Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-14

that letter"
"Will You tell me what Blaines rea-
sons arc ?"
" As given to me at the time TO which
Blame refers. the reasons were these +:
Before the nomination by the Repubh-
cans IN 1876 Blaine was very anxious TO
obtain the presidency. and worked for it
with the aid OF bis friends. lie was dis
appointed when it went 10 another mau
IN the manner 1t did. In 1880 ne
was still anxious. although in q les
ser degree, and his disappointment WAS
less marked. In 1884 he had to A great
extent lost the desire for the office. and
now he wIthdraws from the contest be-
cause lie has no wish 70 become Presi-
dent He takes keen interest in
literary work and wants rest and auiet.
assure Won these are the only reasons
for Blaine's letter that are known TO
me. Everybody, sooner or later. loses
the desire for something which they
were once anxious TO obtain. and this is
entirely true IN the case Of Blaine"
as not Blaine's letter somewhat in
consistent with the actions of friends.
presumably with his consent, in working
for the control of State delegations and
committees"
No, sir, it is not inconsistent no
such work has been done by US. OF
course | have received countless letters
on tins subject from people North,
South, East, and West. Blaiue's friends
have not sought to set up or secure a sin
gle delegate anywhere. We have made
no concerted action. There has been no
meeting to map out a course favorable
10 Blaine. and J assure You that what
ever has been done by the admirers Of
Blame has been done on Their own
account and not at the instance Of his
close friends. We have done nothing TO
secure the nomination of Blaine. When
people write TO me on the subject send
them in reply the call of the convention
as issued by the committee and some
extracts from posters OF the convention
of 1884. ] have written no letters in
Blaines interest Was this letter laid
before any sort Of n meeting of
his friends or the National Committee =?
E" IT was 1t was not. The letter was
received 10y me on Tuesday last, it
having come direct from Florence to
me. 1t was entirely in Blaines hand
writing. As YOU see by its opening SEN
tcnce II was intended for the Republican
partyi l did not tell anybody Of It's ex-
istcnce until Friday. Even a man as
close to Blaine as Stephen b. Elkins
knew nothing of the existence Of this
letter until this morning"
Joseph ID. Weeks, financial secretary
Of the Republican National Committee,
in commenting on Blaine's letter. SAID .
" think Blaine is perfectly sincere in
what he says. but | do not think his
withdrawal Will prevent his nomination.
nor his acceptance Of the nomination II
thrust upon him. He owes too much to
the Republican party for that The issue
next year will be Tariff as. Free Trade,
and as Blaine is the strongest exponent
OF the protection system now before the
people 1t would not surprise me to see
MIN nominated IL spite of all. ~
The letter In Washington.
WAsmNGToN, February 13.-The let
ter from Blaine expressing unwillingness
10 have his name presented to the Ma
tional Republican Convention as that of
candidate for the presidency, attracted
a great deal of attention ut the Capitol
to day and was the subject Of general
comment. Among the prominent Re
publican congressman who were willing
toexprcss publicly an opinion with regard
10 it were Senators Allison, Frye, Tarwcll,
and Chandler. Senator Allison would
not be interviewed beyond saying " |
think Blaine is entirely sincere in his
dccliuatiOn.
Senator Frye said 81 think the letter
is actually what it purports to bean in
structiOn TO Mir. Blaine's friends not to
present his name to the convention. 1t
does not debar the convention from
selecting him it it chooses. -
Senator Farwell said In reading
between the lines | infer that Blaine has
an eager desire for denomination. 1t
seems to me that if it were Blaine's sin
cere intention to decline or refuse the
nomination ne would have signed his
name at the end of the first paragraph.
Mr.. Chambers Blaine 5 decision
not TO mn is in accordance with his con-
slant declarations for year and half
made to his most intimate friends. 1t is
taken because he has been resolved not
10 undergo the labOrs and troubles and
to incur the responsibilities involved IN
the candidacy. Beyond all question bis
decision is sincere and irrevOcable.
From interviews with other prominent
Republicans telegraphed here tonight II
appears that the majority of them were
taken by surprise 10y the letter, and all
sorts of opinions are expressed as to ITS
real purpose. Ohio men are jubilant.
They accept it at its face value, and say
If means Sherman Tor the Republican
candidate.
The Baltimore Hcrad editorlelly
dominates Roscoe Conkling.
The New York ErCniHQ Post says
Eve think that Blaine's letter to Chair
man Jones does actually take him ont OF
fine field AS contestant for the Republican
nomination for the presidency. We
think that this Will be the effect and the
NET result Of it. whether he so intended II
or not.
This also is the opinion of Senator
QUAY. of Pennsylvania.
A great many OF Blaine's friends,
however. assert that the letters don't
change the situation at all and some
Democrats express themselves the same
wav. but give different reasons for their
belief or no reasons at all beyond con-
yIction.
sherman On BIaine's Letter
fBy telegraph 10 tho Dispatchl
CHcAeo. February ia Columbus
tOO dispatch says John Sherman, who
ia in the city, on hearing that Blame
would not allow his name to be used be-
fore the Chicago convention, said that
he had been expecting some such utter
ance from Blaine for some time. lie had
understood it would be forthcoming.
Elaine was one of the foremost Amerl-
cans. whom every Republican would
have delighted to honor, and 1t was a
source of regret that he had concluded
not 10 make the race again. Sherman
did not care TO talk much about Blaine S
letter. and thought it would cause Il
number of other candidates to come to the
front He proposed to make the race for
1o...t,,p opd would confess