Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-01
THE PLUNIED KNIGHT AND HIS
ABLE LIEUTENANT.
The Preliminary Work for the Campaign
of 1888
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer
1t is Elkin's theory that the Republi-
cans must win back the masses of the
people on some great issue 10 order to re-
turn to power. In this l think he is
prompted by Blaine. When be went out
to Missouri to deliver his address on the
labor question, in which he advocated
proit-sharing as the great remedy for all
the evils of which labor complains, it had
been carefully revised by Blaine. Under
these circumstances it was virtually a
bid for the support of workingmen for
Blaine in 1883.
The Augusta bl0ody-shirt speech, lust
after last fall's election, was, however,
Blaine's first gun for 1888. When be found
that the solid South had not and could not
be broken by the tactics be employed it
was Blaine's judgment that the only Re-
publican future lay in the solid North.
With solid North, Dakota and othor Re-
publican States in the Northwest could be
admitted to the Union and the Republi-
cans be secured in power for another
quarter Of a century. In the blOOdy-shirt
cry be thought he saw means of reViving
the party spirit and reuniting its fast.ds-
solving elements. Sherman improved on
his leadership and won Ohio. Davenport
Welded to the Mugwump influence
and put the bloody shirt in
disgrace, although he permitted Logan
and Foraker TO exhibit it. New York
went Democratic. In these things Blane's
feiends find proof that his leadership is
still to be followed with some show OF sue
cess. They say openly in New York that
If his letter and telegram to Davenport
had not been suppressed, II he had been
brought into the State to speak, and II his
advice had been followed, Hill would not
now be Governor. Blaine advised the
nomination for Governor OF Gen. Carr, in
order to keep the Irish vote. 1t rs said
that when he found himself put to one
side by the Davenport managers, who
were afraid OF tho Mugwumps, he tipped
the wink 20 Patrick Ford, of the irish
World, and the Irish went back TO Hill In
a flock.
There is more truth than guesswork in
these statements. The subtlety OF Blaine's
course appears IN the fact that by the
election Of fill be secured a sort OF per-
sonal vindicatiOn over Cleveland, and at
the same time killed of Evarts and Day.
export as possible Presidential rivals.
His bloody shirt speech was intended to
keep him in the heart OF bis party. He re-
tains in various ways hib hold on the
Irish. He bids for the labor vote through
Elkins.
Now he and his lieutenant meet TO dis
cuss further steps. One Of thVm, | am
told, Will be an attempt 10 reorgNnize the
party in all the States on common and
general plan, such as Tilden adopted in
1876, with the object OF having compact
organization In 1888. through which 10
operate on the country. It WAS IN Organi-
zatlon that the last Republican National
Committee was weakest. Through such
an organization, begun now, Blame could
also retain the power 20 renOminate him
self. IL would be the only Republican
machine since the administration is
Democratic. But the question OF re-
nomination enters lightly into Blaine's
considerations 40 long as he has Elkins.
lie has believed since 1880 that Elkins
could have secured his nomination that
year but FOR the fact that he WAS subordin-
nted AZ he convention 10 Chandler and
Frye, who did not understand Western
men, and cussed them at the wrong time.
Last summer none Of these men came TO
the front, and Elkins captured the con-
VentiOn.