Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-17
BLAINE'S LETTER.
still Fruitful Topic OF Discussion.
Hills Thinks Blaine Wl.hdraws Be-
Cause He Sses Certain Defeat,
The Republicans Oannos Put Up a Kan
Strong Enough to Defeat Cleveland
with the Tariff as the Issue.
WHAT CONGRESSMAN MILLS SAYS

"hAL CONGRESSMAN MILE SAYS,
Special TO the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-Blaine's letter
is still discussed freely here, and the sem
sation created by its appearance has not
suosided in the least. It will be fruit
tut topic Of discussion for months. On
the letter Mr.. Mills said to-day: Mr..
Blaine has evidently come to the con.
clusion that It Is impossible for him
TO unite the factions in his
party. the stslWsrts on the one side snd
the mugwumpS on the other under no
circumstances will support him, and he
knows IL. Therefore he takes this time
to step down and out. think he is sin
cere in his declination. He will proba-
oily not make any attempt to name the
candidate, as q fgure-head with Mr..
Blaine behind as q motive power would
encounter the same opposition that Mr..
Blaine would himself. Mr.. Sherman is
candidate, but think dark horse
will get the nomination. One thing
| am certsin OF, however, is that
they cannot put up msn strong enough
to defeat Mr.. Cleveland, who will IN
doubtedly be the Democratic nominee.
Mr. CieVelant is already tens Of thou
sands Of votes stronger than his party,
and growing stronger every day. He has
made the issue of the campaign on the
tariff snd there 1t will stay. Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher used to say thousands OF
men are Visiting for the Democratic party
10 make plain Issue sgainst protection,
and then they Will be found in its rspks.
Mr., Grain thinks it will be very easy
matter now for Mr.. Cleveland to be re-
nominated. He regarded Blaine as his
most formidable candidate left to the Re-
publicans. All the other Presidential
timber would be soon cut awsy.
MANY INTERVIEWS.
ST. L. us, Mo, Feb. 1.-THE Globe
Democrat this morning publishes nearly
three pages Of interview with prominent
men In all sections OF the country and
particularly in the southwest and west,
relative to the Blaine letter. The belief
is generally expressed that Mr.. Blaine Is
sincere in his withdrawal and that his
"No" is hnal. Many persons express re-
greet st this step and still believe him the
strongest man in the Republican, party,
maintaining that he wss Sc far ahead in
tie race for nomiI alton that there was
really no second choice. There Is 8 large
following who say that heretofore there
was tendency for 8 unanimous nomina-
ton. This letter has made such step 8
probability, and in such an event Mr..
Blstne could not refuse the first place.
Others view the matter as Rdal and con-
slider 1t magnsnimous on the part OF the
great statesman, the letter having the eff
feet to bring the party together and put 1t
in the best fighting trim. While dissp-
pointing to some 1t was as gratifying to
many. Messrs. Sheridan, Hawley, ALI
son, Gresham and Lincoln are receiving
the benefit OF the first boom.
CONSIDERS IT FINALITY.
PHrLARsLPHIA, Pa, Feb. II The
Record publishes the folio wing: Charles
r. Smith, editor in chief of the Press,
who is universally recognized as Mr.
Blaine's closest and most confidential po-
litical friend in this state, talked without
reserve last night upon the question of
Mr. Blaine's letter. During the absence
Of Mr.. Blaine from this country he has
been in constant corresponds CO with Mr..
Smith, and there are few men in the
United States better able to measure the
tull significance of Mr. Blaine's remarka-
Die letter than the editor Of the Press.
Sat the outset" said Mr.. Smith, 81 may
as well say that regard the letter as q
hnslity. Mr.. Blaine, iin my opinion, has
purposely and absolutely taken himself
out OF the contest for the Republican
presidential nomination, and his purpose
will not be shaken by any circumstances
that could possibly be foreseen. The let
ter, In my opinion, means Just what 81
says, and there is no reason for them
situation Of hope that there may. be a.
hidden meaning between the lines. MrS
Blaine is no longer factor In the rkee
Tor the presidential nomination ~ y :
At this point Mr. Smith WAS INTERRUPTED,
by the Inquiry, "Oo you mean 30 SOY
there are no conservative cireumstancE$
under which Blaine would consent TO be
S candidate for the Presidency,g ~
"No," replied the editor. AMY cpinios
is that no mSn ever will refuse to accept
nomination for the Presidency which is
spontaneously, unanimously offered 10
him. Viewed merely as Hypothetical
case, think il such an unlikely thing
could happen, under the circumstances,
as the convention, fnoing all other can
didstes out Of the question, should unani-
mously tender the pomlaatlon, Blaine
could not refuse. But l am fully con-
vlnced that no such remote possibility
suggests itself to Blaine, end the best
evidence that he Is entirely sincere Is that
his beet friends In this country who have
right to feel thst they know something
Of him, are convinced that It is useless to
consider him as at all In the field, and
they are at liberty and Will exercise that
liberty Of shaping their course without
regard to such thought IS that Blaine
Is IN any measure whatsoever acsndidAte,
or that be hopes expects or desires 10 be
q candidate for the Presidency
THE KRNNBBEc JOURNAL.
AUGUSTA, Me-, FEB. 13-In sn editori
a. upon Mr.. Blsine's letter the KenneDec
Journsl tomorrow will say: We know
not sll the reasons which have caused
Blaine to send his declination to the Ms
tional committee and are authorized Ia 70
sense to speak for him or to interpret his
course Of action. We know well tina. he
has strong persousl reasons for not wish
ing to accept the B publican Candidacy
aud for avoiding the great rescoDsioilities
which the presidency would impose on
him, but the needs OF the country and the
demands Of the great natio-dsl parry WITH
which his name and fame are SO
clearly identified should and