The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-02-23
About BlaIne's Letter.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.--The Blaine
letter vas really a surprise in political
circles here, Notwithstanding the numer-
GUS declarations by this one and that Gee
that he had been expecting such an en.
nouncement and was not unprepared fet
if. Mr.. Blaine has really had but little
opportunity for consultation with his
friends in this matter, aud while he.msy
have discussed the subject around tho
edges either orally or by letter With some
of the more intimate, it is believed the
final step ofissuing letter of decliuation
was made known to all Of his friends CT
to the general pubic ou!v by its publica.
ton. Most naturally, hr. Sherman and
other presidential candidates Of the Be.
publican party are glad to accept the
letter as peremptoty withdrawal without
reservation, but they realize all the same
thai they are only taking counsel oftheis
hopes. Many other prominent Rspubli.
cans here who can scarcely be looked
upon as even dark horses, slso, t5r oh,
vious reasons, assume that Mr.. Blaine
means 9ha: he seems to say. Others,
however, incline strongly to the yiests
that Mr. Blaine is jus! as much in the
field as ever, but that his purpose is to
avoid all controversies over the election
Of delegates and in deliberations of the
convention, and that be wishes the nomi,
nstion 10 come to him spontaneously, in
which event there would be no excuse
for divisions in the party, and the play
of personal dislikes and resentments.
Wise politicians conside. that Mr..
Blaine has shown Infinite shrewdDess in
putting out his letter at this time, SO far
in advance, as it gives him mastery ad
vantages. u will be remembered that
Mr. Tilden 10 1880 did not gise his letter
of deciination of the presidential nomina.
| ton to the public until It was presented
on The floor ofthe Democratic convention.
The convention took him at his word and
gace the domination 10 Hancock. After.
! wards it was we'll established that MI.
Tilden really wanted the nomination,
+! aud expected it 10 be given tohim. Had
(, his lslter been made public before the
meeting of the convention it, in all
| probability, would have resulted differ.
| entity In 1884 Mr.. Tilden hesitated in
bis heart, although ostensibly giving OUT
| that he could not take the nomination.,
! and finally he did decide positively, and
| made his letter of an unequivotal charac.s
Ter because of the conclusion to which he
| came that his life was rapidly drawing TO-
an end. NJ
No man Of the nature and the sur.g
roundings of Mr. Blaine is capable Of
! refusing the presidency ifhe believes its
! 10 be in his grasp, and it requires no
very careful reading between the lines Of
; his letter TO discover no sentence OF word
| in it which precludes bringing his name
! before tie Republican convention. The
letter may be truly said to be 8 tribute
to the strength Of President Cleveland
before the country. As has been altogeth.:
er understood in circles friendly to Mr.,
Blaine, he would not run again unless
fairly confident Of some show ofsuceess.
His letter gives hir, the privilege. and is
evidently SO intended, of standing by It
or ofyieldipg gracefully to party demass
There may be those yerdant enough to
| believe that Mr.. Blaine has Withdrawn
from the race, but insiders know tha!
there will be no closer or more. wary
| watcher of the shaping of political events {
aud prospects than he between now and
meeting of the Republican convention, OF
more ready to take advantage OF the stu
alton for his personal advantage.-8aslis
/, tiD,ore Sun.