Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-02-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WAsH1NGToN, Feb. II, 1888.

Mr. Blaine's letter to Chairman
Jones Of the National Republican
Committee, announcing that his
name would not 60 before the Ma
tional nominating committee this
year, has overshadowed everything
Of political nature at the National
Capital this week; and although it
has now been nearly a week since it
was made public, it is just as eagerly
discussed as it was the first day it
was printed, and opinions differ as
widely upon what its effects are like
ly to be on the people and afterwards
on the nominating convention. The
opinions for convenience may be put
in three classes:
First, those who were opposed to
Blaine's nomination, but would vote
for him if he received the party nomi-
ton. They believe, or at least they
say so, that the letter removes MI.
Blaine entirely from the field, and
that be could not consistently accept
the nomination even if the conven-
tion should unanimously tender it TO
him.
Second, those who acknowledge
the fitness Of Mr.. Blaine to be the
nominee of the party, but who for
personal reasons prefer some other
man. They believe-because it is
in accordance with their wishes
that the letter takes Mr.. Blaine out
Of the race and leaves it open to the
best man-which of course is their
candidate.
Third, those who believe that Mr..
Blaine is entitled to the high est
honors that his party can give him,
on account Of his lifelong work in
its interest, to say nothing Of giving
him a chance to obtain what was
lost in 1884 by an accident. They
say that Mr.. Blaine cannot prevent
the Republicans Of the country from
nominating and electing him to the
Presidency, that the matter is out Of
his hands entirely,an that the letter
will have no effect whatever except
to make them more determined than
ever to nominate him.
This classification does not include
the opinions of the Democrats. They
all hope that Mr.: Blaine will not be
the candidate. They fear him on
account Of his powerful influence
over the Irish Americans, more than
any other man in the Republican
party. A Democratic politician of
National reputation was overheard
to-day saying to a Senator OF the
same party: ''Blaine is the only man
we have got to look out for. II the
Republicans had put up any other
man in their party in 1884, Cleveland
would have carried New York by
fifty thousand majority instead Of
the beggarly eleven hundred that
we pulled through with. Our policy
from now on should be to prevent
the nomination of Blaine.'
If the old maxim, s'fnd out what
your opponents don't want you to do,
and then do it, is right, then the
Republican party should 60 right
ahead and nominate Blaine, his letter
Notwithstanding. But politics are
not run by maxims old or new, and
who is to be the nominee is becom-
ing burning question.
Whichever way the Blaine letter
be taken, it has resulted in bringing
Gen. Phil Sheridan we'll up in the
front rank Of eligible candidates for
the Republican nomination. He
would make strong candidate, GER
tain to be elected, and what Presi-
dent he would make. - 49,.
The administl alton circus is to be
put on the road again for short ex-
hibition or tour Of one week. The
show is to 90 South, as far down as
Florida, On special train which will
leave here on Tuesday, returning
Saturday night. Whether the special
train will include the celebrated car
with plate glass sides in which the
menagerie was exhibited during the