Life and work of James G. Blaine ...

Front matter

,0

.0^

A'

Chapter I

Concerning Birthplaces — The point of origin a matter of indifference — The man makes his own birthplace — Descent determines character — Birthplace of Blaine — Sketch of the epoch of his appearance — Setting of events for that day — The Blaine family^ Colonel Ephraim Blaine — His descendants — Ephraim L,. Blaine in particular — The home in Cumberland Valley — Maria Gillespie — The religious question in the family — Removal of Ephraim L. Blaine to Western Pennsylvania — His resources and character — Condition of the country — Education and dispositions of the elder Blaine — First training of James Gillespie — Indian Hill Farm — Present condition of the old house and surroundings — Captain Van Hook and his traditions — Narrative of J. E. Adams — Blaine's early aptitudes — Home training of the bo}' — Celtic influences — Early impressions and culture — Mother's influence — First connection with the Ewings — Blaine and Thomas Ewing, Jr. — James' earliest ambitions — Paternal policy respecting him — Blaine in school at Lancaster — The two youths select their colleges — Lyons chosen as a tutor — He prepares the boys for collegiate training — Traditions of Blaine's school days at West Brownsville — What might have been and what not — Story of the boy's readiness — Jefferson College and Washington and JeSerson College — Story of the founding of these institutions — College life and tradition — Gow's account of Blaine in his college days — Fallacy of the classmate — Blaine's superiority as a student — His preferences in study^Plutarch in particular — Mathematical aptitude — A bom debater — The College Literary Society— Usurpation of the Greek fraternity — Blaine's superioritj' in forensics — Story of Hamilton — Appearance of young Blaine in youth — His rank at graduation — Condition of affairs at date of graduation — Opinions and events of the day — The Mexican question in particular —

Beginning of slavery' propagandism — Close of the j-outhful period, 33~4-9

(ix)

X CONTENTS.

Chapter II. Initial Passages

Evolution of Individual Character — Blaine a possible teacher — Influence of instructors

in determining pnrsuits — Choice of Kentuck}- as a scene of action — The Western Military Institute — Personnel and character of the school — Prevalence of such institutions in the South — Blaine makes the acquaintance of Harriet Stanwood — His character as a teacher — His relations with the students — He contemplates another profession — Death of his father — He marries Miss Stanwood — The Stanwood family — Further career at Blue Lick Springs — Resigns his position and goes to Philadelphia — Begins the study of law — Enters the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind — Doctor Chapin's narrative of Blaine's entrance into the school — Character of that institution — Early beginning of Blaine in manly work — His success as an instructor in Philadelphia— Sketch of the Pennsylvania Institution — Blaine's journal of the school— Extracts therefrom — Excellent character of the record— Michael Williams and his narratives regarding Blaine— Habits of Blaine and his wife in their intercourse with the students — Blaine's personal methods — Notice of David Wood — Note of Mr. Frank Battles — Blaine continues his legal studies — He resigns from the institution — Letter of George Edward Reed — Question of pennanent location — Blaine chooses Augusta — His preferences for writing — He becomes an editor in Maine — Philosophy of location as affecting the careers of public men — Advantages and disadvantages of various States — The doubtful States and the certain— The position of Maine considered — Character of the old leadership in the LTnited States— Deaths of Clay and Webster — Blaine advantaged and disadvantaged in his location — He becomes editor of the Kennebec Journal — The firm of Baker and Blaine — Legal life and editorial life — Blaine a natural politician — His equipment for a public career — Political character of the epoch— Death of the Whig party — Anarchy in politics — Know-nothingism — Domination of negro slavery— The year 1854— "Tom's Cabin" and Helper's "Crisis" — Intellectual warfare — Voice of the AboHtionist — Birth of a new pohtical party— The political animal — How he ranks himself— Natural attitudes of parties — Blaine one of the insurgents— In at the birth of the Republican party- Free Kansas — Blaine's manner and method as an editor — Intelligence of the Maine folk — The old editorial and the new — Files of the Keimebec foiinial—V^TLXx'^cX.s therefrom — Blaine's article on Hannibal Hamlin — His praise of that .statesman for his attitude on the Kansas question — Article on the Topeka Constitution — Controversy with the Age newspaper respecting that instrument — Editorial on Border Ruffianism in Maine — Criticism of the Southern leaders — Blaine's antagonism to the slave trade — The flag with eighteen stars — Editorial on the State election of 1856 — Review of national questions — Forecast of Fremont's election — Appeal to Maine to speak for liberty — Review of the situation in Massachusetts— Political predictions of the

result of the presidential election — Editorial on the contest in Peimsylvania — Shrewd calculations in regard to results in that State— Blaine's letters from the contested field — Communication from Pittsburgh— His enthusiastic predictions in favor of the Union party — Sharp editorial comments on political conditions— The Philadelphia letter of October — The candidates and issues handled, with estimates of strength and .summary of results — Predictions as to divisions in the electoral college — Editorial of August in reply to an attack made by the Age — Editorial work leads to political aspirations — Blaine's timidity — His first experience as a leader — His address on returning from the National Convention of 1856— His manner and success — Philosophy of the maiden effort — His hot work in the Kennebec Joimial—E'OxXy beginning for a statesman — Breakers ahead — Blaine sells his new.spaper interest — Becomes editor of the Portland Daily Advertiser — Is chosen to the Maine Legislature — His manner as a speaker —

CONTENTS. xi

PAGE

Begins to assert himself in leadership — Twice re-elected to the House of Representatives — Is made Speaker — The daj' of trausfonnation — Kansas war — The Dred Scott decision — John Brown, of Ossawattomie — The disunion drama opens — The Union must preser^'e itself — Questions before the Maine Legislature — Resolutions in support of the Government — Opposition of Gould, of Thomaston — Blaine's speech in reph' — He discusses the war power of the nation — Interprets the Constitution — Suppremacy claimed for Congress — That bodj' compared with the House of Commons — Citation from Vattel — The Government maj- rightfully make war on seceded States — Maj- take back her ports — Sumner's position upheld in argument — Able summarj-, with citations from American statesmen — Blaine a rising man — His power of study and investigation — Is appointed Prison Commissioner and State printer — In the Republican National Convention of i860 — Supports Lincoln — Circumstances hedge his waj' — Is elected to Congress in 1862 — Condition of the countr}' at that time, . . 50-98

CHAPTER HI.

I.IFE IN CONGRESS — FIRST PERIOD.

Comments on the "New Member" — Opening of the Thirty-eighth Congress — Personnel of that body — Blaine's appearance and manner — Remarks of others respecting him — How he regarded himself — Difficulties in beginning a congressional career — Blaine and Garfield — Both have the habit of work — Little speaking at first — Blaine begins to emerge — Crisis of the Civil War — Questions that came with it — Money and tariff — Blaine's speech in answer to Sunset Cox — He becomes a sharp debater — Progress of political events — McClellan a candidate for the Presidencj' — Paradox of the Democratic position — Re-election of Lincoln — Blaine renominated for Congress — His letter of acceptance — He discusses national questions therein — Stands strongly by the Government, and advocates the presentation of the Union by force — In the Thirty-ninth Congress — End of the war — Old basis of representation — The negro shall be counted — Blaine's speech on the new basis — Political complexion of affairs — Leadership of Henr\' Winter Davis — Competitors for his cloak — Notice of Roscoe Conkling — His rivalry with Blaine — The break of 1866 — Altercation in Congress — Account of the great battle between the leaders — Narrative of S. S. Cox — Blaine's sarcasm — ■ The abyss opens between him and Conkling — Measures advocated bj^ the former in Congress — The money issue in particular — He takes a middle ground — Account of the struggle between paper money and coin — Interests of the debtor and creditor classes — Blaine advocates the honest dollar — He seeks to promote commerce — His studies, readings and conclusions — Travels abroad — Comments of the Rockland Dejnocrat on his renomination to Congress — Blaine becomes popular at Washington — His fame blown abroad — Makes no mistakes — Measures in which he interested himself — His success in the Fortieth Congress — Re-elected in 1S68 — Chosen to the Speakership — Review of his career and rise to distinction 99-114

Chapter IV. In The Speakership

Significance of an Election to the Speakership — Temper of the House with respect thereto — Comparison of Clay, Colfax and Blaine — Elements of superiority in the latter — Balancing of merits between him and Clay — Popularitj^ of each — So-called personal magnetism — Warmth of great leaders — Contrast of the Speaker and President Grant — Respective influence of the two officers — Conkling's relations to both — His ascendancy over the President — Originating power of the Speaker — Fine qualities exhibited by Blaine — Life of a congressman — Duties of the Speaker — How they may be met — Blaine's temperance and industry — Condition of affairs in the South — The xii CONTENTS.

I

PAGE

"Act to strengthen the pubhc credit" — Blaine's influence in relation thereto — Heupholds the dominant policy — Republicanism inherits the negro — Failure of the latter to be transformed by freedom — The symposium on the disfranchisement of the blacks — Should suffrage be universal ? — Increase of Blaine's reputation — Rivals and rivalries — The credit mobilier — Republican party on the defensive — Resolution of endorsement at close of Blaine's first term — He is re-elected Speaker — His contest with B. F. Butler — Question at issue and Blaine's speech — Resolutions of confidence — Political reaction of 1874 — A Democratic majority in the House — Blaine's speech on retiring from the Speakership — His comments on the ofiice — He is returned to Congress — The Presidency rises on the view 115-126

Chapter V. Contests For The Presidency

Elaine in the Forty-fourth Congress— The House and the Senate as arenas of political ambition — Condition of affairs in the South — Return of the Confederates to Congress — Blaine makes himself champion of Republican sentiment — His debate with Hill on the proposed amnesty of Jefferson Davis — He charges the Confederate President with responsibility for the horrors of Andersonville — Blaine's name mentioned for the Presidency — Question of the railroad bonds was raised — Disposition of the times to kill off public men with charges of corruption — Blaine's defence of himself—His connection with the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad — History of the transaction — Blaine denies complicity, and speaks on the subject in Congress — Spectacle of the Mulligan letter day — Blaine a candidate before the National Convention of 1S76 — Organization of that body — Competitors for the prize — Roscoe Conkling — Benjamin H. Bristow — Oliver P. Morton — Rutherford B. Hayes — Story of the Convention — Ingersoll's nominating speech — Result of the Convention — Nomination of Hayes — Blaine's telegram — He participates in the canvass — The disputed Presidency — The Electoral Commission — Blaine's health — He is appointed to the Senate of the United States — His letter to his constituents — An aspirant for the Presidency — Changed and changing political conditions — Project for the re-election of General Grant — Discussion of the third-term question — Grant's relations thereto — Assembling of the Republican Convention of 1880 — Marshaling of forces — Blaine the favorite— His competitors — The break for Garfield — Nomination of the latter for the Presidency — Blaine supports him, and he is chosen — ^The former appointed Secretary of State — Friendship of himself and the President — The assassination and its results — • Blaine resigns from the Cabinet — Return of the Presidential year — The field for 18S4 — Sherman, Arthur and Blaine — The Chicago Convention — List of the contestants — Blaine carries the day — Enthusiasm over the result — Telegram from Mrs.

Garfield — Blaine's address accepting the nomination — Campaign of 1884 — Upheaval of scandals — Blaine's visit to New York City — The Burchard incident and its effects — Defeat of the Republican candidate — Blaine's retiracy to private life — His residences in Washington and Maine — Devotes himself to literary pursuits — Value of his historical productions — Anecdote of General Grant — Blaine's speech after his defeat — He takes part in the campaign of 18S6 — Moderation of his views on the tariff question—Will he again stand for the Presidency ? — The spell of his name — Story of the Florence letter— Presidential contest of 1 888— Candidates before the Republican Convention — Nomination of Harrison — Break in Blaine's vitality — His reasons for not appearing in the contest of 1888— He is again appointed Secretary of State — Retires from the position — Embarrassing conditions of 1S92 — The last eclipse — Defeat of the favorite at Minneapolis — His weakened condition — Fame follows him into private life 127-156

CONTENTS. xiii

PAGE

Chapter VI. In Senate And Cabinet

Condition of Affairs on Blaine's Entrance into the Senate — Character of that body — Comparison of the two Houses — "No mercy here" — Quiet of the Senate chamber — Preparation for service in the Upper House — Blaine's qualifications — His temper with respect to senatorial service — His relation to the Tilden- Hayes contest — Views of the statesman on the remonetization of silver — History of that question — Struggle between the fund-holding and producing classes — Exposition of the dollar — Omission of the American dollar from the list of coins — Blaine's thesis on the question — His interest on other topics — The commerce of the United States — He favors the restoration of American commerce — Summary of his position on the subject — Wherein he may be praised — The Halifax fishery award — Strange provision of the Treaty of Washington — Provision for the appointment of the umpire — Delfosse's position in the court — He decides against the United States — The principle of arbitration upheld — Apparition of the solid South — Question of troops at the polls — Issue of Chinese immigration — Character of the Chinese — History of the relations between the United States and China — The Chinese labor trade — Danger of an invasion — Abrogation of the Burlingame Treaty — Formation of a new international compact — Blaine's distinguished place in the Senate — His letter to Garfield accepting a place in the Cabinet — Admirable temper of the communication — Foreign policy of the Garfield administration as explained by Blaine — Project of a Peace Congress — Interval between the first and second service in the Cabinet — Harrison reappoints him Secretary of State — He renews his policies — Extent of his international correspondence — Death of his children, Walker and Alice — Anecdote b}' Bishop Hurst — Break in Blaine's health — His personal appearance and habit — Will he again stand for the Presidency ? — Vexatious relations with the administration — Blaine retires from the Cabinet — Failure in Minneapolis, 157-172

Chapter VII. The International American Conference

A Peace Congress of the American States — It is held under Blaine's auspices — His address of welcome — His summary of the nations represented — Hope of establishing confidence and friendship among them — Theory that the American nations ought to abide in sympathy — Outline of beliefs and sentiments — Subjects to be presented at ^

the Conference — The address the highest expression of Blaine's statesmanship — Nations represented, and list of delegates — Blaine chosen President of the Conference — The committees appointed — Extent and variety of the subjects discussed — Report of Committee on Weights and Measures — Amendment to the same — Report ^ of Committee on Inter-Continental Railwaj-s — Reports of Committee on Customs Unions — Conflict among the nations on the question of free trade — Obscurity of the subject — The question one of advantage — Debate thereon in the Conference — Report of Committee on Conmiunication on the Atlantic — Outline of its provisions — Similar report from Committee on Communication on the Pacific — Appendix thereto by Estee, of California — Second report on the same subject — Recommendations from Committee on Harbor Fees and Regulations — Report of Committee on Patents and Trade Marks — Committee on Extradition of Criminals makes its report — The question of an international monetary union — Nature of that issue explained — The bottom contest between the debtor and the creditor — Debate on the subject — Recommendations of the committee — Ambiguity of the measures proposed — Travesty on the question — Report of Committee on International American Bank — Recommendations from Committee on Private International Law — Also from Committee on Plan of Arbitration — Close of the sessions of the Conference — Blaine's farewell address — The event the acme of his career, . . 173-188 xiv CONTENTS.

PAGE

Chapter VIII. Episode Of The Paris Letter

Circumstances that Led to the Writing of the Paris Letter— Tariff message of President Cleveland — Comments thereon by the public — Sensational features of the document — Blaine undertakes an answer — His residence in Paris — Form in which the letter appeared — Henry W. Knight's narrative of its production — He recites Blaine's own account of the writing of the paper — Extraordinary feat of work — Blaine's exhaustion afterwards — Mr. Knight's relations with the statesman— Text of the Paris letter — Mr. Smalley's report of his inter\'iew with Blaine — The latter gives his views on the tariff— He proposes a repeal of the tobacco tax — Favors the retention of the tax on whisky — Coast defences should be paid for from this revenue— In time of peace prepare for war — Houses and farms pay too much tax — Wool-growers must be protected — Vital importance of the labor question — What will become of the farmers? — Tariff of 1864 and its results — How Blaine would reduce the revenue — Possible effects of Cleveland's policy — An American market for the American people — Unlimited free trade at home — Need of a new political economy — The South should demand protection — Fallacy of admitting raw materials — A full and fair contest on the free trade issue demanded, 189-201

Chapter IX. Personality, Home Traits And Characteristics

Quotation from Cellini — Famous autobiographies — Interest of self-revelations — Notes of Washington and Grant — Why the public would know its heroes — Gradual growth favors public interest — Blaine's conspicuous and continuous career — Elements of popularity — His person described — A knight without reproach — Industries of Maine described — Blaine's own district — His editorial profession— Residence in Augusta — Addition to the house — Story of the officious driver — The Augusta home — The family — Pohtical life in the commonwealth— Blaine as a spellbinder — His manner as a campaigner— Receptions at the Blaine house — A soiree dansante — Blaine's manner on such occasions — His methods as chairman of the committee — His tactics as a politician — His acquaintance with friends, public and private — Popularity of the leader among his followers — A good giver — Meetings with original characters — Blaine's charm in conversation — His methods in conversing — Courtesy and the desire to please — Anecdote of Friend William — Blaine's fondness for %valking and driving — • Speaking as an exercLse — Attractions of Maine as a summer resort — Blaine in the campaign wagon — His ner^^e as a driver — California incident — The statesman walks much and communes with Nature — Anecdote of Choate — Blaine's rhetoric — Subject-matter of his speeches— His libran,' facilities — His study of men— Anecdote of the organ-grinder before the Seward House — Organization of Blaine in mind and body— His superstitions — Notions about his health — His resources and business methods — His religious belief and habits— The Blaine family enumerated — Walker Blaine in particular — Alice— Emmons— Margaret— Harriet and James G., Jr.— Life in the Augusta home— Historical interest about the place where dwelt the Man from Maine, 202-216

Chapter X. Retiracv And Last Days

Great Men Seek an Interval of Repose— Some die in the harness— Blaine's temper favorable to fighting out the battle — Circumstances limit preference — His retirement from the Cabinets of Garfield and Harrison result from historical conditions — Blaine's residence on Lafayette Park — His home in Augusta — His summer home at Bar Harbor— Tradition of Mount Desert Island— Description of the Blaine villa— The

CONTENTS. XV

PAGE

Washington House in Fifteenth Street — The Dupont Circle mansion — Traditions of the Seward House — Blaine an assiduous worker — His literarj- aspirations — He writes much— His residence in Washington and his travels abroad — Evidences of breaking health — Sorrow for the death of his children — His last public speech — Nature of the disease with which he was prostrated — Story of his decline — Death comes suddenly — Report of the physicians on his ailments — Incidents of the last day — The deathchamber — Impression produced on the public mind — Proclamation of the President — Congress adjourns — Tone of the newspaper press— Subject-matter of criticisms and eulogies — Preparations for the funeral — Oak Hill Cemetery chosen for sepulture^ Public expectation — Pageants and private funerals compared — Blaine chose the latter — L,ist of the pallbearers — Church and clergymen — Ceremonies of the occasion — Casket and inscription — Religious question again — A Catholic and Protestant household — The Georgetown Cemeter\-— The funeral proper — Tributes and flowers — Ceremonies at the residence — Services at the Church of the Covenant — The address and the music — The procession — Crowds en route — Scenes in the cemetery — The burial-place — Graphic account of the visit of Mrs. • Blaine to the grave of her husband — Rcquicscat in pace 217-233

Chapter XI. Speeches And Addresses — First Period

Early Passion of Blaine for Public Speech— His address announcing the nomination of Fremont — He reviews the slavery question in the United States — Right of the Government to regulate the institution in the Territories — Reviews the proceedings in the first Republican Convention— Caustic comments on Buchanan— The speaker appeals to the Republicans of Maine— Urges the candidacy of Hamlin — Result of the Presidential election of 1856 — Blaine's Farmington speech — He discusses the issues of i860 — National questions handled in a masterly way — He antagonizes slavery — Reviews the Dred Scott decision — Shows the fallacy of the pro-slavery position — Cries out for restriction — Comments on the events of the past four years — Shows the hopeless division of the Democratic party — Predicts the election of Lincoln — Praises Hamlin — Indicates a protective policy for the Government — Shows the causes of fluctuation in the value of commodities — Tide of prosperity turned against the United States — Discusses the financial crisis of 1857— Shows the antagonism of slavery to free industry and high wages — Reviews the political contest of the past twenty years — Exhorts the people of Maine to stand by the Republican policy — Peculiar interest of the address in the light of subsequent developments 234-244

Chapter XII. Speeches And Addresses — Congressional

Blaine Aspires to Congress — His speech on the confiscation of rebel property — He reviews the course of the war, and argues in favor of prosecuting it to the end — Enters Congress — Speaks on the financial condition of the countrj- — Also on the futility of attempting to equalize coin and paper money — Comments on the provisions of the Stevens Bill — Shows the condition of affairs should the same become a law — Cites English histor>' against the measure — Advocates the adoption of English methods in preser\dng the national credit— Question of a new basis of representation — Blaine's speech on that subject — Shows the advantage which the seceded States had enjoyed in congressional representation — Severe- strictures on the current apportionment—Evokes the Constitution against it — Urges the adoption of a new basis according to population — Speaks in Maine on the same subject — Question of reconstruction arises — Blaine's address on the restoration of the late insurgents to ci\al xvi CONTENTS.

TAGE

power — Unfairness of Southern election — Proposes amendment to the Constitution covering basis of representation and principles for reorganizing the Union — Attacks the principle of counting negroes when they are disfranchised— Shows the unjust influence of the old Southern States in the electoral college— Appeals to the late elections in favor of reform— Duties of the Government to protect all its citizens in equal right before the Constitution and the laws— Question of the payment of the public debt— Blaine shows that the national honor is involved in full payment of the obligations imposed by the war— He attacks the new doctrine of the payment of the debt in paper money — Considers the character and true significance of the national bonds — Advocates payment of both principal and interest in coin — Even the five-twenty bonds are redeemable in metallic money— Controverts the views of Pendleton — Urges that the bonds, by terms of their negotiation, were payable in coin— Shows that Stevens had changed his position— Nature of the ten-forty bonds — Method of sale of the Government securities— Supplementary Loan Bill of 1864— The seven-thirty bonds- History of the bill for the issuance of the coin bonds— Extracts from Secretary' Chase's letter— Argument that the bonded debt is rightfully payable in coin — Review of the course of Chase, Fessenden and McCulloch — Fessenden's declaration relative to the five-twenties — McCulloch's letter to Morton and Company — Proposition to pay the five-twenties in greenbacks discussed — Question of taxing the Government bonds— Blaine's speech of June, 1868— He opposes the project to tax the Government's securities — Shows where such taxation would fall - Indicates the corporations by which the national bonds were held — Demonstrates the infeasibility of the proposed measure— Question of local and general taxation of the securities discussed— The project to tax a matter of bad faith — Advancement in Blaine's career — He is appointed to a seat in the Senate, 245-270

CHAPTER Xni.

SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES — SENATORIAL.

The Senate Not so Well Suited as the House to Blaine's Genius— His age and character on entering the senatorial body— Question of the remonetization of silver - Blaine's speech on that subject— The power of Congress over the coinage discussed — Histor>' of the question in other countries — Difficulties of bi-metallism considered — The real question before Congress —What would follow if free coinage of silver were permitted — Dangers of a depreciated dollar— Anecdote of Vanderbilt — The hard-money argument in cxtcnso — -Blaine not a mono-metallist — Impossibility of striking out silver from the coinage — Citations from Hamilton— Position of Stanley Matthews controverted— The bonds payable in standard coin of July 14, 1870— Bad grace of the demand for payment in gold onh — Blaine discerned that gold had risen in the market — He proposes an augmented silver dollar— The bill offered by Blaine as a substitute — He foresees the failure of his measure— Denounces cheap money— Advocates the maintenance of parity between the two money metals— Question of the Halifax aw^ard arises— Blaine speaks on the question— Explains the character of the commission — Antecedents of the transaction— Absurdity of allowing an Austrian minister to appoint the umpire — Blaine concedes honorable intentions to Sir Edward Thornton and M. Delfosse— Animadverts upon the character of the award— Position of the American commissioner discussed — Citation from Redman on "Arbitration and Award"— Other authorities quoted— Shall the Government accept the decision of the commission ? — Remarks by Hannibal Hamlin— Blaine's response— He continues the discussion in a second speech — Describes the efforts of Lord Granville to secure the appointment of Delfosse as umpire — Qtiotation from the London Times — Attitude of the Canadian ministry discussed — Injustice of the award — Blaine's policy of extending the influence of the United States— Anecdote of Macaulay— Question of

CONTENTS. xvii

PAGE

Chinese immigration again — Blaine leads in an effort to secure restriction — His speech of February, 1879 — Urges the abrogation of the Burlingame Treat}- — Reviews the position of Stanley Matthews — Shows that the Chinese have violated their contract — Demonstrates that immigration can only be permitted when it is voluntar>- — Remarks of Mr. Matthews — Continuance of Blaine's address — Shows that the Burlingame Treaty is peculiar — Necessity of demanding its abrogation — Further controversy with Senator Matthews — Analogies drawn from our relations with other countries — History of the controversj- relative to immigration — Can the Chinese become citizens ? Number of the Orientals come into the United States — Easiness of a Chinese invasion — Necessitj- that the Mongolians should be excluded — Question of enfranchising the Chinese — Blaine accuses Senators of desiring to shirk their responsibilities — Response of Hamlin — A senatorial coUoquj^ — The race question not to be lightly put aside — Difficulty of dealing with Chinese immigrants — Imminent danger to the society and industries of California — Blaiue regrets the hard treatment to which the Chinese have been subjected — Their cheap labor not desirable in competition with that of America — Summary of the question at issue — The Chinese issue goes to the countr\- — Blaine speaks on the subject a second time in the Senate — Urges the importance of restriction — Replies to the Senator from Louisiana — Quotation from Lincoln — Blaine discu.sses the difference between the Chinese question and the question of negro enfranchisement — Cites the record of Hannibal Hamlin against himself — Qualities of Blaine's mind as exhibited in the discussion — His brilliancy as a congressional debater, 271-306