--Stories of Monmouth and Brandywine--Old
United States Spelling-Book--Country School-House--Cut
Jackets--Uncle Will--Grandfather’s Ferry--Too
Much Spurt--Capt. Henry Shreve--First Steamboat from
Pittsburgh--Life of Napoleon--Average Boys’ Ability--
Working on the Farm--Revolutionary Soldiers--Home
Training--Books--Spelling School--Sleigh-Ride--Victory Page 21

II.

PREPARATION.

Inheritance--Bullion’s Latin Grammar--Campaign of General
Harrison--Political Meetings--Jackson’s Methods--
Newspapers--An American Boy--Plutarch’s Lives--Seeing
General Harrison--Teachers--Homely People--Grandpa’s
Explanation--Grandfather Gillespie’s Death--His
Father’s Library--Swimming the River--Nutting--Marvel
of Industry--School in Lancaster, Ohio--Two
Boys by the Name of James--Hon. Thomas Ewing--The
Problem of Presidents--Getting Ready for College--Contrast
with Garfield 41

III.

IN COLLEGE.

Doctor McConahy--Young Ladies’ Seminary--Entering College--
Habits--Good Teachers--Professor Murray--New
Testament in Greek--No Book-Worm--An Old
Class-Mate--College Honors--Henry Clay--“Rights
and Duties of American Citizenship”--Who Reads an
American Book 60

IV.

TEACHING IN KENTUCKY.

A Triumph--Blue Licks Military Academy--Five Hundred
Dollars--Trip to Kentucky--Stage-Coach--A Young
Lady Companion--Great Country for Quail--Georgetown--“I
am Mr. Blaine”--At Tea--Monday Morning--Hard,
Quick Work--Lexington and Frankfort--Annual
Picnic--Met his Friend--Enamored--The Future--Southern
Trip--Two Winters in New Orleans--Col.
Thorndike F. Johnson--Bushrod Johnson--Visits
Home--Richard Henry Lee--Professor Blaine 71

V.

A NEW FIELD.

President Polk--One Old Bachelor--Reading Law--Institution
for the Blind--Pine Tree State--_Kennebec Journal_--Franklin
Pierce--Colby University and Bowdoin College--Getting
Ready for Work--Editor’s Chair 95

VI.

JOURNALISM.

Master of the Situation--Henry Ward Beecher--Abolitionists--
Attack on Sumner and Greeley--Senator Fessenden--John
L. Stevens--Fifty Days--Blaine’s Old Foreman,
Howard Owen--Slave Trade--Philadelphia--Jefferson’s
Remark--Seward’s Great Speech--Momentous Period 103

VII.

IN THE LEGISLATURE.

Great Year of Republicanism--Frémont and Dayton--First
Public Effort--Editorials--Henry Wilson--_Richmond Enquirer_--
Dred Scott Case--Sells Out--Coal Lands--_Portland
Daily Advertiser_--No Vacation--Business Success--God’s
Storm--Six Times a Week--Armed to the
Teeth--Right Ways--Political Weather--Earl of Warwick--The
Aggressor--At a Stand-Still--Speaker of the
House--“Gentlemen of the House of Representatives”--Old
Wigwam at Chicago--A Firm Lincoln Man--Solid
Front--Send us Blaine--Hullo!--Gold-Bowed
Spectacles--Advancing Backward--Can a Southern State
Secede?--Glow of the Contest--Whittier’s Poem 122

VIII.

SPEAKER OF THE MAINE LEGISLATURE.

Latest from Charleston--Governor Morrill--What Did they
See?--Short-Cut Words--Ten Thousand from Maine--Will
Mr. Blaine go?--North’s History of Augusta--Colonel
Ellsworth--General Lyon--Israel Washburne, Jr.--Bloody
Work--Regiments Born in a Day--In Washington--Senate
and House Honored--All the Material
for the Campaign--This Sort of Thing--The New Year 155

IX.

SECOND TERM AS SPEAKER.

Demand for Legislation--Blockade-Runners--Fort Knox--Hog
Island--Resolutions--Hon. A. P. Gould, of Thomaston--
Opportunity for Forensic Effort--Domestic War--Great
Triumph of the Winter--Will the Negro Fight?--Only
Half a Negro--Nominated for Congress--Visits
the Old Home--Loud Calls for Mr. Blaine--Maine What?--
Republican before there was a Party--Miles Standish--Open
Letter--Love of Men 176

X.

ENTERING CONGRESS.

Life in Washington--Cliques--Passports--First Resolve--First
Bill--Test of Ability--Great Speech--Working
Members--A Slight Rebuff--Penitentiary Bill--Convention
of Governors--A Little Episode--Boutwell’s
Courtesy--New York City--After Him from all Sides--Union
National Republican Convention at Baltimore--Frémont
and Cochrane--Delegates--Dr. Robert J.
Breckenridge--Idol of the Army--Million Men in Arms--“War
a Failure”--Sixty Day’s Work in other States--No
Mountain or Sea-shore--Squirm or Cheer--His
Speeches--“Never Settled until it is Settled Right”--“Give
Me Gold”--Power with an Audience--Mr. Lincoln’s
Real Triumph 201

XI.

SECOND TERM IN CONGRESS.

Kittery to Houlton--Re-elected to Congress--Evolution--
Greenbackism--Pay in Coin--Intuition--Long Years of Study--
“I feel” and “I Know”--Befriending a Cadet--A
Civil Question--Iron Clads that Will Not Float--The
“Jeannette”--“A Cruel Mockery”--Bludgeon of
Hard, Solid Fact--“Paper Credits”--Keen Eye for
Fraud--Flag Again Flying on Fort Sumter--Unshackle
Humanity--“A Little Grievance”--Amending the Constitution--
Closing Speech--Thoroughness and Mastery 236

XII.

CONTINUED WORK IN CONGRESS.

Not McClellan, but Lincoln--Religious Character of Abraham
Lincoln--War Closed--Lincoln Murdered--Great
Review--Basis of Representation--History of Finance--A
Lively Tilt--Consistency--Amnesty--At Home
in Congress--Political Re-action--Brass--No Red-Tape--
Volunteers in the Regular Army--Fair Play--Thad.
Stevens--Strong Friendships 262

XIII.

CONGRESSIONAL CAREER CONTINUED.

On their Way Up--The Place to Look for Presidents--Drivers
of the Quill--Seed-Corn--Blaine and Logan
Then--Little Things--Cornstalks--Not Hot-Headed--Newspapers--
Europe--England’s Trade--Parliament--Home of his Ancestors--
Knowledge of French--The Rhine and Florence--Malaria in the
Bones--Studied from Life--Italy a Joy--Return--In his Seat--
Five-Twenties--Power of Analysis--National Debt--Two
Days to Reply--“Payment Suspended”--The President’s
Impeachment--Field-Work--Hard or Soft Money--Wrings
the Neck of a Heresy--New President of the Right Stamp 277

XIV.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN
CONGRESS.

No Clouds--Manhood’s Prime--Vacancy in the Speaker’s Chair--How
to Win--Trio of Leaders--Right-Hand Man--Chosen Chief--Tennyson’s
Words--A Proud Day--National Reputation--Drawing a Resolution--
Growth of Congress--Third Election to the Speakership--
Statesmanship--Political Assassination--Brigadiers by the
Score--Credit of the Fourteenth Amendment--Invite Him up--
Betrayed--Reads the Letters--Cablegram Suppressed--Eye-Witness--
Proctor Knott--Honored by Governor Connor, of Maine--Vindicated
and Endorsed by the State Legislature--Answer, ye who Can! 298

XV.

UNITED STATES SENATOR.

Sabbath Morning--Ill and Weary Time--Gail Hamilton--Colleague
of Hannibal Hamlin--One Inning Then--Galaxies by the Score--Old
Spirit of Freeness--Statue of William King--Hard Money--Commodore
Vanderbilt--Weight of the Silver Dollar--“Order”--Honoring the
Aged Soldier--Magnanimity, not Intolerance--Pensioning Jeff.
Davis--Negro Practically Disfranchised--Groups of States--
Resolutions--Contrasts and Comparisons--Peroration--White Man’s
Vote North and South 318

XVI.

BLAINE AND GARFIELD.

Forever Linked Together--Lincoln and Seward--Young Men
Together--Dark Days--Iron Chest--Breath of Battle Blew
Hottest--Beautiful Plants--Massive Heads--Future Candidates--A
Matter of Honor--Great Speech--They Crowned Him--“Command My
Services”--Political Lying--Dead Upon the Field--True as
Steel--His First, Best Friend--Clean as Well as Competent--At
His Right Hand--Love Lights the Path 337

XVII.

SECRETARY OF STATE.

Foreign Policy of the Garfield Administration--War in South
America--General Hurlbut--Chilian Authorities--The Three
Republics--Object of the Peace Congress--William Henry
Trescot--Received a Vindication--A Beautiful Prophecy--Lincoln
and Blaine--Clayton-Bulwer Treaty--Servant of his Genius--The
Assassin’s Bullet 351

XVIII.

HOME LIFE OF MR. BLAINE.

“Letters to the Joneses”--Home a Republic--Why Not Shine on?--
Brown House on Green Street--Come and See Me--Pound of Steak--
“James! James!”--“Must not Work so Hard”--Every Vote in
America--A Baby-Boy--Sorrow--Six Children--“Owen, Have You a
Quarter?”--A Good Joke--The Family Pew--Bible-Class Teacher--His
Old Pastors--More Copy--The Man, Not the Clothes--Stranger to
Storms--State-street Home--Press-Excursions--Bright Side of
Things--No Liquors--Home-Life at its Zenith--Photographs--The
Hammock--The Coolest of the Company 362

XIX.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MR. BLAINE.

A Business Man’s Estimate--Incident Showing Versatility--
Curiosity--Humor--Coolness and Self-Possession--Retentive
Memory--Genuineness and Simplicity--Scene with a Malicious
Reporter--Great-Heartedness--Lover of Fair Play--Sense of
Honor--Industry--Sympathy for Misfortune--Caution--A Singular
Habit--Vigorous Exercise--Punctuality--General Resume 384

XX.

NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT.

A Steady March Upward--Campaigns of 1876 and 1880--His Loyalty
under Defeat--The Great Convention of 1884--Organization and
Preliminaries--Maine’s Favorite Son Presented--Twelve Thousand
People Cheering--Exciting Scenes--The First Ballot--Gains for
Blaine--The People’s Choice--A Whirlwind of Vociferous
Applause--Blaine’s Nomination Made Unanimous--The Evening
Session--Gen. John A. Logan for Vice-President 402