Savannah morning news., 1886-04-24
BLAINE,s GAME.
The Maine Mans Lieutenants Report
Him in Good Trim for the Next NOmi-
From the Courier-JOurnd

From the Courier journal.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-Mr. Blaiue's
faithful lieutenant, VIM. Walter Phelps,
returned this morning from a visit Of sew
eral days to the home of the Maine states
man. Mr.. Phelps communion with his
chief has thrown him into a glow of en-
thusiasm over Blaine's prospects for the
republican nomination in 1888. He re-
ports Blaine In splendid condition; phys
lcal!V and mentally better, indeed, than
ne has been for years. His literary labOrs
now being of his mind, he has had good
cnance TO rest, with the tine financial re-
suits Of his work to console him, and
nothing to worry him except the big
scheme he has on hand to pay his grudge
against Edmunds, and the further one TO
put himself in alignment with public
sentiment with the view of again running
Tor the Presidency, as the Republican
candidate. Mr.. Phelps had good news
TO carry to Augusta from Washington.
Edmunds has been beaten in his vicious
partisan scheme 10 blockade the admin
lstratlon IN the exercise of its acknoWl-
edged rights, and his defeat has been due
almost exclusively to the attitude OF the
gentlemen who are classified as the Blaine
Senators. There is no doubt that
EDMUNDS Is THOROUGHLY AND COM
PLETELY WHIPPED,
by his own party, on an issue of his own
choosing. But this revenge upon the sell
hsn and frigid Vermont Senator is not the
ehd OF the Blaine campaign against him.
Inc hght being now practically over here
has certainly been transferred to Yer
mont. This was, doubtless, one of
the things Phelps went to see
Blaine about, although an Incl
dent, at least, of the visit was the sub
al bal h
llcaA nomination for Governor of New
Jersey this summer. Phelps is under
stood to want the nomination badly; but
is doubtful of his ability to secure it,
owing to his being SO completely identi-
ned with railroad and other corporation
interests. In this emergency be natural
ly goes to Blaine, knowing Blaine owes
MIN all the help he can give him. Thus
the arrangement is mutual and according
to the fitness of things. 1t is rather sig.
nitcant that Steve Elkins has just re-
turned also from visit to the Maine
statesman. The facile gentleman who
disbursed Blaine's money in the CAM
paign, and was to have been his Secretary
OF the Interior, is reported here as not
having great confidence in Blaine as the
standard-bearer in 1888. Elkins is in
tensely practical, and IS a shrewd enough
observer to see that Blaine's nomination,
even if it could be secured, would damn
the chances OF the party IN advance.
This is some of the talk here quietly,
which the visits of Phelps and Elkins to
Maine have caused among well-pOsteG
politicians. 1t is observed that Blaine's
striker, Joe Manly, of Augusta, the lately
bounced postmaster, has disappeared
from wv ashington.
ATTACKING EDMUNDs IN VERMONT.
AS a result of Manly's sojourn here,
probably, Congressional documents in
considerable numbers have been sent into
Vermont, particularly Senator Keuna's
brilliant speech attacking Edmunds, and
quoting largely from Blaine's Twenty
Years in Con gress' to the discontinue of
the Vermont Senator. it is rumored here
that the Blaine influence is settling upon
Vermonts war Governor, j. Gregory
Smith, as a suitable man to succeed Ed
munds in the Senate. Edmunds is great
ly disturbed over these things. He reali-,
Zes that for the first time in his political
career he will have to stand or fall before
a sharp and aggressive fight by man
who is an acknowledged master Of parti-
san warfare. He is also worried because
his malignant and most unaccOuntable
attack upon the soldier element in secret
| session last Thursday should have
reached the press. 1t is so damaging
and so hard to explain that he will doubt
/ less content himself with simply denying
it. 1t is safe to say, however, that the
secrecy of the Senate will not prevent the
Blaine Senators from giving him the full
benefit of his ll-timed assault upon the
Union veteran element when the time for
its effective use shall arrive. These Sen
tors make no cOncealment of their opin-
ion that Edmunds should be well pun
ished for refusing to help Blaine.