The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-05-29
THE POPULAR WILL.

Whether Mr.. Blame can be nomi-
mated is question which cannot
be answered this side of the decisive
vote in the national convention. Wheth-
er he ought to be is a question al
ready decided by the mass OF the Re
publican party. The people may be
wrong, but it is their right to be wrong;
and We cannot agree with Matthew
Arnold that it is the high duty and sweet
privilege Of the "remnanI"-a small mi
noritY-to set them right.
From the beginning to date Mr.
Blaine has given the matter no personal
direction. He has not said to anybody
that he would like 70 have the nomlna-
ton. He has given no iutimation at all
to his friends, except to endeaYor to dis
suade them from doing anything that
would place him before the public as a
candidate. The presidential nomination
of great party with success before it is
an honor which no man in good health
is likely to decline, and Mr.. Blaine will
not decline if the nomination comes to
him; but he has left upon the minds OF
his friends who have talked with him
the impression that he is far from court
ing the cares of the presidency.
The Blaine sentiment which pervades
the Republican party Is a spontaneous
tribute to the man and 10 the type of
manhood which he represents. This
marvellous exhibition of personal
| strength is the outcome of something
the very reverse of machine politics. 1t
Is the free will of the party triumphing
over all machines and professional poll.
ticians. II any OF the Experts are Blaine
men ii Is either because they fOresee as.
sured success under his leadership OF be-
cause they prefer TO drift with the
popular current rather than be over
whelmed by it. Mr.. Blaine has not
that potent power IN politics. ''bar'l."
he has no patrOnage-all that has been
turned against HIM. Aud it must have
been observed that The field has been
glad TO rally around the standard of pat
ronage In the hope of defeating Mr..
Blaine by the concentration of forces.
In the face OF all that has been done
and attempted sgainsI him, il is a sig
nIflcant fact that in those states which
give Republican electoral votes MIR.
Blaine Is far ahead Of any other man
His strength lies on the side of the Re.
publican msjnritI"s, and this is true as
we'll OF counties as of states. If Mr..
Blaine shall be the nominee, he will be
strong in the south, though he VIII not
20 into the convention with that back
ing, because the element which rules
southern Republican conventions Is for
the administration. Maryland and
West Virginia are marked exceptions &c
this rule, for in these states the Repub
Iican party does not depend on patron
age for its life.
Mr.. Blaine's southern support in the
convention will grow with the develop
ment Of his strength elsewhere. If hG
can be nominated without the south, The
south will come TO him as fast as It car
, get there.
Whether MIR. Blaine shall succeed OF
tail, his friends have that consolation
: that the life and heart OF the Republican
: party are with him; that he is stronges
where the Republican party is strongest
and that the districts and states which
J have spoken for him have simply de
, clared the popular will without the al,
: Of any machine work or shATp practice