Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-03
GnAvE Po11T1cAL BLUxDER1NG.


Mr.. Blaine's surplus distribution letter
to the Philadelphia Press is calling out
unusual public comment and not q particle
of it favorable, Nobody agrees with him
upon that subject, though great many
favor some system Of distribution. Ex-
Minister Fairchild of Wisconsin would ap-
ply the surplus revenue fund to the aug,
mentation of the school fund.
Coy. Rusk of the same state
would apply the surplus to pension for
all ex-soldiers. Gov. Butler, of Massashu-
sets, says:
Mr.. Blaine seems to forget that there is such
a thing as the Constitution of the United States,
which provides for only TIVE classes Of taxes
direct and indirect-that is, customs, revenues
and direct taxation; but it also prsvides-I do
not quote words-that direct taxes shall be ap-
portioned among the people according to repre-
sentation. Now Mr.. Blaine proposes to collect
large amount of direct taxes from few states
and distribute the money among all the people
of all the states per capita. I hope before that
is attempted somebody will show the
constitutional warrant for SO doing.
'The internal revenue tax, in my opinion, has
always been unconstitutional tax, except it is
justified by the war power, if there is such
thing. Mr.. Blaine proposes to keep that tax on
and pay other peoples debts with it. In my
judgment, if anything would justify rebellion
that would
Thus the comments run, and the more
the matter is discussed the more apparent
| it becomes that Mr.. Blaine committed
a very grave political blunder in writing
the letter. Col. A. K. Mcclure, editor of
the Philadelphia Times writes 10 his paper
from Washington, TINT not only is the
substance of the letter freely criticised
but the policy of writing it, or any other
letter at this time, making political
policy of his own, exposes Mr.. Blaine to
the imputation of seeking an issue to
| make him a presidential candidate. It is
also assumed while uniformly protesting
not to seek or desire the presidency in
| 1SS4,he is compelled to make deliverance
to attract public attention to put himself
in the list of political entries. Col. Nc
| Clure writes:
| The recent effort to concentrate the old ma
| chine power in Pennsylvania Arthur for
| 1884, has doubtless precipitated the Blaine
movement. The recent visit of Mr.. Bosler to
this city, closely following Messrs. Quay,
Cooper and Magee, and the open declaration
| made that Blaine must confront Arthur in Penn
| sylvania, is supplemented by Mr.. Blane's letter.
and it is accepted by friends and foes as shying
| the Blaine gauntlet into the Pennsylvania con-
| flict. He has lost none of his popular prestige
in his native state, and in fair contest between
Blaine and Arthur he will largely control the
delegation, regardless of the concentrated power
of the administration; but there would have
l been less opportunity for excuse by those who
want pretext for deserving him had he deliv-
cred his whisky distribution letter to the waste
basket.
| Clearly Mr.. Blaine's great strength was
in reticency and silence; in popular afec-
ton, not in political invention. He could
afford to calmly wait and let ambitions
surge around him. Letters written by
Clay, Van Buren, and Cass ought to have
been so suggestive to political historian
that he of all men would avoid the yawn-
ing chasm into which they plunged. In
stead of such wisdom he has blundered
frightfully. If Mr.. Blaine is of the mind
that his stepping stone to the presidency
is to abolish the internal revenue tax
except on whisky and retain the whole or
nearly the whole obnoxious internal
revenue machinery of about five thousond
government officials and their five millions
of annual salaries; he is worse
than mad man, and has put
8 stumbling block in his way
that is utterly fatal. Mr. Blaine now stands
no more chance of being president than
that crank, VIM. Wharton Barker, the au-
thor of the Pennsylvania scheme of sur
plus distribution. His blunder is fatal to
himself and Arthur's prospects are i'm
Imeasurably advanced. Thus vaulting am
bition DER leaps itself.