St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-14
ABLAlNESCHEME
Believing His Chances Poor
for Being Elected to the
Presidency,
He Is Laying the Wires for
His Old Job as Secretary
Of State.
Opinions Of Prominent News
papers and Leading
Politicians.
Western Republicans Put in
q Word for a Candidate
From This Section.
Gov. MeGill Thinks the Maine
Statesman Does Not
Really Mean 1t.
Editor Wheelock Asserts That
Blaine Was Not the Strong
est Man Anyway.

letter was the leading topic Of political
gossip to-day. Mr.. Blaine's avowed
friends in congress show desire not to
express their opinion, but intimate that
the letter only emphasizes the diSincli-
nation which he has shown to press his
claims for the nomination. The con-
SpicuOuS Sherman men and others
known as opponents of Mr.. Blaine hail
the letter as an actual withdrawn on
his part from the presidential race.
Among prominent Democrats in both
houses the impression seems to prevail
that the letter is far from expressing
the fact that Blaine will not be preSi-
Dental candidate.
Congressman Macdonald said: 81
am not surprised at this. As stated to
GLOBE reporter, when interviewed in
st. Paul last summer, do not believe
that Mr.. Blaine at any time since his
defeat has seriously desired or intended
to be candidate. My view has been
that it was his purpose to make such
display before and up to the time of
holding the convention that he would
be entitled TO the same position in the
cabinet if the Republican candidate was
elected that he had under Garfield.
The near approach of the national con-
yention has necessarily pressed upon
his party the discussion OF the strength
and weakness of their respective candi-
dates, aud it was important for Mr..
Blaine to carry out what 1 understood
to be his plan, that his weak points
would not be discussed and the opposi-
ton to him in his own party be
silenced, hence this letter. Mr. Blaine
is a politician of the first order and no
man knows better than he when and
how to express himself. 1t would be
silly to suppose that he had himself in
terviewed immediately after the publ
cation of the presidents message and
now writes this kind of letter with so
much politics in it, and so many par
tiSan appeals to his Republican friends,
without having an Interior object in
view. and was merely doing all this
through diSinterested desire to serve
his party. When distinguished and
prominent men retire from public life
they cease to be active politicians and
do not exhibit such anxiety and thrust
their views upon the public in the man.
mer that Mr.. Blaine does. He is still
figuring for first place III the cabinet.
but he won't get it. We will defeat
whoever they nominate"
Congressman Rice says: "My first
impression upon reading the letter was
that Mr.. Blaine, as usual, prefers that
some one else shall be the scapegoat
Being far-seeing enough to know that
Mr.. Cleveland is certain to succeed him
self, Mr.. Blaine declines to be beaten
again, and by the same man. He has
taken TO the woods before a gun is fired
on the Skirmish line"
Congressman Wilson, with his usual
reticence. declined 10 express an opin-
ion, but finally said: Mr.. Blaine might
have taken many votes from the Demo
cratic party in Minnesota, but he would
have driven many Republican votes
into the Democratic party. l do not
mean merely those who opposed him on
personal grounds, but the farmers who
believe in tariff reform could not have
supported such a pronounced protec-
zionist as Mr.. Blaine. The tariff is the
issue of the day and of the decade. The
Northwest is growing into deep-rooted
knowledge and understanding of the
iniquitieS and evils of the present sys-
TEN of protection, and thereby the Dem
ocratic party is growing in popular
favor. MIR. Blaine is no more prOJec-
ZIONIST than his party, but he is the
most unequiVOcally committed of all
Republicans. In place of him the Re-
publicanS Will now nominate some man
whom they can run upon an equiyocal
platform. | cannot see that his
letter either helps or hurts the Demo-
cratic party. Cleveland will be renom-
mated and reelected. l have heard
prominent gentlemen of both parties
to-day express the opinion that the Re-
publican convention will get into an
immense turmoil over many candidates,
and TO eXtricate themselves will NOM
mate Blaine ultimately by reclamation.
Then being upon seeming equal pop
ular footing with Cleveland he would
make the race again, but / am not in
clined to that view of the case 1t rather
seems TO ne that Blaine is now out Of
the race"
Congressman Lind says: sit was
surprise 10 me, and no little of shock.
too, because Mr.. Blaine had the nomi-
nation within his grasp. l cannot say
who will be likely to be nominated. One
thing is certain. Mr.. Blaine means ex-
actly What he says, and his name will
not be presented as candidate before
the Republican national convention,
but he will back the nominee with his
NOitC DIS Ilt always has
done. He is 4 grand man; great and i'll
tiuential to-day in private life as he was
when congressman, speaker, senator,
secretary or presidential standard
bearer.
Knute Nelson says: 81 am out of
politics and my opinion is of no account:
hence will only say that l read the
letter but formed no ideas for publica-
tiOn.n
kee district, says: II think Blaine secs
his defeat ahead of him, and therefore
gets out of the race this early vnder the
impression that he who turns and runs
away may live to fight another day.'I be-
lieve that the American anti-Catholic
party has brought him to his knees, and
If the Republicans nominate Sheridan
the American party will defeat him."
Gen, Sanborn. of st. Paul, is visiting
Mr.. Rice and will remain two weeks.
He says: 1t makes little difference
whether Blaine or Sherman be the Re-
publican candidate as far as Minnesota
is concerned iii presidential year, for
don't think the Democrats can carry
the state until 1892. 1t was close i'm
1856, but that was because of McGilrs
appropriately rather than because of
Democratic gains. Blaine is stronger
than his party in Minnesota
Mr.. DalzeiI. Republican representa-
tive from the Pittsbnrg district. an init
mate friend Of long standing of Chair
man Jones, If the Eationai Republican
committee, says that he is not surprised
to read MIR. Hiaine's letter; that he had
an lnt!mation several months ago that
Mr.. Blaine mad suffered severely from
nervous prostration since the cam
paign OF 1854, and would not be
physically able to withstand the
demands OF another campaign; that he