Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-17
AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. BLAINE.
The Close Vote iu New York-The
Number Of his Irish and German
SuppOrters-Rev. Dr. Burchart,s fn-
tolerant Remarkable Prohibition
VOte-The Rainy Day.

Number Of his Irish and German
SuppOrters-Rev. Dr. Burchard's fn-
tolerant Remarkable Prohibition
VOte-The Rainy Day.
The Boston Journals Augusta nIe, correspond
ent sends the following interview with Mr.. Blaine
Saturday afternoon before the result OF the count
had been announced:
l asked Mr.. Blaine what he thought would be-
the result OF the count in New York, and ne rt-
piled that he had no more means OF knowing II
than the unborn child He had from the 1lrSt nad
no other desire than that a lair count should Dr.
made, and so far as he was personally concerned
he would be content with either result Success
would not elate him. and defeat would not depreSS
him. He was engaged in congenial and profitable
work, which had been interrupted by the cam
paign, and the deep regret that he would feel at
democratic triumph would be altogether for his
party and the country-not for himself 81 lived
too near the presidency I'm IsS1.' Mr.. Blaine added
after long pause, land have too keen a sense OF
Its burdens, Its enbaTraSsnents and It's peris, to
be unduly anxious for the Office"
To the inquiry how he accounted for the close
ness OF the election In New York. Mr. Blaine said:
Wel, considering the loss by the bolt OF the inle
pendent republicans. the far larger loss from the
action OF the republican prohbtlonsts, the wonder
at first sight is that the democrats did not carry
the state by large majority. as they confidently
expected they would This result was prevented
by the great accessons 10 The republican ranks OF
Irish and 1rish-American votes. and wOrkingmen
OF all classes who sustained me because OF my
advocacy OF protective tariff. They believe, ana
believe wisely, that free trade would reduce their
wages"
"You really think. then.n queried the reporter
that you got considerable Irish vote in New
"Oh, had thousands upon thousands replied
Mr.. Blaine. land should have had many more, but
for the intolerant and utterly improper remark of
Or. Burchard, which was quoted every where TO my
prejudice, and I'm many places attributed 10 my
sell, though il was in the highest degree distaste-
Iui an and offensive to me- But lie. you know,
travels very fast, and there was not time before
election TO overtake and correct that one, and 50
suffered for it,
can vote was organized at all, or had competent
leaders
"Yes," said he. 81 was deeply Impressed by the
ability, the earneStneSS, and the sincerity OF those
whom met" He mentioned Patrick Ford. OF the
IRISH World; Gen. kerwiu, OF the TdOiet; John
Deyoy. Alexander sullivan and Jonn Finerty. and
said "SullivanS tariff speech In Toledo contributed
very largely TO the defeat of Frank Hurd. These
men, with others whom did not personally meet.
have made break in the Irish democratic vote
one that believe viii widen and Increase IN the
future as the full significance OF the attitude OF the
democratic party on the tariff question becomes
derstood and appreciated Our Irish and Irish
American citizens Will. IN time, get tired OF voting
In accordance with the wishes OF theEnglish free
traders"
But" said I, "did you not lose correspOndingly
'Not at ALL" replied Mr.. Blaine "all through the
west the Germans supported me nobly. How else
could have carried Chicago by 5000 Cincinnati 10y
5000 and Cleveland by 5O0De Ohio, Wisconsin, III
nofs and Iowa have the largest German population
In the west, and carried them by splendid nalor-
Markbreit In Cincinnati, Kaufman In Cleveland,
PrsetorfuS In st. Louis, and many Others brought
great strenth to the republican cause At different
points in the west found German and Irish clubs
cordially uniting in public demonstrations"
Your correspondent brought the conversation
back 10 New York by asking Mr.. Blaine il he
thought the pr0hibt1OniStS were honest in their
support OF ST. John?
81 have never, during the campaign" replied Mr.
Blaine, reflected upon the motives OF any man,
and shall not do so. 1 content myself with say
ing that think the prohibitionisis were misled
that they did not correctly measure the possible
suit or their course
"You attribute the close vote In New York, then,
Mr. Blaine soiey TO the action OF the Independents
and the prohibitionists?"
to numerous letters have received from central
and western New York il would seem that the
rainy day lost the republican vote. The demo-
cratic maJortieS lie in the cities where, by few
minutes walk, or good pavement, a man reaches
his polling place. The republican majoriJies are in
the country where large numbers live three, four
or even i've miles from the polling place, which, on
election day, had to be reached over muddy roads
and in rain STORM. Had the day been fair the re-
publican majOr1tfeS in the rural counties would
have been increased one good Judge writes me, by
probably coo, but all agree oy from 5000 to 5000
The actual difference between the two parties in
the final count, which ever way il goes, VIII. per-
haps. not exceed 900. so II the democrats really
carried New York by this small margin, as the
latest news Indicates, you see now easy a fair
day might have reversed the result. But great
political battles, like military battles, are often
lost or won by an apparently trivial incident or
ACCIDENT Whicn no human foresight can guard
against"
Mr.. Blaine seems to be in perfect health, and, as
far as any one could judge, I'm the best or spirits
AFTER THE COUNT.
A special to the Boston Herald from Augusta.
written after the result OF the count had been re-
ceived, says: "Mr Blaine regards the official count
In New York as practically settling the presiden-
tial question. MIR. Blaine accepts the result very
cheerfuliy, and has no regrets growing out OF his
connection with the campaign. He feels that he
has a h,a IN
the Yer iict OF the American people. He believes
the republican party VIII prove true 10 its past and
will increase In strength with The coming years
into power. Mr.. Blaine leaves I0r Washington The
middle OF next week, where he and family viii
spend the winter. he will shortly resume his
work on the second volume or Twenty Years in
Congress- The volume Will be ready 10y next
June for publication"