New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-23
BLAINE AND THE CONVENTION.
WHAT HE DID AND WHAT THE PARTY HAS
DONE.
BLAINE's MoTIvEs-THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OTHER
cAypIpArEs-AN ANALYSIS or THE SITUATION.

pLAINEs MouvEs-THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OTHER
CAyDIDATEs-AN ANALYSIS or THE SITUATION
Charles Emory Smith in The Philadelphia Press.
The rollcal OF the Republican National Convention
Is substantially made up The delegates are eioc.eu
the States have spoken The splt ana S a,o u,
can now DO inteigently reviewed and measured. ~ IS
not for any for any set of men to precpta,e
for all TO weigh the settled facts and consider DIS
passonacly what ought to be done. The welfare ava
success Of the party above all other cOnsldet-
ations the harmony, unity and healthy vitality OF the
party arc the conditions of victorious campaign.
pose OF Republicans throughout the country nave
turned upon the attitude OF Mr.. Blaine. Had he not
written tho Florence letter there would have been no
contest over tho Presidential nomination. Had no
simply remained silent he would have been chosen by
reclamation to lead again In the great battle Oh lsSo
Every intelligent observer knew this then and knows
IL now Mr. Blaine himself could not DO blind 10 II
and this fact is the conclusive proof that In writing
10 be the candidate and his deliberate purpose not 10
seek the nomination either actively or indirectly NO
public man over acted from higher or more honorable
Impulses than inspired Mr.. Blaine In this matter he
could not altogether give his guiding reasons he must
ment Of his countrymen but his spirit and action
were delicate, patriotic and chivarous IN the highest
degree. 1t was apprehension as TO his health that
prompted him nor any personal fear, If Ids real
feeling could have been fully uncovered we fancy IL
been the candidate he could not gracefully appear
even In the remotest degree in the attitude Of claim
Ing the party under an implied obligation to him which
he would not do that he could not fairly stand In the
way OF distinguished asplrants who had undouotea
not properly be the candidate again unless upon the
general call and the free, commanding unmistakable
Judgment OF the party which he could not assume or
with this feeling Mr.. Blaine wrote his letter and re-
without regret, because he could not DO candidate
except under unlikely conditions and did not wish to
broad, sincere and emphatic. He meant every word
that he said in spirit and in letter. lie took himself
to do he absolyed the party from all obligation to hin
he Stepped out OF evcry6ody's way and cft every as
pIrant free field and fair show. And he did 1t in
cond ISOT mo any 0s aSo bcs %a oed IN any,
thing have been more unsefsh and honorable The |
and IS now practically Completed What is the rcsulti
We simply state the plain facts which lie upon the SER
several candidates IN the Gcld-emlnont and honored
Republicans distinguished BY long service and who com
is the simple truth which all must recognize that not
OF them has shown any delegoo strength outside
tanned some in tho South and Judge Gresham has Sc
cured those Of Illinois and few scattered votes else
that, with all other candidates the field, nearly
majority Of the convention Insist upon Mr. Blaine. ard
state candidates eliminated, two-thrds of the con-
vention stlll demand Mr.. Blaine.
ous unfettercd, undlrected action of tho Republican
masses 1t Is idle to say that il Is the work % any
active friends have been tied by his letter They did
not conceal her conviction that he was tho strongest
as any effort concerned they disarmcd |
by his expressed wish This great current for Dir
Blaine comes from the people. Does anybody pretend
to think that the strong expressions of MASSACHUSETTS,,
Vermont and Connecticut were tho product of any
machine7 Does anybody pretend to think that tho
unanmlty OF New-York IS the outcome Of
any puppct strlngl The Republican party numbers
nearly six million voters. IT stretches across the con-
tinont and from the st. Lawrence to the Gulf. Tho
only machine which this vast extent IS tho
Federal machine and that is In Cevelands hands. Tho
SIX million Of Republican voters arc FREQ and untram
meled and this uDmlstakable choice which Is plainly
stamped the muser-rOll of the Convention IS the
honest expression of their earnest sentiment and con
vction. 1t Is not our business to explain the facts
to recognize the facts and weigh their I'M
port And tho 0vershadowng fact of the hour written
in the figures OF thirtyeght states, IS that I'm spite
Of his declenson the Republicans Of tho country want
Mr.. Blaine as their candidate.
What then' Mr.. Blane's nomination can now only
al to stop It that he had ANY justification for doing
He declared his personal and sincere wish and stepped
put Of the contest In the face Of that retirement tho
Convention to nominate him IT IS not now question
Of what is duo him-hs settled that when he Withdrew
party, and that question which Senator sherman
md Senator Allison and every other leader Is bound
% consider we'll as every Republican in the ranks.
The Republican party has In any event stupendOus
struggle before IT, Tho first necessity and the first
iuty TO enter upon Il with united and solid front.
n Mr. Blaine is not to be the candidate It is vt1l TO
shape the action in snch wav that the great host
whose heart IS with him shall stll burn with the glow
If battle. II Mr. Blaine is TO he the canddate-f he
has left tho field TO othars-it is equally vital that It
shall be done In the wlsest and strongest manner We
'epeat that Mr. Blaine alone can now prevent Mr..
Baine's nomination. Rnt II Is not question for him
llons. He has glvcn his answer once and tho party
lcclned TO accept It. What answer he would give now
We do not presume TO say Bnt the party has unnls-
representatives. and leaders to consider in the highest
party interest.