Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-02-22
BLAINEs WITHDRAWAL.


No letter published lately has created
the interest and comment that Mr.
Blaine's has. The republican papers
generally say that the plumed knight
concluded not to undergo the labOrs
and troubles and incur the responsible.
tiles involved i'm the candidacy, and
that he could have been nominated and
elected. On the other hand, the demo
cratic papers with one voice say that
the Maine statesman knew that there
was ND probability of his election and
that he was smart enough to know
when he had enough.
Herewith we reproduce extracts from
some of the leading papers of the coun-
try TO show what public sentiment is on
the question:
Charleston News and Courier: "The
high-tarlff party is deserted by its rec.
ognlZed leader and champion before the
first gun of the campaign has been fired.
This is the meaning of Mr.. Blaine's let
ter, and surely the weakest-kneed dem
Ocrat in the party can pluck up courage
and move forward now"
GlObe-DemOcrat: 1--WE are frank to
say that, in so far as the letter of with.
drawal Is a surprise to us, it is not a
disagreeable surprise. 1t seems to us
To make republican victory more feast
bic and better assured, and this, to us,
is an object of much greater concern
than the qualification of any mans
ambition, or the elevation of any man
to the presidency or TO any other posi-
tion.n
Washington Star: ut will now be
interesting TO watch the effect of Mr..
Blaine's letter upon the organization to
which il is addressed, and upon the sew
eral candidates for ITS leadership. His
withdrawal is likely to leave the repub-
lican party where Mr.. Cleveland's with
drawal would leave the democrats. with
q lumber OF good captains in the field,
hut no general"
New York News: "Mr. Blame writes
ia such glowing terms of the prospects
OF the republican party, reviewing the
situation i'm language Of absolute conf
dence in its sweeping triumph next
November. that, If he is sincere in his
representation, il is, indeed, an act of
sublime self-sacrihce on his part, unless
the considerations of personal cOnstraint
are imperative, to turn his back upon
the prize which he assures his party is
ready To fall like ripe fruit into the
hands of their presidential candidate"
New York World: "This letter has
the air of sincerity. Itisplain that Mr..
Blame has made up his mind that he
can not be again nominated for presl-
dent, and that If nominated he can not
be elected. This is the Interpretation
that will be placed upon the document.
His friends, who have doubted the pol
icy of bringing him into the contest
again, will gladly accept their release.
They will seek other affiliations. and
before twenty-fOur hours there will be
"A general reorganization in the republic
can camp. IL may be said that this let
ter of declination increases the presi-
Dental chances of John Sherman some
thing like % per cent"
Springfield Republican: "The action
Of Mr.. Blaine is distinct and unlock
editor gain. The pilot so generally dis
trusted avows himself unwilling to take
the helm of the republican craft for
1888, and the party is left To choose one
more competent for the work in hand.
Thus the opportunity is afforded for q
new departure. That is all it amounts
to. 1t is a blessed relief to be rid of
Blaine, but what is going to be done
about selecting his successor. and what
kind of cargo will be loaded in for a
new cruiser Here is a happy solution
to grave and perplexing first problem,
but the relief is negative and not posi-
tive. The ship is yet to be manned,
the course To be laid out. and the man
found who ''wIll keep her rudder true"
New York Graphic: after the most
mastery message that had ever emanat-
ed from the white house had courage
ously grappled with the most import
ant question Of the day the republicans
seized upon it instantly as their battle
cry, and selected James G.. Blaine as
the enc man who could make a square
fight against the man who wrote it.
The disaffected were being led back to
the fold from which they had strayed.
and were convinced after much argu-
ment that their prejudice against the
''plumed knight" should be sunk and
that they should unite i'm selecting the
only man who could beat the nominee
of the democratic party. Just as these
efforts are beginning to bear fruit Mr..
Blaine writes his letter of withdrawal
Hash MIR. Cleveland something to do