The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-10
Blaine. Of Maine.


1t is now con ceded that Blaine Is II
the race for the Chicago nomination
and is working day and night to capture
the convention.
This is no surprise to MS.
Weeks ago we pointed out that tht
contest had narrowed down to arthur
and Blaine, and now the Blaine
"boom" has begun in earnest, those
who refused to believe in the Mulligan's
candidacy can disbelieve no longer.
As q candidate, it would be madnes:
in Arthur's friends to look upon Blaine:
candidacy as thing to be described by
any other word than formidable.
In 1876, at Cincinn att. Blaine had 8
strength of 291 votes.
Four years later, at Chicago, hi:
strength was 2S5 votes.
This strength was entirely his own
for he has what no other Republican
can boast, large and enthusiastic per.
sonal following. His sins do not ros
the sinner of the support of the saints,
His sunstroke in 1876 would have
proved the political death of any other
man. His policy during the few month:
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 1916
and 1880, he is the real competitor OF
the cand date the Republican party
ourht to nominate.
The question then isis Blaine the
coming 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 z,
political gambler who tries bluff wher
his hand is as well known to his an.
tagonistS as to himself And, like the
celebrated All sing, he is inclined te
resort to his sleeve for assistance in OBJ
tanning a flush. Like the Chiuaman,
too, in the game he did not understand,
Blaine is apt to oyerdo the thing.
He did it in 1876, and the nomination
went to an Ohio nobody named Hayes
He did it in 1880. and Garfield capt
ured the prize he was compelled tt
yield to prevent it from going to Gen
eral Grant.
This time he is no better off.
The fact is that as before he ha:
played his game too adroitly.
Experience has shown that Blaine car
not be nominated unless he is able tC
detach a part OF the stalwart strength.
This he tried TO do this year by a pre-
tended support of Senator Logan, but
as is apt to be the case with him ne
went 10 his sleeve too soon--in throw
inc off all disguise at this early day he
has show to Logan's friends that his
only purpose from the beginning was tc
play Logan .'for sucker"
This treachery in itself is sufficient to
defeat him.
Already the muttcrings of the storm
are heard
When it bursts Blaine's fate will be
settled for the third and last time. Ii
will then be found that by his lreachery
to Logan he dealt himself his death
blow. Adroit as he is, his adroitness
generally is like the ambition which
O'erleaps itself, and it was ortunate fol
Arthur that his treachery WAS first fell
by Logan, for by this means he is not
antagOnized as Grant was four Years
ago.
No, Blaine is not the coming man
a. 7. Truth.