Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-02-17
Mr.. Blaine's Declination.

The PlttSburg Com Odzete ol
Monday has the following To say con-
cerning Blaine's letter: "Tne letter
which Mr.. Blaine has addressed to
Mr.. Jones, Chairman of the Repub'
lican National Committee. will be
read with absorbing interest by The
whole country. In it be makes the
unwelcome, though not unlooked-for,
statement that his name will not be
presented to the National Convention
called to assemble in Chicago in June
next" and, further. that he mas been
constrained TO this decision by con-
sideratiors entirely personal" to him
self
What effect will this letter have
upon the Republican party? This Is
a question of momentous Importance
and is, therefore, worthy Of the most
careful consideration. In the hrst
place, it must be accepted as q fact
that Mr.. Blaine has determined not
to be q candidate. He will give poone
permission to present his name, ana
will release all bis personal friends
from any obligations they may have
felt themselves under to lebor IN his
behalf. This much is clear. But
Mr.. Blaine does not seem TO have an
ticipated a contingency quite likely
to arise-his nomination by the spon-
taneous impulse OF the party, without
his consent and Notwithstanding his
declination. There is nothing IN his
letter to indicate tLet he would re-
fuse to accept nomination tendereu
under such circumstances
Another effect of the letter Will be
to satisfy the great mass OF the party
that success is not only possible but
highly probable His argument oU
this point will, indeed, be conclusive
to many, and particularly to those
who see in him the strongest caudi-
date that can be named.
Still another effect of Mr.. Blaine's
refusal TO enter the list of competitors
for the nomination will be TO array
against him those Republicans who
have other favor;tes and who press
the plea OF unavailability against him
There is o small faction OF the party
who act as though they would rather
see il defeated than to have IL suCcess-
full under his leadership.
IL is an irrefragaole fact that Mr.
Blaine is the first choice of the great
body of Republicans, East and West,
North and South, and the question
now is. must be be taken at bis word
and his name no be longer considered
in Difference to the anti-Blaine senti-
ment, or will the party follow is bet
ter impulses and tender him the nom
instion, placing upon him the respon
sibilty OF declining or again accept
ing the party leadership?
In view of the unquestioned fitness
of the man, his splendid services in
the past, his unsurpassed equipment
for leadership, and the hope aud en-
thusissm which bis rsoual presence
io- pires, what course is the party
likely to pursue? realizing that the
defeat of four years ago cannot be at
tributed to anything which Mr.
Blaine did or omitted to do, and that
he lies closer to the hearts of the
great majority of Republicans than
anv other candidate, does not every
consideration of justice, right and
patriotism, to say nothing of party
courage, consistency and gratitude,
demand his renomination2 If the
party can succeed with any other
candidate, it can triumph with Mr..
Blaine
The tariff, as Mr.. Blaine suggests,
will be the leading issue 10 the cam
paign. Can better representative
of the protective system, or more
able exponent and champion OF that
system, be named"tban be? What
essential quality is .cking in him that
is possessed by any other leader like
lv 10 be selected!
Those Republicans who defeated
Mr. Blaine by going over to Mr.
Cleveland under the pretensc of sub
serving lbe cause Of civil-seryice re.
form haye found their mistake, and,
if sincere will not repeat their bian-
der. Those who made ciyi!-serv.ce
reform preiext simply to cover their
hostility to the tariff will not support
any other Republican nominee, be-
cause, whoever he may be, he mus,
be pronounced and uncompromising
advocate of protection. Taxing all
tbese facts into consideration, there Is
nothing to lose,,and everything to gain
by nominating Mr.. Blaine, unless ne
is prepared 10 say that he would not
accept the tender OF unanimous
nomination"