Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-16
Observation-Disclosures 16, 1888
Tho Letter.

Now TINT the pubic have had tlme 10
digest Mr.. BLArNE's remarkable letter,
and has had heard OF read the differing
opinions expressed by distinguished
men and men not distinguished as to
what the Plumed Knight meant by his
declination TO run this year as n candi-
date for President, it will be well to re-
cur to the exact phraseology OF the let
ter In order to learn whether in it we
ran see the mind OF the writer. Mr..
BLAINE is o master Of clear, correct sex
pressive English. He knows exactly
how to say what he desires to say.
Here is tho opening sentence and para
graph of Mr.. BLAISE's letter:
"Sir,-I wish through you TO state to
the members OF the Republican party
that my name will not be presented TO
the National Convention calledto assem-
be in Chicago in June next for the nomi-
nation Of candidates for President and
Vice President of the United States.
He says not merely that he does not
wish for his name to be presented, nor
merely that he does not intend for 1t TO
be presented, Int as positively as words
could express his fixed purpose; My
name will not be presented. - 1t would
have been difficult, if not impossible, for
him to have employed less ambiguous
form Of words.
Note, too, that Mr.. BLAINE does not
claim that he was wrongfully, or even by
the folly Of BUBCHABD or of the men
who gave him "the BELsHAZzAR feast, y
deprived Of the vote of the State Of New
York. If he had been considering the
question of his own strength rather than
that OF the strength of the Republican
party, he would not have failed to en-
phasize what so many of his friends de-
clare to have been the fact.
Again: Whilst Mr.. BLAINE congratu-
Iates the Republican party upon "the
cheering prospects which distinguish
the opening of the national contest Of
1883 as compared with that Of 1884" he
does not once hint, though his friends
insist that such was the fact, that it was
his magnetism and popularity, conioined
with the prospect OF again having him
for candidate in 1888, that enthused
the Republican party and occasioned
those cheering prospects. He is alb
solutely silent upon this point, too.
Once more If Mr.. BLAINE had de-
sired the nomination of the Chicago con-
sention he would have taken care not to
intimate that nomination was equivalent
to election. Did he take this precaution ?
On the contrary, he says that on the re-
suit of such an issue as that made by Mr..
CLEVELAND "there is no room for doubt. "
Whoever may be nominated will certainly
be elected, says Mr.. BLAINE. Is that the
language of man who expects and de-
sires a nomination p?
Finally, Mr.. BLAINE speaks of himself
rs man who has been "pubic can
didate," but is hereafter to be only q
"priyate citizen" We quote the con-
clusion of his letter, as follows:
ITO this end, not less earnestly and
more directly as private citizen than as
a public candidate. shall devote my
self. with the confident belief that the
administration of the Government will
be restored TO the party which has
demonstrated the purpose and the power
to weld it for the unity and the honor
of the republic, for the prosperity and
progress OF the people.
Is Mr.. BLAINE a shrewd politician ?
He is the shrewdest in the land. Look
at the Republicans to-day. They are
like sheep without a shepherd. They
flee before CLEvELASD's army. Did he
produce this condition of things in his
own interest? No, indeed. He has de-
clined in good faith, but takes care to
affirm in effect thPt if the nominee of
the Chicago convention is anybody at all
he will surely be elected, as he (BLArNE)
undoubtedly would have been elected
had he chosen TO run. This last is not
our opinion, but BLAINE's implied affirm
alton.