Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-02-15
9resa and lakotaiaa
BLAiRE,s WITHDRAWAL


BlAlNE'S WITHDRAWAL.
O%pinIons of the GhsirmsR OF the Ma.
sionsi COMMUNICATIVE York News
papers Express Themselves.
Pittsburg, Feb. 13.-Mr. Jones,
chairman Of the republican national
COMMITTED. was interviewed by a
Chronicles Telegraph reporter this after
noon On Blaine's letter OF %declination.
Mr.. Jones stated .nat Blaine was in the
best OF health and it was not for this
feason that he declined a renomination.
Ills trip,,' ssid he ''has besn wonder
fully beneficial. l have mad many let
ters from him, and in nearly oil OF them
he has spoken of his health, and said be
was entirely recovered. No, sir it is
not ill health nor fear of the result. or
the worry and strain of another CAM
paign which impelied Blaine to write
that letter. Az gwen to me at the time
to which he refers, his reasons were
these: Before the nomination by the
Republicans in 1876 Blains was very an
xious to obtain the presidency, and
worked for it with the aid of his irierds.
He was disappointed when ID went to
another mas in the manner that it did.
In 1880 he wsE still anxious, although
in 8 lesser degree, and his dis.
appointment was less marked. In 1884
he had, to q great extent, lost the desire
for the office, and now he ~ewithdraws
from the contest because he has no wish
to become president. He takes q keen
interest in literary work; and wants
quiet and rest. / assure yon that these
are the only reasons for Blaine's letter
that are known to me. Everybody,
sooner or later. loses the desire for
something which they were once anxious
TO obtain. and this is entirely true of
Blaine"
SIS not Blaine's letter somewhat in
consistent with the action OF his friends,
presumably with mis- contest, in working
for the control OF state delegations and
committees?'
"No, sir; it is not inconsistent. No
such work has been done by Us. OF
course, l have received countless letters
on this eubiect from people north, south
east and west, but Blaine's friends have
not sought to set up or or secure q dele
gate any where. We have made no SON.
certed action. There has been no meet.
ing to map out a r favorable to
BlAine, and l assure you that whatever
has been done by the admirers OF Blaine
has been done of their own account, and
not at the instance of his close friends.
We have done nothing to secure the
nomination for Blaine"
.WaH this letter laid before n sort
OF a meeting OF his friends or OF the ma
tional committed I"
ut was not. The letter was received
! hu ~ op n,,raI ~ loak -
directly from Florence to me. 1t was
entirely in Blaine's handwriting. As
you see by It's opening sentence, it wal
intended for the republican party. ]
did not tell anybody OF it's existence
until Friday. 1t was not given out on
Saturday because many papers do moi
print Sunday editions, and as I was anx,
ious to give il the widest publicity /
arranged to have 1t go out by the asso-
dated press. Even men an close to
Blaine as Stephen B. EIkina knew noth-
ing OF the existence OF this letter unit
this morning."
Joseph ID. Weeks, financial secretary
of the republican national eommittee, il
commenting upon Blaine's letter, said
II think Blaine ia. perfectly sincere in
what he says, but ] do not think his
withdrawal will prevent his nomination
OF his acceptance OF the nomination il
thrust upon him. The issue next yea,
will be tariff W. free trade, snd as Mr.
Blaine is the strongest exponent OF the
protection system now before the people
it would not surprise me to see hin
nominated IN spite of all"
New York, Feb. 13-BlaIne's letter
WAS the only topic OF conversation to.
ldAy in all puhlis Yaaorta
An evening paper quoted ex-senator
Warner Miller 81 saying: Sin my
opinion Blame has concluded that bis
nomination would not harmonIzs sll
factions OF the psrty. He is evidently
sincere in his letter"
The Evening Pest says: I'VE think
Blaine's letter does actually take MIN
ont OF the field as e contestant orthe re-
publican nomination for the presidency,
We think this will be She effect and net
result of il, whether he 80 intended it or
not"
Chauneey M. Depew said: nMr.
Blaine's letter was a surprise and q dis
appointment to me. 1t is, / think, 10
ell his friends. ] feel sure that Blaine'e
friends regret the step he has deemed II
wise TO take, and the majority OF them
will not consider it final. Mr.. BlaIne's
declination will not necessarily prevent
his friends from nominating hum for the
presidency, neither will it prevent hin
accepting the nomination should il be
given him. AS for the other possible
candidates--weiI, their national popu-
larity Will not be known until the Chica.
go convention assemblies
The following are the comments OF the
leading papers on the Blsins letters:
Tribune: "We regret the decision
profoundly, since we have believed tina.
he would command moreyotes in doubt,
ful states than any other republican vel
proposed. But various candidates, al
excellent men and deserving we'll Of she
republican party, are actively In the
field. May the best man win"
World: TT is PLAN MIR. Blaine hal
made up his mind that he cannot again
be nominated for president and ii nom
mated he cannot be elected. This is thu
Interpretation that will be placed upor
the document. There will be a genera
reorganization in the republican camp
and it may be said that this letter of de-
clination increases the presidential
chances of John Sherman something like
25 per cent
Times: aAr. BlAine's Florence Letter
will be v~ariously interpreted. Those
who know him we'll and greatly admire
him, together with those who know hin
and greatly distrust him, will be 10th tt
accept it as an absolute and finsI putting
aside OF the presidential nomination
which 10 conceded he might have. The
Blame agitation will &c on as merrily al
ever In spite OF this rather ambiguon,
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