New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-27
A TALK WITH Mr.. BLAINE.
SIDE LIGHTS ON HIS RECENT LETTER

10 ANOTHER CANDIDACY - READY
TO HELP THE NOMINEE. HE
BETRAYs NO PREFERENCE
HAPPY DAYS IN
FLORENCE.
CdNe D,sprtei 10 The Krs York World (De'n)
FI,nyxcE Feb o5-I found Mr. Blaine this morn
ing at the Hotel Washington, on the Lung -hho'
The hotel LOOKS directly ont upon the Arho' IL -
,arrc souar, yellow brick building, thoroughly com
Portable and one OF the heading hotels of Florence
The concierge informed me that u would 90 no use W
take up ms card. Mr.. Blaine wonid receive no ooo'
hf,er giving me a plying hind OF glance wheh per
ssted IA. finally carried up my card and came dow n
Iooldng very much surprised. yinS that Mr Bla n'
would be glad 20 soc me. found Mr. and MIS-
Dape sitting ia the large red and geld paror of their
suite which directly oyerlOoks the river Tho rooms
mon this side OF tho hotel valued account of
tho sunlight which constantly streams into them.
Mr. Blaine explained why he received 20 few OF has
callers. liz said no always glad to see any one
who really knew him, but that there had been a num-
Ter Of people vino Lad called him during tho last
few weeks simply from motives OF curiosity and that
Le had been forced to a certain extent to keep his
doors cl>ed to visitors.
On Mr.. Biane's arrival In Italy he found himself
pvcrtahcn by his old enemy, rheumatic govt He
was laid up for sono two weeks at Milan and even
after his arrival at Florence obliged TO keep
pretty quic for TIVE weeks mtre. The bright and
pleasant weather hero however made his recovery a
very rapid one and no Is now going about as he did
I'm Paris and London. lie drives I'm tho afternoon
bright confident and satisfied His most Intimate
friends no sign of regret at his Withdrawal from
man Who has fought through many a campaign and
who feels that he has earned period of rest.
MR BLAiNRs DECISION PHASES HIS WIFE
HIS family are pleased TO have him retLe from pub
lie life. During conversations with Mr. Blaine upon
two or three occasions during my stay here Mrs.
Blaine in most emphatic terms approved of her hus-
bands withdrawal from politics. Mr.. Blaines hair
and heard LONGER than he usually wears thom
This 10 a slight extent changes his appearance lie
dressed In a ioagh tweed suit. His ewes looked
bright and clear. his color good and he dspisycd
The same aacry in moving about as in years past.
In no way do his movements Indicate Illness MIS-.
Blane who not loohinG al all well In Paris has
as Vol a. at any time during the fifteen years.
Tho Blanes now alone Miss Dodge ana MISS
Margaret Slain. are in Rome whence hcy write "a, al
Blaine expect, to remain here for several weeks yet
and bright vel At the same tire cool and braclng.
Ito made his headquarters hero for the last four
weeks. making little excursions.
II0 was ont during the Carnival and drove up and
down tbs CaScne through the joking, good naiuIed
Er o 81 as wc as thy dS Mr. Glsaonc The
Italian IS very quick to understand ana app0eia ne
inaGs Mr. hiaino's fame known 50 quickly that his
appearance In the streets is now signal Tor BOWS ana
great compliment to Their country. MI. Blaine was
made The TARGET Of good many doweS d1f6s ana ,h
chccrcd Thr American residents in Florence
particularly enthusiastic
THs EFCFNr LETTER CAR FULLY PREMEnITATED
Upon tito occasion Of my first call after some pro-
imlnary chat. the conversation turned upon the sub
ject OF Americas politics Mr.. Blaine asked oucS
tons at fist. He wanted TO know what i had heard
to the way his letter had been received / tod
him that ! had Information except the meagre
scraps that had been cabled to tho London papers but
thai tho general opinion among such papers were
unfr,cnGly was thai ho was not sincere IN wiring MS
letter 10 Mr. Jones, and that was considered 10y such
IL a
Ing public attention TO himself as candidate also
told him That tho general comment of the English
papers likewise unfricndy, aud that they, too,
cid no, regard his letter a. sincere wthdTaw val;
While on this subject, asked Mr. blaine the direct
question as TO whether he would, under any circum-
Stances, permit his name 10 be used again as can
GGao.
lie replied In thr most emphatic negative but then
added: do not wish to maize any new ailrmationS
upon this subject in that lo'ter That letter, as YOU
must know. was not haphazard on hand affair 1t
thought. You VIII remember that told you in Paris
last Dccemhcr that had no intention OF being can
mind at that time forbid the of my name in the
approaching convention
GIVING OTHER CANDIDATFs FAIR Gil NICE
Mr.. Blaine said further IN the course Of tho con
vcrsatioD that no came Europe TO get away from
politics and TO be In position where his actions could
De- subject to little mlSiepreseBt alton possible
Several weeks ago he that there was movement |
in the Republican party OF nature to make II almost
certain that he would be rcnominated and that ID was
IN order to head of this that he wrote the letter to
Dir. Jones.
sad to Mr. Blaine at this particular point. that |
his friends in London had cOntrovcrted In every posi-
bio way tho English view questioning the sincerity |
OF his ettcr, that they asserted that he could and
would certainly have been renomnstod by remaining !
silent. and that the drift so strong in his direction
that there hardly Republican or Democrat that !
did not believe that he would be renomnated with the
Same exclamation as Mr. Cleveland ,.,,.,
Mr.. Blaine then SAID in speaking OF his withdrawal,
that he had been urged to more speedy action ac
scnnt of the candidacy Of Other prominent Repueicsns
this juncture, hc might have delayed 1t little But
In tho field II could not be said that he was de
sorting the party in any way, as there were now a |
or sSS % Wnaa work IN R' S the and that OF s
ability for tho success of any candidate nominated by
his party.
WHY HE sHEINKs FROM ANOTHER CAMPAIGN.
Growing exploit, he said: IL hold that
have no right to DO q candidate again. who !
has been candidate OF his party and defeated.
owes 1t to his party TO withdraw. and not be candi
dato second time. More than this, there is another
through the burden and fatigue of another Pres dental
canvaSs-snch ono as the Canvass Of the last cam
had no faith my self In tho success Of the party"
feeling lie is of politics something that his en-
emes Will find very bard TO believe No one who
knows Mr.. Rlane question his sincerity. saw
him nearly every day during the last Presidential
pasn and know ns how much Of ,, burden he car, car
It's oxhanstons and It's disappoin mens. He believed
and perhaps s hs at his s defeat hc es
with philosophy from the beginning, and prefers
life OF quiet and study to that Of the feyered action
Of politics
WILL NOT NAME HIS SUCCESSOR. .
lie Is enjoying his European visit In a moderate
degree lie would much prefer to DO at home This
he did not say In many words but 1t was plainly 10
DO Inferred from his In discussing homo affairs
His two daughters getting much good from,
thcir visit and have much enjoyment IN 1t thai
he has yielded his personal wishes In the matter
lie expect 10 return to the United states
until after the Republican convention in june. He |
she's to avoid tho slightest criticisms directed against
him as desiring to Influence, In the remotest degree