Blaine, James Gillespie

James Gillespie (1830-1893), an American statesman. He was born in Pennsylvania near Pittsburg. His father was a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian; his mother a Catholic. As a lad he had strong likings for debate, literature, and history. He was educated at Washington College. He studied law, and later opened an office in Augusta, Maine. His facility for public speaking drew him into journalism and politics at once. He was a member of the convention of 1856 that nominated Fremont for the presidency. He served in the state legislature and represented Maine in Congress for twenty years. He was speaker of the House from 1869-1874, and won a reputation for ability and dispatch of business, second only to that of Thomas B. Reed in later times. In 1876 Blaine was a candidate for the presidency, but was defeated by Hayes. He opposed the appointment of the electoral commission on the ground that it extended the powers of Congress. In 1880 he was again a candidate for the presidency, but was defeated by the forces of Roscoe Conkling, his political enemy. The prize went to Garfield who made Blaine secretary of state. Upon the assassination of President Garfield, Vice-President Arthur, a political ally of Conkling, became president and Blaine resigned. In 1884 he was again a candidate for the Republican nomination. This time he won in the convention. Despite the facts of Blaine's parentage and that he himself was decidedly noncommittal in denominational matters, a blundering clergyman in New York state made the assertion in a congratulatory address that a vote against Blaine was a vote for "Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion." This cry was taken up by political opponents, and it is claimed carried the state by a small margin for Cleveland, insuring the latter's election to the presidency. Andrew D. White maintains that the state was lost to Blaine anyhow, and that the oft told tale of how Blaine lost New York and the presidency is without sound foundation. During Blaine's long public career, he was a staunch supporter of the Union cause. He favored bimetalism, that is to say, the circulation of gold and silver on an equal basis. He advocated paying bounties to the builders of American ships and labored for reciprocity, or an exchange of goods between neighboring countries without the payment of prohibitive duties. During his service as speaker of the House he was accused of having a financial interest in government contracts. The charge was not proved, but it hurt his standing in political life. In point of eminence, ability, and political disappointment he may be mentioned in connection with Webster, Clay, Seward, and Douglas. Blaine's later years were spent in preparing a work which he called Twenty Years in Congress.