The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-14
BLAINE'S ARTFUL DODGE.
HIS OWN FRIENDS TAKE NO STOCK
IN HIS LETTER.

CHICAGO, Feb. ia Columbus, Ohio,
dispatch says that John Sherman, who is in
the city, on hearing that Mr. Blaine would
not allow his name to be used before the
Chicago convention, said that he had been
expecting some such utterance from Mr.
Blaine for some time. He had understood
that it would be forthcoming. Mr.. Blaine
was one of the foremost Americans whom
the Republicans would delight to honor.
Mr.. Sherman did noe care to talk much
about the Blaine letter, and thought it
would cause a number of other candidates
to come to the front. He proposed to con-
test honorably for the nomination. Mr..
Blaine was a Republican who could sweep
the country if nominated, but he had I'M
derstood all along that he would not again
seek the nomination. 1t was on this suppo-
sition that he Sherman had entered the
list.
WHAT W. W. PHELPS SAYS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.--"Does be mean
| it3" was the great question at the capitol
| to-day. The Blaine matter was meant, of
course, for that was the topic of conversa-
| tion. The News correspondent asked that
| question of William Walter Phelps in the
veranda this afternoon. ''What an insult
ing question: said Mr.. Phelps, with smile
which drew all the bitterness out of his
| word. Nevertheless, it was asked him and
all the other especial friends of Mr.. Blaine
over and over again all day long by Repub-
| icans and Democrats alike.
NO CONFIDENCE IN BLAINc.
If Grover Cleveland should write such a
letter everybody would accept it as final
and conclusive, but when the Senators and
,f,,ti bn an
but are near in his confidence. read his
! letter this morning their first thought seems
| to have been "What does he mean T. OF
| course there were exceptions among the
hav-seed Congressman. but as general rule
even they intimated at least the same doubt
| of Blaine's sincerity. Blaine's special
| friends all said, in response to these ques-
| tions Read the letter. 1t needs no inter
| probation. OF course he means all it says u
| But the majority Of the Republicans, and
| almost all the Democrats, read very much
as Representative Edward Burnett, of Mas
| sachusetts did.
RATHER CONTRADICTORY
Mr.. Burnett said ''In the first sentence
| Ia short one), Blaine seems to say that he is
| not candidate and in the second sentence
! IA long one, Mr.. Blaine seems TO say that
| he would make a much stronger candidate
| this year than he did in 1884" Representa-
|
| PLY when he said 81 think Blaine is sim
| ply ranging himself with the dark horses SC
| as to win the race"
| OF course, the special friends of the other
| candidates among the Republicans take adj
vantage of the letter, which they pronounce
! to be genuine and sincere, as it booas their
| own men, but this Is pretty transparent
scheme
MIR. Crisp said: II think Mr.. Blaine
wants the nomination. Protection is the
| leading point be makes in his letter. Is
! there any other man who would so well
represent his party on that issue as Mr..
| BlaineF
Mr.. Blount said: "Mr Blaine does not
expect any Republican to be elected.
think the physical strain upon MIR. Blaine
for the last few years greater than is gen
orally supposed"
Mr.. Grimes was the only Georgian who
| thought the letter bonafide.
WHAT THE REPUBLICANS SAY.
| Among the prominent Republican Con.
| gressmen who were willing to express pub
! licly an opinion with regard TO it were Sen
ators Allison, Frye, Farwell and Chandler.
| Senator Allison would not be intervied
| beyond saying: II think Mr.. Blaine is en-
tirely sincere in his declinatlon."
Senator Frye said; 81 think the letter is
exactly what it purports to be, an instruc-
his name to the convention. 1t does not de
bar the convention from selecting him if il
| chooses"
Senator Farwell said: I'm reading be-
tween the lines | infer that Mr.. Blaine has
an eager desire for denomination. 1t seems
| to me that if it were Mr.. Blaine's sincere in
tention to decline or refuse a nomination he
would have signed his name at the end OF
the first paragraph
MR.. CHANDLER BELIEVES IN 1T.
Mr.. Chandler said: "Mr. Blaine's decision
not to run is III accordance with his con-
slant declarations for year and half
made to his most intimate friends. 1t is
| taken because he has resolved not to
| undergo the labors and troubles and TO
incur the responsibilities involved in the
candidacy. Beyond all question his deci-
sion is sincere and irrevocable."
| From interviews with other prominent
| Republicans telegraphed here tonight it ap-
pears that majority OF them were taken
by surprise by the letter, and all sorts of
| opinions are expressed as to its real purpose.
| The Ohio men are jubilant. They accept it
at its face value and say it means Senator
Sherman for the Republican candidate.
The Baltimore Herald, editorially, nomi-
mates Roscoe COnkling.
The Newark EUening Post: I'VE think
that Mr. Blaines letter to Chairman Jones
does actually take him out OF the'field as a
contestant for the Republican nomination
for the Presidency. We think that this
will be the effect and net result Of it,
whether he so intended or not" This is
also the opinion of Senator Quay, of Penn
sylvania. A great many Of Mr.. Blaine's
! friends, however, assert that the letter don't
| change the situation at all, and some Demo
Gratis express themselves the same way, but
| give different reasons for their belief or no
reasons at all beyond conviction.
| CHAIRMAN JONES EXPLANATION.
| PITTsBURG, Feb. 13--B. r. Jones, chair
man OF the Republican Natl nal Commit
tee, was interviewed by a Chronicle Tete-
ardph reporter this afternoon on Mr..
! Blaines letter OF declination. Mr. Jones
stated that MIR. Blaine was in the best of
| health, and it was not for this rea-
| son that he declined a renomina-
tion. "His trip said he, has been
wonderfully beneficial. / have had
many letters from him, and in nearly all of
them he has spoken Of his health, and said
| he was entirely recovered. No, sir, IL is not
| ill-health nor fear of the result, or the worry
and strain of another campaign, which inn
pelled Mr. Blaine 10 write that letter.
"Wili you tell me what Mr.. Blaine's
reasons aref'
BLAINE's REASONS
As given 90 me at the time 10 which Mr..
Blaine refers, the reasons were these Be
| fore the nomination by the Republicans IN
Il al.N.a.