The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-27
NOT PRESIDENT YET.
The Pine Tree state Politician Has His
Grip Yet the Party - Ills Party,
However, Not the Country.

J The Pine Tree state Politician Has Hi,
Grip Yet the Party - Ills Party
! However, Not the Country.
According to our Washington dis
! patches, some significance is attached
/ to the organization of the Republican
! Congressional Campaign Committee
on what is regarded as Blaine basis.
/ The selections of Congressman Golf as
/ chairman and Edward Mcpherson Is
secretary are looked upon as directly
in the interest of the late candidate
for the Presidency. 1t is asserted that
! the efforts they are to make toward
+, st BRING Republican control in the
! House ut the fall elections are to be
coupled with a concerted movement
to keep alive the Blaine sentiment
throughout the country. OF course,
the avOwed object Of the latter move
ment is the denomination of the Maine
leader as the Republican Presidential
candidate two years hence. The Cos
sip on the subject is an interesting
contribution to current political dis
cuSsion. To similar outgivings from
other quarters it makes timely and
suggestive addition. Moreover. it
bears the unmistakable stamp of truth
and indicates correctly the present
condition and tendencies of the Re-
publican organization in the Nation.
Whatever may BIZ thought of Mr..
Blaine either by critics or adherents.
his strength with his party can neither
be ignored nor denied. As the matter
stands to-day he is. even in nominal
retirement, the most conspicuous Re-
publican in the country. Out of office
his movements are more closely
watched by the politicians of both
parties than any representative of the
minority who occupies official station.
Defeat has not deprived him of the
adhesion of a large body of followers
in avery State of the Union. The num-
circus body of partisans of his train do
no: necessarily represent the original
Republicanism of the United States.
OF that element much of the best has
already passed over to the Democracy.
A section not so large but still influ-
entiai is irrevocably arrayed in antago-
nism 10 the Presidential aspirations
OF MI. Dialle. NSNcTIncIcSs- "NaI It.
mains of the old party stands firmly
committed to his fortunes and looks
upon him rs its most capable and in
fuential chieftain. Nor are the mani
feStations of sympathy and support
confined to his original followers.
They are as visible among the extremists
of the old Stalwart school as they are
in the circle formerly characterized as
the Half-Breeds. Reyerses ut the polls
may have impaired his standing with
the multitudes of voters; his relations
to machine men have been strengthened
and solidified by his overthrow. His
position in his party is such that it
must inevitably, unless a complete
change occurs, exert potent and far
Ecachign influence on the Republican
6mpaiag for 1888.
Undoubtedly, Mr.. Blaine and his adj
herents are giving careful attention to
the possibilities of 1888. Undoubtedly,
they mean TO set him again in the field,
if a reasonable prospect of success is
presented. Can he be elected? is the
only question that disturbs or restraints
them. Ii is the chief consideration
which will govern their future opera
tons. No Intelligent person believes
for a moment that Mr.. Blaine himself
would hesitate to make the effort, if he