Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-19
BLAINE, OF MAINE,
said to be an AvOwed Candidates.
Few Reasons Given Why He Cannot
MN

said to be an AvOwed Candidates.
Few Reasons Given Why He Cannot
win.
1t is now conceded, says the New York
Truth, that Blaine is in the race for the
Chicago nomination, and is working day
and night to capture the convention.
This is no surprise to US.
Weeks ago we pointed out that the con-
test had narrowed down to Arthur and
Blaine, and now tie Blaine "bOOm' has
begun in earnest, those who refused to
believe in the Mulligan's candidacy can
disbelieye no longer.
As candidate, it would be madness in
Arthur's friends to look upon Blaine's
candidacy as thing to be described by
any other word than formidable.
In 1876, at Cincinnati, Blaine had a
strength of 291 votes.
Four years later, at Chicago, his
strength was $50 votes.
This strength was entirely his own, for
he has what no other Republican can
boast, large and enthusiastic personal
following. His sins do not rob the sinner
of the support Of the saints. His SUM-
stroke in 1876 would have proved the
political death of any other man. His
policy during the few months he was
premier under Garfield would have
been fatal to any other statesman than
Blaine. In spite of everything that can
be said against him, his strength to-day
is unimpaired; and when noses are
counted in Chicago in June it will be
found that, as in 1876 and 1880, he is the
real competitor of the candidate the Re-
publican party ought to nominate.
The question then isis Blaine the COM
ing man.
Truth thinks not.
Twice before he entered a National
Convention with the same strength he
will have this year.
Twice before he was beaten while his
white plume waved in the front of the
battle.
1t is with him fatality to be very
strong, but not quite strong enough.
The trouble with him is that he is po-
| litical gambler who tries bluff when his
| hand is as well known to his antagonists
as to himself. And like the celebrated
| All Sing, he is inclined to resort to his
| sleeve for assistance in obtaining a flush.
Like the Chinaman, too, in the game he
| did not understand, Blaine is apt to over
do the thing.
He did it in 1876, and the nomination
went to an Ohio nobody named Hayes.
He did it in 1880, and Garfield captured
the prize he was compelled to yieldt pre-
| vent it from going to Gen. Grant.
This time he is no better off.
The fact is that as before he has played
| his game too adrOitly.
Experience has shown that Blaine can
not be nominated unless he is able to de
| tach part of the stalwart strength. This
| he tried to do this year by a pretended
| support of Senator Logan, but as is apt TO
| be the case with himh went to his sleeve
| too sOOn-in throwing off all disguise at
| this early day he has shown to LOgan's
| friends that his only purpose from the be-
| ginning was to play Logan ''fOr a sucker"
This treachery in itself is sufficient to
| defeat him.
Already the mutterings of the storm are
heard.
When it bursts Blaine's fate will be
settled for the third and last time. 1t will
then be found that by his treachery to Lo-
gan he dealt himself his death blow.
Adroit as he is, his adrOltness generally is
like the ambition which o'erleaps itself,
and 1t was fortunate for Arthur that his
treachery was first felt by Logan, for by
| this means he is not antagOnized as Grant
VAS four years ago.
No Blaine is not the coming man.