A Sketch of the Republican Standard
Bearer-Tho Early rife of u
Great Man.
From a Biographies ! Bkotcli written byT.C. Craw
ford.
James G. Elaine was born at Indian
.barm , Washington county , Ponn-
\th ? 8l3fc d o Jan"ary 1830.
- ? evcry advantagc- had
instructors and the advantngo
of a preliminarv
training school at
Lancaster , O. , where helifcdwith his
lelatives , the family of Thomas Ewinff ,
the then secretary of the treasurv He
was brought into contact
with politic *
when a mere lad of 11. HewasgrX
ated from the Washington University
of western Pennsylvania in 1847 before
he was quite 18. His college guardian
was his uncle , John H. EwmgT a mem
ber of congress. Mr. Blaine excelled
as a student. There appears no period
m his early life where he was not suc
cessful. Indeedin accordance with
ordinary rules , Mr. Blaine should have
had much harder times to have brought
out his powers. As a teacher for sev
eral years he fastened his college ac
quirements , while his subsequent ten
years' as a political editor developed
bis powers as a clear and ready writer ,
Chairman of the republican central
committee in Maine at the age of 26 , he'
has since that time retained his ascend
ency as a political leader. Coming to
congress in 1862 he soon attracted the
attention of Lincoln. It was Mr.
Blame's habit at the outset of his career
to make very short , crisp speeches. He
never occupied more than a pao-e of
the Congressional Record. He never
spoke unless ho had something to say.
This attracted Lincoln's attention. He
was almost the first man to divine
Blaine's future and actually prophesy
what he would accomplish. At the age
of 89 Mr. Blaine was made speaker of
the house , and for six years filled that
post with an ability that was conceded
by all , although his enemies regarded
mm as often arbitrary and high-handed
in the administration of his power.
SUCCESS IN RETIREMENT.
Mr. Blaine is now in the prime of ft
rigorous manhood. He is 54 years of
age. His once shattered he.ilth is re
stored. His eyes are now r.g keen and
clear as when he was an impulsive ,
mischievous boy , while his voice is as
ringing , deep , and strong as in his
palmiest days as an orator. Retired
from active politics now for over two'
years , he has gained by the change.
Instead of dropping into the obscurity
where falls the average public man rel-
gated to" private life , he has heldhw
own in the public mind as no states
man ever has before without the arti
ficial aid of official position. Instead
of retiring in his privacy Mr. Blaine has ,
with the energy of genius , immediately
lound a new field to conquer. In the
hard and untried path of literature he
has accomplished in the brief period of
one year as brilliant a success as has
ever fallen to his lot inactive politics.
His political history , the first part of
which is now completed , will do more
to make his name memorable than all
oiher acts of his public career. Rele
gated to private through no fault of his
own , through the calamity of Garfiold's
assassination , Mr. Blaine has shown
such courage , such pluck in subduing
the despair which would have over
whelmed an ordinary man as to com
mend him to the faint-hearted forever
as the very embodiment of courage
which acknowledges no defeat.
IK HIS HOME.
His magnetic power is the subject of
many sneers. The enemies of Blaine
deride the men who are fond of him by
calling them victims of this 'personal
magnetism. Analyze this personal
xnagnetism-and you will find it is noth
ing more than the fact of an unassum
ing intellectual superiority , a keen ,
trenchant common sense that com
mands admiration. Very few public
men at short range fulfill the popular
idea. They are apt to prove disap
pointing through the exhibition of some
incomplete , undeveloped side. It is
rare enough that a public man of prom
inence is a pleasant companion.
Mr. Blaine is so many-sided as to be
classed as a man of genius. He is an
orator , a polished writer , a student of
history , a wide reader of general liter
ature , a successful financier , a thorough
man of the world , a complete master
of the art of pleasing in a social way. "
As a conversationalist Mr. Blaine has
few equals. He has a keen apprecia
tion of fun , and can tell a story with
wonderful simplicity. There is no
dragging prelude , no verbose details
preceding a stupid finale. The story is
presented always dramatically and
fired almost as if from a gun when the
{ point is reached. Mr. Blaine's ability
jto entertain a private circle , as well ; as
'public ' audience , shows that he has
great power as an actor. Yet even in
His private talk he does not fall into the
I habit of the average public manof
.making speeches or soliloquizing. "He
'is ' quite willing to listen when any one'
has anything to say , and never appears
more at his best than when he is taking
-part in a running fire of bright , sharp
talk.
OPPOSED to TRICKERT.
Mr. Blaine certainly needs no de
fense from the hands of anyone
Everything that has been used against
him is so much burned powder. I
Should not allude to this record talk if
it-were not for the fict that a certain
< : las of republicans still persist in the
liotion of believing that bo a really a
, untrustworthy ream
timiu.0 > ) ' iii u nun sti-mM t. ik. HIM -
re life u * : i ij t-iU i r iu-l mut. . N
mm is ( MM f - . . Mr IJ * uu < ) hm U' >
' 'uuhtuiily in ide Jui-i.'iUc-i , unil do IJH
I'ecnscvori'l ; punin'iMil. ' But tbry i-
no rcns i why tla : tni.-tttiltcs clioulil be
dwelt upon aa this true jrnlicuiioiis of
his charoctpr. II < 1ms shown hiiusolf
to be as independent in spirit as any
great party lender could have been. It
should 1)0 remembered of him that he
voted against-lhe junggling electoral
commission bill , which was demanded
by the rigid partisans of that day. Both
Blaine and Conkling two of the high
est types of 'the republicans 'of that
period , opposed that bill.
It was through Mr. Elaine's influence
that the force bill , a measure of his par
ty , was defeated in the house. While
he has been always loyal to the close
union of the nations on this continent
with reciprocity treaties between thorn
as against the old world would have
given a now to his party when it wns
right , he has never hesitated to n stvi
lilo luilopoudonoo when it oloimod his
allojlnuoo in ft courld which ke could
ayUPPVOVQ ,
Vl\w bv-triuuj wL. ul MIBlttlub and
la . 0110 th 5 ahouM not bo forgotten
'o thj fuoc thab ho is an American. He
A vopubliotiu in the best sense of the
rll. ITo ; a as much opposed to
orthodox forms m politics for form's
anko as Tu oraoll id in religion. There
w nothing for which he has so sincere &
auuteuipt as for affectation of any kind
' ' . "
THE 'PLUMED KSIGIIT.
[ Speech of Robert jG. Inersoll in present
ing the name of. James O. Blaine for the
presidential nomination 'at Cincinnati in
June , 870. ]
MR. CHAIRMAN , LADIES AND Gsar-
TLKMKN : Massachusetts may be satis-
lied with the loyalty of Btmiamin Bris-
tow , so am I ; Cut if any man nomi
nated by this convention cannot carry
tho. state of Massachusetts , I am not
satisfied with the loyalty of that state
If the nominee of this convention can
not carry the grand old commonwealth
of Massachusetts by seventy-ftve thou
sand majority , I would advise them to
sell out Faneuil hall as a democratic
headquarters. I would advise them to
take Irom Bunker Hill that old monument
ment 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 well known and approved po
litical opinions. They demand a statesman - >
man ; they demand a reformer after as
well as before the election. They de
mand a politician in the highest , broad
est and best sense a man of superior
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 ol the future.
They demand a man broad enough to
comprehend the relations of the govern
ment to the other nations of the earth.
They demand a man well versed in the
powers , duties , and prerogatives of
, oaoh and every department of thisgov-
ornment. They demand a man who
will sacredly preserve the financial
i honor of the United States : one who
knows enough to know that the national
debt must bo paid through the prosper
ity of our people ; one who knows
enough to know that all the financial
theories of the world cannot redeem a
single dollar ; one who knows enough
to know that all the money musk be
made , not by law , but by labor ; one
who knows enough to know that the
people of the United States have the in
dustry to make the- money , and the
honor to pay it over just as fast as they
make it. [ Applause ] . ' * '
The republicans of the United States
demand a man who knows that pros
perity and resumption , when they come ,
most come together ; that when they
come they wm some 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 chimney with eager fire , greeted
and grasped by the countless sons of
tofl.
tofl.This
This money has to be dug out of the
earth. Yon cannot make it by passing
resolutions in a political convention.
[ Applause. ]
The republicans want a man who
knows tiut this government should
protect every citizen , at home and
abroad ; who knows that any govern
ment that will not defend its defenders
and jtrptoot itajprotectors is.a . disgrace
to the map.ot the worlcT Tiey demaocL
a man who "believes in the eternal sepa
ration and divorcement of church and
state. . They demand a man whose
Apolitical reputation is as spotless as a
star ; but they do not demand that their
candidate shall have a certificate of
uioral character signed by a confeder
ate congress. The mail who has in
t'i i heaped and rounded measure all
T.u-oo splendid qualifications is the
present grand and gallant leader 'of
vho republican party James G. Blaine.
Our country , crowned with the vast
and marvelous achievements of its first
century , asks for a man worthy of the
past and the prophetic of her future ;
asks for a man who has the audacity ef
genius ; asks for a man who has the
grandest combination of heart , con-
ofllanoe and brain beneath her flag
suoh a man is James G. Blaine. [ Ap
plause.
for the republican host , led by this
intrepid man , there can he no defeat.
Tins is a grand year a year filled
with recollections of the revolution ;
filled with the proud and tender memo
ries of the past ; with the sacred legends
of liberty a year in which the sons of
freedom will drink from the fountains
of mthinnmnn ; a year in which the people
ple call for a man who has preserved in
congress what our soldiers won upon-
the cattle field ; a year in which they
call for a man who has torn from the
thros 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. [ Applause. ]
Like an armed warrior , like a plumed
knight , James G. Blaine marched down
the halls of the American congress and
threw Ms shining lance full , and fair
the brazen .foreheads of the de-
famexs of his country and the maligners
of kit kpnor. For therepublican party
to duett tto yalltnt leader now is ag
general upon the Held of iMUfl. Ap-
ptaue. ]
Janes G. Blaine is now and has been
for yean the bearer of the sacred stand
ard of tie republican party. I call it
sored because no human being cani
stand beneath its folds without remain-1
ing free.
Gentlemen of the convention , in the
name of the great republic , the only re
public that ever existed upon this earth ;
m the name of all her defenders and of
all her supporters ; m the name of all
her eoldiars living ; in the name of all
her soldiers dead upon the field of bat
tle , and in the name of those who per
ished in the skeleton-clutch of famine
At AndorBonville and Libby , whose suf
ferings he so vividly remembers , Illi-
jnois Illinois nominates for the next
'president of this country that prince cf
parliamentarians that loader of lead-
erg kernes G. Blalne ,
TUB PLUMED KHIQHT.
of Juilzo Weit , of Ohio , Horn-
1:1.11110 for the Presidency
12utliii8ln m on the Oocailon.
E i tract from Coimntlon frocoedlngs.
The ctill wag then proceeded with ,
Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Kentucky and
Louisiana , each being : called and each
passing as called. When the state of
Maine was called the vast assembly
arose and an explosion of human .voices
occurred. For several moments the
roar coniinm dand only ceased because
of the inability of the audience to roar
any longer. Some of the delegates
were ovei joyed to the extent of frenzy.
Hats and Jans and canes were thrown
in the air. Hags waived and general
pandemonium reigned. The chair
nipped with his gavel for order , but he
might as well have tried to argue with
a elyclone. No finer opportunity had
wcurred to the delegates to express
their feelings , and they expressed it in
keeping with the opportunity. It is
impossible to convey any adequate idea
a * to the noise that reigned , but possi
bly an estimate can be found by the
btatoment that from 12,000 to 14,000
people were yelling like mad and could
not be restrained. It was a glorious
tribute to pay to any man. After the
chairman had succeeded in producing
comparative quiet , Judge West , of Ohio ,
was introduced and said : "As a dele
gate in the Chicago convention of 1860 ,
the proudest service in my life was performed -
formed by voting for'tEe nomination of
the inspired emancipator , the first re
publican president of the United States.
[ Applause. ] Four and twenty years of
the grandest history of recerded time
has distinguished the ascendancy of the
republican party. The skies have low
ered and reverses have threatened , but
our flag is still there waving above
the mansion of the presidency. Not a
stain on its folds , not a cloud on its
glory. Whether it shall maintain that
grand ascendancy depends on the ac
tion of this great council. With bated
breath a nation waits its results. On it
are fixed the eyes of twenty millions
of republican freemen in the north. On
it , or to it rather , are stretched forth
the imploring hands of ten million of
political bondmen of the south , [ ap
plause ] while above , from the portals
of light , is looking down the immortal
spirit of the immortal martyr who first
bore it to victory , bidding us God
speed. [ Applause. ] Six times , in six
campaigns , has that banner triumphed ,
that symbol of union freedom and pro
gress , some time by that silent Man of
Destiny , the Wellington of American
arms , [ wild applause j last by him for
whose untimely taking off a nation
Dwelled the funeral cries and wept .
above great Garfield's grave. [ Cheers'
and applause. ] Shall that banner tri
umph again P Commit it to the bear
ing of that chief , [ a voice , "James G.
Blaine , of Maine/ ' ] 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 fire of our manhood and
rekindle the fervor of the veteran , 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 strug
gling 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 consoli
dated phalanx. These great issues
have closed their contentions. The
subordinate issues resulting there
from are settled and buried away
with the dead issues of the past. The
arms of the solid south are against us.
Not an electoral gun can be expected
from that section. If triumph comes
the republican states of the north must
furnish the conquering battalions.
Fromthe farm , the anvil , the loom , the
mine , 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 repub
lican states must furnish those conquer
ing battalions if triumph comes. Does
not sound political wisdom dictate and
demand that a leader shall be given
them whom our people will follow , not
as conscripts advancing by funeral
marches to certain defeat , but a grand
civic hero whom the souls of the people
desire and whom they will follow with
all the enthusiasm of volunteers as they
sweep on and onward to certain victory.
[ Cheers. ] In this contention of forces
to determine to whom shall be intrusted
our battle flag , I am not here and may
my tongue cleave to the roof of my
mouth if I abate one tithe from the just
fame , integrity and public honor of
Chester A. Arthur , our president. [ Ap
plause. ] I abate not ; one tithe from the
just fame and public integrity of Geo.
F. Edmunds , [ applause ] of Joseph R.
"
Hawley [ applause ] , of John Sherman"
[ applause ] , of that grand old black
eagle of Illinois , [ here the speaker was
interrupted several moments by pro
longed applause ] , and I am proud to
know that these distinguished "senators
whom I have named have borne like
testimony to the public life , the public
character and the public integrity of
him whose confirmation brought him to
the highest office , second in dignity to
the office of the president , only himself ,
the first premiership in the administra
tion of James A. Garfield. [ Applause. ]
A man for whom senators ana "rivals
will vote as secretary of state of the
United States is good enough for plain
flesh and blood people to vote for .for
Ihair be"our"'candidVteP [ Cries for
Blaine , Arthur and Logan. Avoice yelled
above the tumult , "Give us BlacK Jack
and we will elect him. " ] When quiet
was restored the speaker continued :
"Hot the representative of a particu
lar interest , of a particular class. Send
the proclamation to the country labeled -
ed the doctor's candidate , the lawyer's
candidate , the Wall street candidate ,
and the hand of resurrection would
not fathom his November grave. [ Ap
plause. ] Gentlemen , he must be a
representative of American manhood
[ applause ] , a representative of that
living republicanism that demands the
amplest industrial protection and op
portunity whereby labor shall bo ena
bled to earn and oat the bread of inde
pendent employment , relieved of men
dicant competition with pauper Europe
or pagan China. [ Applause. ] He
must bo a representative of that re
publicanism that demands the absolute'
political as well as personal emancipa
tion and enfranchisement of mankind ,
a representative of that republicanism
which recognizes the stamp of Ameri
can citiijensnip as the passport to every
right and privilege , and consideration
at homo or abroad , whether under the
sky of Bismarck , under the palmetto ,
under the palm , on the banks of the
Mohawk ; that republicanism regards
with dissatisfaction a disposition which ,
under the sic semper tyranuis of the
Old Dominion would emulate the
slaughter of popular majorities in the
name of democracy ; a republicanism
as embodied and standing on the plat
form of principles this day adopted by
your convention. Gentlemen , such a
representative man is James G. Blaine ,
of Maine. "
" ' Gentlenuui of the convention L" .
has been urged that in making this
nomination every other consideration
should bo foregone , i-vtry other inter
est sacrificed , in order ; uid with a view
exclusively to secure the republican
vote and carry the state of New York.
[ Slight applause from back seats. ]
Gentlemen , the republican party de
mands of this convention a nominee
whose inspiration and glorious prestige
shall carry the presidency with or
without the state of New York [ ap
plause ] ; that will carry the legisla
tures of the several states aad avert
the sacrifice of the United States sen
ate ; that shall sweep into the tide the
congressional districts to recover the
house of representatives and restore it
to the republican party. Three _ millions -
lions oF republicans belitve that that
man who from the baptism of blood on
the plains of Kansas to the fall of the
immortal Garfleld , in all that struggle
of humanity and progress , whenever
humanity desired succor , where love
for freedom called for protection ,
wherever the country called for a de
fender , wherever blows foil thickest and
fastest , there in the fore front of the
battle was seen to wave the white plume
of James A. Garfield , our Henry of
Navarre. . [ The speaker , seeing that he
had misspoKen , closed his sentence by
substituting the name of "Jumts G.
Blaine , our Henry of Navarre. " ] Nom
inate him , and the shouts of September
victory in Maine will be re-echoed
back by the thunders of the October
victory in Ohio. Nominate him , and
the camp fires and beacon lights will
illuminate the continent from the Golden
Gate to Cleopatra's needle. Nominate
him , and the millions who are now in
waiting will rally to swell the column of
victory that is sweeping on. In the
name of a majority of the delegation
from republican states and of our glo
rious constituencies who must fight this
battle , I nominate James G. Blaine , of
Maine/ / * ' [ Renewed applause. ]
Using Long and fchort Words.
It is odd that long words more com
monly express ignorance than do the
short words. Short words are used for
the expression of stalwart ideas that
are perfectly capable of standing alone ,
while the refinement of those ideas are
more commonly expressed in long
words. The grandest thoughts in any
literature are expressed in few and well
chosen words , and , as a rule , the man
of ideas is more simple in his language
than he wh6 has no originality , and re
lies on others for thoughts , which he
then proceeds to put into his own ex
pressions. The man of ideas which are
capable of standing alone is usually
careless about the appearance his ideas
may make , just as the rich man is con
tent to dress more plainly than his
poorer neighbors , because he and every
body else knows that he is rich ; his
wealth speaks for itself , and he has no
need to put any considerable part of it
on his back , while his poorer neighbor
is sometimes obliged to dress better
than he can afford to do , for fear some
one may think he is poorer than he
really is. It is also often noticed that
men of ideas hesitate in , their speech
more than do those who have few ideas
and few words to express them in. The
reason is evident. Men of a large vo
cabulary will pick and chose in their
words in order to get the word that will
best dp the work expected of it. If this
one will not answer , it will betaken out
and another substituted , while the man
of a limited vocabulary and few ideas
'will never be at a loss for the simple
reason that he has but one set of words
to express them. The words are easily
fitted to the ideas and the work is done.
Of all people in the world , young wo
men are the most glib in conversation ,
but this is not from any quantity of ideas
or words either , for the command of
either is usually limited , but from the
reason already assigned. The man
who has but one suit of clothes is never
troubled about dressing himself , for he
puts on his one suit and goes about his
business. It is the man who has a
number of different suits who is con
fronted by the problem what to wear
and how to wear it.
Never speculate with your own mo
ney , my son , or very soon you may
have no money with which to specu
late. Don't be selfish. Give your
friends' money the first chance. [ At
lanta Constitution.
"Can you draw a dog ? " said a lady
to a gentleman caller. The youth
blushed crimson , and said it depended
upon two things the size of the dog
and the stren h of the material in his
pants. [ Burlington Free Press.
QEX. JOHN A. LOGAN.
A Sketch of the GnllantSoIdler Nominated
for Vice-President llow Ho Earned
Hla Epanleta In the Mexican War
and in the Rebellion.
John Alexander Logan is of Irish
stock , his father , Dr. John Logan ,
coming to this country from Ireland
three years before the birth of the gen
eral , aa event which occurred February
9 , 1826.
With the exception of attending
schools in the neighborhood in an in
termittent fashion , owing to the fact
that no regular schools existed in the
settlement , his early or preparatory
education was derived from the teach
ing of his father. Having laid the'foun-
dation , he entered Louisville university ,
and in duo course graduated.
Upon the declaration of war with
Mexico , John A. Logan promptly en
listed as a private soldier in the Illi
nois volunteers , and was chosen a lieu
tenant in the First Illinois infantry.
Ho did good service , becoming quarter
master and adjutant of his regiment.
At the close of the war he returned
home , and in the fall of 1848 began to
study law in the office of his uncle ,
Axexander M. Jenkins , formerly lieu
tenant-governor of Illinois.
In November , 1848 , he was elected
olerk of Jackson county , and while
discharging his official duties completed
his law studies , and after attendiag a
course of law lectures in Louisville , re
ceiving a diploma , he was admitted to
the bar , and commenced practice with
his uncle. He became almost immedi
ately successful and popular , for we
find that in 1653 he was elected to the
state legislature , and in 1854 to the of
fice of prosecuting attorney of the third
judicial district of Illinois , holding the
office until 1857. Mr. Logan was reelected -
elected to the state legislature in 1853 ,
1856 and 1857 , and in 1856 was a presi
dential elector on the Buchanan andi
Breckinridge ticket. In 1858 he was
nominated and elected as representa
tive to the thirty-six congress as a'
Douglas democrat , and re-elected by a
large majority in 1860.
The most ardent democrat and an
earnest supporter to the "Little Giant"
when the bugle blast of war swept
northward from the south , he declared
his willingness to shoulder his musket
to secure the inauguration of Mr. Lin
coln. "
In July , 1861 , during the extra ses
sion of congress , his patriotism was -o
greatly aroused by the sight of Illin.i s
troops going to the front , he left Un
seat in the house , and joined the tromH
on then ? way to meet the enemy , lie
marched bravely into the first battle .if
Bull Bun under Col. Richardson , fou < ? tr.
in the ranks , and was among the last iu
leave the ensanguine field. In Au u , &
of the same year he returned from m
home to Washington , resigned his olllee
as representative , and dedicated lnm-i
self to the country's cause for the term'
of the war , unless sooner killed , or dis
abled.
He immediately organized the Thirty- .
first Illinois Infantry , and September
21 was made its colonel. In November ,
the regiment had its first baptism of
blood at Belmont. Here he had his
horse shot under him while leading a
successful bayonet charge. With Grant *
he made the campaign which resulted
in the taking of Fort Henry and Donel-
son , but was so severely wounded at
the assault upon the latter , he was dis
abled for several mouths. As soon as
convalescent he reported for duty to
General Grant at Pittsburg Landing ,
March 5 , 1862 , and was immediately
of volun
appointed brigadier-general
teers. He bore a conspicuous pait in
the movement- against Corinth , and
performed efficient service in guard- '
the railroad line to Jackson , Tenn.
During the summer of 1862 he was
repeatedly urged to "run for con
gress , " but his reply was worthy a
hero ; "I have entered the field to die ,
if need be , for this government , and
never expect to return to peaceful pur
suits until the object of this war of pre
servation has become a fact establish
ed. " His personal bravery and mili
tary skill were so conspicuous in Grant's
Northern Mississippi movements , where
he commanded a division of the Seventeenth - .
teenth army corps , under General Me-4
Pherson , he was promoted to the rank
of major-general Nov. 26 , 1862. He
was present in every fight , his daring
bravery animating his men at Fort Gib
son , Raymond , Jackson , Champion
Hill , and Vicksburg. He was in com
mand of McPherson's centre Jn&e 25 ,
when the assault upon Vicksburg was
made , immediately following the mine
explosion. His column led the entrance
into the city , and he became its first
military governor.
In November , 18G3 , Gen. Logan suc
ceeded Gen. Sherman in command of
the Fifteenth Army corps ; and the fol
lowing May he joined Sherman as the
Georgia campaign was opening. Logan
led the advance of the army of Tennes
see at Resaca , whipped Hardee's
trained veterans at Dallas , and drove
the enemy from Kenesaw mountain.
July 22 he was in the fierce battle be
fore Atlanta , which cost the gallant
McPherson his life. In his report of
the battle Gen. Sherman said : "Gen.
Logan succeeded him ( McPherson ) ,
and commanded the army of the Ten
nessee through this desperate battle
with the same success and ability that
had characterized him to the command
of a corps or division. "
In the autumn of 1864 , after the fall
of Atlanta , he returned to Illinois ,
temporarily , to take part in the preai-
vice for the re-olootiou "of Abraham
Lincoln. Ho then icjolnod the army
and accompanied Gen. Sherman In his
"March to the Sea , " and continued
with him until the surrender of Joseph
Johnston , April 26,1865. Can. Logan
took command of the urmy of the len-
nosseethe 23d of October , tendering
his resignation just as soon as active
service was over , being unwilling to
draw pay unless on duty in the field. ,
President Johnson quickly tendered to '
him the mission to Mexico , which ho
declined.
The republicans of hT5 district sent
him to the Fortieth congress , where ho
served in the impeachment trial of , < , * -
President Johnson. He-olected to the
Forty-first congress , he was made chair
man of the committee on military af
fairs. In this committee ho was of
great use to the nation , his experience
m the field having been invaluable to
him in regard to military legislation. f
He was re-elected to the Forty-second / j
congress , but before it was time to take '
his seat the Illinois legislature chose \
him United States 'senator for the full
term , commencing March ( ,1871. At
the commencement of the third session
ortheTorTy-second congres ho Became
chairman of the military committee ,
succeeding VicePresident Wilson.
At the close of his senatorial term he
returned to Illinois , to practice law in L
Chicago. Ho had not fairly settled , . [
however , before ho was again elected '
United States senator , and took his V
.seat March 18 , 1879 ; his present term. [
will expire March 3 , . 1885. He led the
Illinois delegation in the national con
vention held in Chicago in 1880 , and
was one of the most determined of the
306 who followed the fortunes of "Tho _ , .
Old Commander , " General Grant.
{ renoral Logan is a brilliant debater ,
md bavins tliis position , never betiw n
retreat. He has made many bright
speeches which have attracted national
Attention , and by his course in the Fitz
John Porter case , has riveted the eyes
> f the people upon him. His wife , who (
was Miss Mary S. Cunningham , of j
Swaneetown , 111. , and to whom ho was <
married November 27,1855 , is a worthy
helpmate , and is almost as popular in
Illinois as her distinguished husband.
The general has been foremost in all
legislation for the benefit of the soldiers
of the late war , and possesses the con
fidence of the late rank and file to a re-
niarkable degree. Whatever may be
tide him politically in the future , it is
certain that for all time his name will
shine bright in the galaxy of heroes cl
the late war.
African Topography.
Now York Sun.
Most African travelers are now con
fining their attention to comparatively
small areas , and they can therefore de
scribe with accuracy and minuteness >
districts which Livingstone , Speke ,
Cameron and Stanley were able to
sketch only in broad outline. They
are compelling geographers to revise
their notions on many interesting ques
tions of African topography. A. M.
Mackey , C. E. , who has spent three
years near Victoria Nyanza , writes that
our maps give a very erroneous outline
of the lake , and that Stanley's charts
are extremely inaccurate , which is not
remarkable , in view of Stanley's short
visit there. Six months ago the vessel
Eleanor was launched on the Nyanza , i
and Mr.Mackey expected , with her aid , ' '
to make an accurate survey of the whole
coast. ' " $
The missionaries at King Mtesa's
capital have just sent word that the
lake which has long figured on the
maps as Lake Bahringo , and which the
explorer Fischer tried to reach last
year , has no existence. Stanley thought
he had identified his Aruwimi river ,
the large northern affluent of the Congo ,
with the Welle river of Schweinforth ,
but the researches of Dr. Junker , who
is spending his fourth year among the
Niam Niams , make it appear that the !
Aruwimi is known near its headwaters
as the Nepoto river , and that the Welle 5
empties into Lake Tchad. Perhaps
every atlas published last year repre
sented the Quango river as flowing into
the Congo above Stanley Pool , though |
we are now certain that it mingles with
the Wabuma river before it meets the
Congo.
Six years ago the late Bishop Gilbert
Haven wrote , what geographers gen
erally believed , ttat Lakes Tanganyika
and Nyassa were separated by a dis
tance of 500 miles ; but the missionaries
who are now building a road between {
those lakes find that
a highway 220 t
miles long will connect them. Dr. t
Stecker has recently found that the <
Didessa river , which appears on the j
maps as an affluent of the Blue Nile ,
empties into the Indian Ocean ; and j
Messrs. Drummond and O'Neill have
just discovered that the Lujenda riv3r , {
which , since Livingstone visited it , has I
been thought to drain Lake Shirwa ,
rises in a lake further north whose ex
istence had hitherto been unknown.
So , step by step the real facts are super
seding erroneous impressions of African
geography.
Will Power.
The secret of success in life lies , as
all history proves , in the power of the 2 ? '
human will. No man ever became a '
great leader of men whose will was not '
; he controlling force by which he dominated - I
inated over others. Men , indeed , have
3een distinguished in the world of
letters , law , science , the pulpit , and in
legislative halls , by varied gifts and at-
; amments ; but in no case has man
found a following except by the mag
netic power of his will. In illustration i
of this fact we have only to note the
names of Mahomet , CseJar , Napoleon
[ ionaparte. Cromwell , William III. ,
and on this side of the Atlantic Wash
ington , Jackson , Henrv Clay , Scone- * i
wall Jackson and President Lincoln. J
All these were men of strong wills , 'j
Dending to their purposes all who came
within their reach. It is no answer to
this statement that these men met with
strong opposition , and they did not
even in the end overcome , all opposing
forces. The point is that their wills
icld to their purpose their followers.
Never speak ill of a man if you can
lelp it. If you must say so'mething
md be sure the other side pays your
witness fee. [ Philadelphia Chronicle
