Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-06
II BLAINETHE COMING MAN:

IN Is now cOuCeueu IuaI IoLAINE 10 III
the race for the Chicago nomination,
and is working day and night to cap
ture the convention.
This is no surprise.
Weeks ago we pointed out that the
contest has narrowed down to ARTHUR
and BLAINE, and now that the BLAINE
"boom" has begun IN earnest, those
who refused TO believe in the Multi
gan's candidacy can disbelieve 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 for
midable.
In 1876, at Cincinnati, BLAINE had a
strength of POI woes.
Four years later, at Chicago, his
strength was 2SJ votes.
The strength was entirely his own,
for he has what no other Republican
can boast, a large and enthusiastic per-
sOnal following. His sins do not rob
the sinner of tie support of the saints.
His suustroke in 1876 would have
proved the political death OF any other
man. His policy during the few
months he was the 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 un-
impaired, and when noses are counted
at Chicago in June it will be found that,
as in 1876 and 1880, he is the real COM
petitor of ARTHUR, the great stalwart
candidate of the Republican party.
The question then ISIS BLAINE the
coming man?
The REGISTER thinks not.
Twice before he entered a railroad
convention with the same strength he
will have this year.
Twice before he was beaten while his
white plume waved in front of the
battle.
Il is with him a fatality to be very
strong but not quite strong enough.
Tue trouble with him is that he is
political gambler who tries to bluff
when his band is as well known to his
antagonist as to himself. And like the
celebrated All SIN, he is inclined to re-
sort to his sleeve for assistance in OBJ
tanning hush. Like the Chinsman,
too, in the game he did not understand,
BLAINE is apt to overdue the thing.
He did it in 1876, and the nomination
went to an Ohio nobody named HAYES.
He did it in 1850, and GARFIELD
captured the prize he was compelled t.
yield to prevent it from going to General
GRANT.
This time he is no better off.
Tho fact is, that, as before, he has
played his game too adroitly.
Experience has shown that BLAINE
cannot ne nominated unless he is abe
to detsch a part of the Stalwart
strength. This he tried TO do this ye IT
by q pretended support of Senator LO.
GAN, but as is apt to be the case with
him he went to his sleeve too s0Cn-in
throwing of all disguise at this early
day he has shown to LOGAN's friends
that his only purpose from the begin
ming was to play LOGAN "fOr sucker"
This treachery in itsslfis sufficient to
defeat him.
Already the mutterings Of the storm
are heard.
When it bursts BLAINE'S fate will be
settled for the third aud last time. 1t
will then be found that by his treachery
to LOGAN he rlealt himself his death
blow. Alroit as he is, his adroituess
generally is like the ambition which
o'erlesps itself, aud il was fortunate for
ARTHUR that his treachery was first
felt by LOGAN, for by this means he is
not antagonized as GRANT was four
years ago.
No, BLAINE is not the coming man.