The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-14
Committeeman Clarkson.

DES MONIES. Ia, FEB 13.-ln interview
to-day, j. S. Clarkson. Iowa member of the Re-
publican national committee, an intimate friend
and supporter Of Blaine. on the Blaine letter of
declination and its probable effects, said: IT
have been expecting the letter for some time.
It is in line with letters / received from Mr..
Blaine in November and December, Which led
me to believe and say at the national commit
tee meeting in Washington. and afterwArd at
New York, that did not believe he would be in
the field. The press of the country. led
by the pursuing Misrepresentation of the
malignant enemies Of Mr. Blaine, has
refused to believe the sincerity and unselfsh
attitude Blaine has held towardathe party. In
1884 he was not a candidate for tho nomination,
and be did not really want it, and received
several letters from him in the winter and early
spring. before his nomination, strongly express
ing the wish not to run. So far from directing
his friends at the national convention that year
he bad no communication with them, and not
word passed between him end any of them dur.
ing the contest there. The masses of the party,
not the politicians. were for him. and 1t was
their moving forward at the township primaries,
and county, and district and State conventions
that sent the delegates to Chicago for him. Be-
fore he went abroad last spring. he told me
again of his settled dsinclination TO run; of his
controlling wish to contribute everything that
be could to the unifcation and success OF the
party in the election of 1888. But the people
6r1ii preferred him, and. believing LnAG ne was
defeated IN 1884 by the treachery of some party
politicians-as he was-have been intending
to move forward again and renominate and
elect him. and would have done SO but for this
letter. His action now shows anew the great
of the and his devotion Repub-
1can. He has done much to disarm enmity be-
fore this, and should certainly remove it all
now. He will be at the front for the party next
fall. The Blaine Republicans will be for the
candidate without any sulking, whoever he is.
Iowa has voted in three successive national con-
ventions for Blame. and believes in
him more than ever. Now that he is
ont of the field, Iowa will probably
very strong and fit men in Senator Allison and
Justice Miller. Both are very strong in the
State, but the Senator, from his closer relations
with the people in later years, has a real ad-
vantage In that fact. There will be no contest
between them. and the State will be united for
in all points whore Blaine is strong including the
Pacific coast He is exceptionally strong with
the business interests of the East, because
of his ieve-headed. sagacous career IN Congress
for twenty-five years Justice Miller Is known
the trusted counselor of President Lincoln.
and of all the Republican Presidents since. and
as the first jurist of the country of the present
age. The indications are now that the party
will take a Western for its scandi-
date. Sherman, of course, will move power
order, but / believe the country will
respond to other men, and that the choice,
ii made between Western men. will be between
Allison and Harrison or Gresham. with Rusk,
of Wisconsin, likely to develop great strength.
Sherman is strong man, but his age and the
withdrawal of Blaine. a contemporary candidate
with him. clears the field for new asplrants.
such as the ones have named in the West,
with Foraker added and such men Hawley
and Hiscock in the East"