Robert G. Ingersoll, of Illinois, looking young fellow, not at all prepos- | vey, who is now superintendent of Public sessing in appearance, and exceedingly Instruction in Wheeling, West Virginia. awkward at times, and giving no hint of During his college life he was noted for the elegant gentleman he has grown to excellence in Latin and mathematics, and be. He was never seen on the street or also in logic and political economy. playground and but rarely mingled in the customary sports of the boys. I remember we had a very fine foot-ball ground, but I never remember to have seen young Blaine on it. In fact, I cannot say for certain that I ever saw him engaged in any kind of sport during the entire time I was at college. It is my impression that he passed all his leisure at home or in one of the college halls with a book. He was a great reader, almost a bookworm, and would become absorbed to a wonderful degree in his books. A friend and acquaintance of Mr. Blaine, in speaking of his early life, and of the utter lack of any precociousness says: "As a remarkable contrast to Blaine, I remember Nicholas Watterman, of Blaine's class. He was the brightest and smartest in his class, receiving every prize and honor that was offered. Brilliant in debate and oratory, he never failed to represent his class in oratorical contests and invariably won every debate he engaged in. On commencement day he graduated with the very highest honors of his class, and seemed to have every assurance of future renown, while Blaine was some distance from the head. Strange to say, after leaving college he went into the commission business, made a fortune, squandered it and died a miserable death, while Blaine, his humble rival, went on and developed into the superb orator and statesman he is now. It seemed to be the universal rule in those days at Washington College that the brightest pupils never rose above mediocrity, while some of the dullest pupils made a name and position for themselves." Mr. Blaine's college guardian was Hon. John H. Ewing, who was at that time the member of Congress from that district, and who still lives and will cast his vote for his distinguished ward. The graduating class consisted of thirtythree members, and Mr. Blaine divided the honors of the class with John C. Har In the National Republican Convention at Cincinnati, "Massachusetts may be satisfied with the loyalty of Benjamin H. Bristow; so am I; but if any man nominated by this convention cannot carry the State of Massachusetts, I am not satisfied with the loyalty of that State. If the nominee of this convention cannot carry the grand old Commonwealth of Massachusetts by seventy-five thousand majority, I would advise them to sell out Faneuil Hall as a Democratic headquarters. I would advise them to take from Bunker Hill that old monument of glory. "The Republicans of the United States demand as their leader in the great contest of 1876 a man of intelligence, a man of integrity, a man of well-known and approved political opinions. They demand a reformer after as well as before the election. They demand a politician in the highest, broadest and best sense-a man of superb moral courage. They demand a man acquainted with public affairs, with the wants of the people; with not only the requirements of the hour, but with the demands of the future. They demand a man broad enough to comprehend the relations of this government to the other nations of the earth. They demand a man well versed in the powers, duties, and prerogatives of each and every department of this Government. They demand a man who will sacredly preserve the financial honor of the United States; one who knows enough to know that the national debt must be paid through the prosperity of this people; one who knows enough to know that all the financial theories in the world cannot redeem a single dollar; one who knows enough to know that all the money must be made, not by law, but by labor; one who knows enough to know that the people of the United States have the industry to make the money and the honor to pay it over just as fast as they make it. The Republicans of the United States demand a man who knows that prosperity and resumption, when they come must come together; that when they come, they will come hand in hand through the golden harvest fields; hand in hand by the whirling spindles and the turning wheels; hand in hand past the open furnace doors; hand in hand by the flaming forges; hand in hand by the chimneys filled with eager fire-greeted and grasped by the countless sons of toil. 'This money has to be dug out of the earth. You cannot make it by passing resolutions in a political convention. "The Republicans of the United States want a man who knows that this Government should protect every citizen, at home and abroad; who knows that any government that will not defend its defenders, and protect its protectors, is a disgrace to the map of the world. They demand a man who believes in the eternal separation and divorcement of Church and School. They demand a man whose political reputation is spotless as a star; but they do not demand that their candidate shall have a certificate of moral character signed by a Confederate Congress. The man who has, in full, heaped and rounded measure, all these splendid qualifications, is the present grand and gallant leader of the Republican party-James G. Blaine. drink from the fountains of enthusiasm ; a year in which the people call for a man who has preserved in Congress what our soldiers won upon the field; a year in which they call for the man who has torn from the throat of treason the tongue of slander; for the man who has snatched the mask of Democracy from the hideous face of rebellion; for the man who, like an intellectual athlete, has stood in the arena of debate and challenged all comers, and who is still a total stranger to defeat. "Like an armed warrior, like a plumed knight, James G. Blaine marched down the halls of the American Congress, and threw his shining lance full and fair against the brazen foreheads of the defamers of his country and the maligners of his honor. 'Gentlemen of the convention, in the name of the great Republic, the only Republic that ever existed upon the earth; in the name of all her defenders and of all her supporters; in the name of all her soldiers living; in the name of all her soldiers dead upon the field of battle, and in the name of those who perished in the skeleton clutch of famine at Andersonville and Libby, whose sufferings he so vividly remembers, Illinois-Illinois nominates for the next President of this country, that prince of parliamentarians-that leader of leaders-James G Blaine." Maine sent us to this magnificent Convention with a memory of her own salvation from impending peril fresh upon her. To you representatives of 50,000,000 of the American people who have met here to counsel how the Republic can be saved, she says, Representatives of the people, take the man, the true man, the staunch man, for your leader, who has just saved me, and he will bring you to safety and certain victory." " Frye Nominating Blaine. In the Chicago Convention, 1880. In life was performed by voting for the nomination of that inspired emancipator, the first Republican President of the United States. [Applause.] Four and twenty I once saw a storm at sea in the nighttime; an old ship battling for its life with the fury of the tempest; darkness every- years of the grandest history of recorded where; the winds raging and howling; times has distinguished the ascendency of the huge waves beating on the sides of the the Republican party. The skies have ship, and making her shiver from stem to lowered and reverses have threatened, but stern. The lightning was flashing, the our flag is still there, waving above the thunders rolling; there was danger everymansion of the Presidency, not a stain on where. I saw at the helm, a bold, coura- its folds, not a cloud on its glory. Whether geous, immovable, commanding man. it shall maintain that grand ascendency. the tempest, calm; in the commotion, depends upon the action of this council. quiet; in the danger, hopeful. I saw him With bated breath a Nation awaits the take the old ship and bring her into her result. On it are fixed the eyes of twenty harbor, into still waters, into safety. That millions of Republican freemen in the man was a hero. [Applause.] I saw the North. On it, or to it, rather, are stretched good old ship of State, the State of Maine, forth the imploring hands of ten millions within the last year, fighting her way of political bondsmen of the South [apthrough the same waves, against the plause], while above, from the portals of dangers. She was freighted with all that light, is looking down the immortal spirit is precious in the principles of our repub- of the immortal martyr who first bore it to lic; with the rights of the American citi- victory, bidding to us Hail and God speed. zenship, with all that is guaranteed to the [Applause.] Six times in six campaigns American citizen by our Constitution. The has that banner triumphed that symbol eyes of the whole nation were on her, and of union, freedom, humanity and progress intense anxiety filled every American heart lest the grand old ship, the "State of Maine," might go down beneath the waves forever, carrying her precious freight with her. But there was a man at the helm, calm, deliberate, commanding, sagacious; he made even the foolish man wise; courageous, he inspired the timid with courage; hopeful, he gave heart to the dismayed, and he brought that good old ship safely into harbor, into safety; and she floats to-day greater, purer, stronger for her baptism of danger. That man too, was heroic, and his name was James G. Blaine. [Loud cheers.] Judge West Nominates Blaine After the chairman had succeeded in producing comparative quiet, Judge West, of Ohio, was introduced. The sensation was intense and the interest in Mr. West on account of his commanding presence, and sympathy for his infirmity, brought all to silence throughout the vast hall. Judge West said: As a delegate in the Chicago Convention of 1860, the proudest service of my sometime borne by that silent man of destiny, the Wellington of American arms [wild applause], last by him at whose untimely taking off a Nation swelled the funeral cries and wept above great Garfield's grave. [Cheers and applause]. Shall that banner triumph again? Commit it to the bearing of that chief [a voice, "James G. Blaine of Maine," cheers]-commit it to the bearing of that chief, the inspiration of whose illustrious character and great name will fire the hearts of our young men, stir the blood of our manhood and rekindle the fervor of the veterans, and the closing of the seventh campaign will see that holy ensign spanning the sky like a bow of promise. [Cheers.] Political conditions are changed since the accession of the Republican party to power. The mighty issues of the freedom and bleeding humanity which convulsed the continent and aroused the Republic, rallied, united and inspired the forces of patriotism and the forces of humanity in one consolidated phalanx, have ceased their contentions. The subordinate issues resulting therefrom are settled and buried away with the dead issues of the past. The arms of the Solid South are James A. Garfield. [Applause.] A man against us. Not an electoral gain can be expected from that section. If the triumph come, the Republican States of the North must furnish the conquering battalions from the farm, the anvil and the loom, from the mines, the workshop and the desk, from the hut of the trapper on the snowy Sierras, from the hut of the fisherman on the banks of the Hudson. The Republican States must furnish these conquering battalions if triumph comes. What Political Wisdom Dictates. for whom the Senators and rivals will vote, the Secretary of State of the United States is good enough for a plain flesh and blood God's people to vote for President. [Loud applause.] Who shall be our candidate? [Cries of "Blaine," "Arthur" and "Logan." A loud voice yelled above the tumult, Give us "Black Jack," and we will elect him. When quiet was somewhat restored the speaker continued.] Not the representative of a particular interest of a particular class. Send the great proclamation to the country labelled "The Doctor's Candidate," "The Lawyer's Candidate," " The Wall Street Candidate," and the hand of resurrection would not fathom his November grave. [Applause.] citizenship as the passport to every right, privilege and consideration at home or abroad, whether under the sky of Bismarck, under the Palmetto, under the Pelican or on the banks of the Mohawk, that Republicanism that regards with dissatisfaction a despotism which under the "sic semper tyrannis" of the old Dominion emulates, by slaughter, popular majorities in the name of Democracy-a Republicanism as embodied and stated in the platform of principles this day adopted by your Convention, Does not sound, political wisdom dictate and demand that a leader shall be given to them whom our people will follow, not as conscripts advancing by funereal marches to certain defeat, but a grand civic hero, whom the souls of the Gentlemen, he must be a representative of people desire, and whom they will follow that Republicanism that demands the abwith all the enthusiasm of volunteers, as solute political, as well as personal, emanthey sweep on and onward to certain vic- cipation and enfranchisement of mankind tory [Cheers], a representative of Ameri-a representative of that Republicanism can manhood [applause], a representative which recognizes the stamp of American of that living Republicanism that demands the amplest industrial protection and opportunity whereby labor shall be enabled to earn and eat the bread of independent employment, relieved of mendicant competition with pauper Europe or pagan China? [Loud applause.] In this contention of forces, to whose candidate shall be intrusted our battle flags? Citizens, I am not here to do it, and may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I do abate one tithe from the just fame, integrity and public honor of Chester A. Arthur, our President. [Applause.] I Gentlemen, such a representative Reabate not one tithe from the just fame and publican is James G. Blaine, of Maine. If public integrity of George F. Edmunds nominated to-night his campaign would [applause], of Joseph R. Hawley [ap- commence to morrow and continue until plause], of John Sherman [applause], of victory is assured. [Cheers.] There would that grand old black eagle of Illinois. be no powder burned to fire into the backs [Here the speaker was interrupted several of his leaders. It would only be exploded moments by prolonged applause.] And I to illuminate the inauguration. The brazen am proud to know that these distinguished throats of the cannon in yonder square, Senators whom I have named have borne waiting to herald the result of the convenlike testimony to the public life, the public tion, would not have time to cool before character, and the public integrity of him his name would be caught up on ten whose confirmation brought him to the thousand tongues of electric flame. It highest office-second in dignity to the would sweep down from the Old Pine Tree office of the President only himself—the State. It would go over the hills and first premiership in the administration of valleys of New England. IN MEMORIAM. Hon. James G. Blaine's Oration on Presi- THE GRAND MORAL OF HIS CAREER. and that body headed by its officers, entered and took their assigned seats. The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, in their robes of office, came next, and were followed by President Arthur and his Cabinet. The President took the front seat on the right of the Presiding Officer's chair, next to that occupied by Cyrus W. Field. Senator Sherman and Representative McKinley (Ohio) occupied seats at the desk on the right and left of the orator of the day. Mr. West, the British Minister, was the only member of the Diplomatic Corps who did not wear the court uniform. At ten o'clock the doors of the House of Representatives were opened to holders of tickets for the memorial services, and in less than half an hour the galleries were filled, a large majority of the spectators being ladies, mostly in black. There were no signs of mourning in the hall, even the full-length portrait of the late President, James Abram Garfield, painted by E. F. Andrews, of Washington, being undraped. The three front rows of desks had been replaced by chairs to accommodate the invited guests, and the Marine Band was the Rotunda and in the various corridors stationed in the lobby, back of the Speak-leading to the gallery. er's desk. Among the distinguished guests first to arrive were George Bancroft, W. W. Corcoran, Cyrus Field and Admiral Worden, who took seats directly in front of the clerk's desk. Among the guests who occupied seats upon the floor were General Schenck, Governor Hoyt, of Pennsylvania; Foster, of Ohio; Porter, of Indiana; Hamilton, of Maryland, and Bigelow, of Connecticut, and Adjutant General Harmine, of Connecticut. A delegation of gentlemen from the Society of the Army of the Cumberland acted as ushers at the main entrance to At 12:30 the orator of the day was announced, and after a short prayer by the Chaplain of the House, F. D. Power, president Davis said: "This day is dedicated by Congress for memorial services of the late President of the United States, James A. Garfield. I present to you the Hon. James G. Blaine, who has been fitly chosen as the orator for this historical occasion." Mr. Blaine then rose, and standing at the clerk's desk, immediately in front of the two presiding officers, proceeded, with impressiveness of manner and clearness of tone, to deliver his eulogy from manuscript, as follows: Mr. Blaine's Oration. At 11:30, Generals Sherman, Sheridan, Hancock, Howard and Meigs, and Admirals Ammen and Rodgers entered at the north door of the chamber and were assigned seats to the left of the Speaker's desk, and a few moments later, the members of the Diplomatic Corps, in full regalia, were ushered in, headed by the Hawaiian Minister, as dean of the Corps. The Supreme Court of the District, headed by Marshal Henry, arrived next. Mrs. Blaine occupied a front seat in the gallery, reserved for friends of the President. At twelve o'clock the House was called to order by Speaker Keifer, and prayer was offered by the Chaplain. The Speaker then announced that the House was as sembled and ready to perform its part in the memorial services, and the resolutions when brother had been reconciled to to that effect were read by Clerk McPher- brother, and when anger and hate had son. At 12:10, the Senate was announced, been banished from the land. "Whoever MR. PRESIDENT: For the second time in this generation the great departments of the Government of the United States are assembled in the Hall of Representatives to do honor to the memory of a murdered President. Lincoln fell at the close of a mighty struggle in which the passions of men had been deeply stirred. The tragical termination of his great life added but another to the lengthened succession of horrors which had marked so many lintels with the blood of the firstborn. Garfield was slain in a day of peace, |