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—VictoryPage21II.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 Garfield41III.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 Book60IV.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 Blaine71V.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 Chair95VI.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 Period103VII.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 Poem122VIII.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 Year155IX.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 Men176X.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 Triumph201XI.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 Mastery236XII.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 Friendships262XIII.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 Stamp277XIV.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!298XV.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 theAged Soldier—Magnanimity, not Intolerance—Pensioning Jeff. Davis—Negro Practically Disfranchised—Groups of States—Resolutions—Contrasts and Comparisons—Peroration—White Man’s Vote North and South318XVI.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 Path337XVII.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 Bullet351XVIII.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—NoLiquors—Home-Life at its Zenith—Photographs—The Hammock—The Coolest of the Company362XIX.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 Resume384XX.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-President402XXI.GEN. JOHN A. LOGAN.His Birth—Parentage—Youth—Slight Educational Opportunities—Shiloh Academy—Enlistment for the Mexican War—Fearlessness—Promotion—Additional Studies—Enters on the Profession of Law—Clerk of Jackson County—Prosecuting Attorney—In the Legislature—Presidential Elector—On the Stump—A False Allegation—Surrounded by Rebel Sympathizers—Lincoln’s Election—In Congress—Raises a Regiment—Brilliant Career in the Army—Rapid Elevation—Major-Generalwithin a Year—“I Have Entered the Field to Die, if Need be”—At the Head of the Fifteenth Army Corps—“Atlanta to the Sea”—Lincoln’s Second Election—Johnston’s Surrender—The Grand Review—Resignation from the Service—Declines Mission to Mexico—Repeated Elections to Congress—On the Impeachment Committee—Chosen United States Senator—His Eloquence—Helps Found the Grand Army of the Republic—First National Commander—Action on Financial Measures—His Modest Mode of Life—A Noble Wife—His Children—Stalwart Supporter of General Grant—Nominated for the Vice-Presidency—Conclusion409
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—VictoryPage21II.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 Garfield41III.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 Book60IV.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 Blaine71V.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 Chair95VI.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 Period103VII.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 Poem122VIII.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 Year155IX.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 Men176X.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 Triumph201XI.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 Mastery236XII.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 Friendships262XIII.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 Stamp277XIV.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!298XV.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 theAged Soldier—Magnanimity, not Intolerance—Pensioning Jeff. Davis—Negro Practically Disfranchised—Groups of States—Resolutions—Contrasts and Comparisons—Peroration—White Man’s Vote North and South318XVI.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 Path337XVII.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 Bullet351XVIII.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—NoLiquors—Home-Life at its Zenith—Photographs—The Hammock—The Coolest of the Company362XIX.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 Resume384XX.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-President402XXI.GEN. JOHN A. LOGAN.His Birth—Parentage—Youth—Slight Educational Opportunities—Shiloh Academy—Enlistment for the Mexican War—Fearlessness—Promotion—Additional Studies—Enters on the Profession of Law—Clerk of Jackson County—Prosecuting Attorney—In the Legislature—Presidential Elector—On the Stump—A False Allegation—Surrounded by Rebel Sympathizers—Lincoln’s Election—In Congress—Raises a Regiment—Brilliant Career in the Army—Rapid Elevation—Major-Generalwithin a Year—“I Have Entered the Field to Die, if Need be”—At the Head of the Fifteenth Army Corps—“Atlanta to the Sea”—Lincoln’s Second Election—Johnston’s Surrender—The Grand Review—Resignation from the Service—Declines Mission to Mexico—Repeated Elections to Congress—On the Impeachment Committee—Chosen United States Senator—His Eloquence—Helps Found the Grand Army of the Republic—First National Commander—Action on Financial Measures—His Modest Mode of Life—A Noble Wife—His Children—Stalwart Supporter of General Grant—Nominated for the Vice-Presidency—Conclusion409