BLAINE, JavEs Gnu:spin, b. Mass., 1830. His first education was in the common schools, and at the age of 17 he graduated at Washington college in Pennsylvania. Very soon afterwards he removed to Maine, became a writer on the 'Kennebec Journal, one of the leading papers of the state, and within a brief period the editor of the Portland Adrertiser, .one of the' oldest and most influential papers in the east. Ile was an able andneeomplished writer, and won an excellent reputation. In the natural course of ealiCrial life he became a politician, and identified himself with the republican from its commencement. His first political advancement was to the lower house of the Maine legislature, where he served four years with honor, and increased his rising fame. In his third term he was elected speaker, and so continued for two years. At the out break of the war of the rebellion he was among the earliest and most zealous in advocat ing a vigorous course on the part of the governinent, and was especially active in raising and organizing troops for the union army. In 1662, he was elected to congress as a republican, and immediately took a place in the front ranks of the party's representatives. Ibis support of the war to preserve the union was no less zealous than that of senator Morton; the preservation of the union was his controlling idea, and he urged it with all Lis power. ile was re-elected in 1864, in 1866, and in 1868. When the struggle was
over he was conspicuous in the measures for reconstruction, and he was the author of the proviso that any state in the south should have a full restoration of its original rights and privileges upon the sole condition that it should ratify the amendments to the con stitution. 'During the presidential canvass of 1868, he was among the foremost and most effective of republican advocates, and had the pleasure of carrying his own state by a larger majority than was ever before given for a presidential candidate. In the same year, he was re-chosen to congress by an immense majority. His six years of serv ice in the house of representatives made him the proper successor for speaker, and he 'ivas elected. His nomination was made by Elihu B. Washburne, of Illinois, and the vote w-as—for Blaine, 136; for Kerr (democrat). 57. In 1876, he was elected to the U. S. senate, where be is now one of the most conspicuous members. While this article is in construction Mr. Blaine stands among tile foremost of those NOM are considered probable nominees of the republican party for president of the United States. There are in him certain elements of magnetism that have been unknown since the days of Henry Clay, and no public man has a more ardent and enthusiastic following.