The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-09
THE GENERAL DESIRE
OF Republicans to Proceed With
DeIiberation in
NOMINATING A CANDIDATE
For the Presidoncy-The Eject OF
Blaine's Letter-The Wisdom OF
Nominating Him Discussed
by a Leader of the Party.

WASHINGTON, d. O., May S.-The gen
eral desire of leading Republicans hert
is that before the National Convention
assemblies at Chicago there shall be frs
a careful and dispassionate review OF
the situation by prominent delegates
from all the States, the result Of such
consultation to guide the convention
both in its nominations and its plat
form.
"when we meet" said Republican
discussing the matter, "the Democratic
ticketand platform will be before us; how
much these will influence us remains to
be seen. take it for granted that Mr..
Cleveland will be renominated and that
the platform will approve Of his admin
istration and his policy. We shall then
have to consider our own course. AS
to the platform, Isee some storms ahead,
because it is undeniable that in the
Northwest our people demand tariff
action, while some OF our Eastern breth-
ren want none. There will have to be
compromises"
"But how about your nominations?"
"As TO the ticket, this seems to me to
be the situation. II on the meeting OF
the Convention there should be such u
unanimous or strongly prevailing desire
to nominate Mr.. Blaine rs would induce
the friends OF other candidates to with
draw them and bring no other name be-
fore the Convention than Mr.. Blaines,
then Of course his nomination would be
spontaneous and unanimous, and II he
is alive and in fair health don't believe
he would or could refuse TO accept it. l
am convinced, however, from what 1
have heard from personal and well in
formed friends OF Mr.. Blaine, that his
Florence letter was sincerely meant and
that he does not want the nomination; I;
but il it should be offered to him by the
unanimous voice OF the Convention,
with no other name brought forward to
challenge his; then l believe in spite Of
his dislike, he would be compelled to
accept. But il, as seems certain, four or
five other names are proposed, believe
1t will be found that some real friend Of
his will prevent his name being even
proposed. He cannot, after his letter,
90 into a race for the nomination. He
is literally out Of the race. His adher-
ents would bumiliate him and disas-
trously affect The campaign and the re-
suit, Il they should enter him in the
usual way as one of half a dozen COM
petitors."
"Do you suppose it possible that all
the other candidates will be withdrawn
in his favor2"
mo, / do not. Matters have gone too
far. There is always in party degree
OF impatience with a candidate who,
having had his chance, continues to
bar the way of others. In the case OF
Mr.. Blaine, peculiar as he is, this was
evident as soon as his Florida letter ap-
peared. Before that l have no doubt
that spontaneous and unanimous
nomination could have been brought
about for him with careful management,
though even in that case there would
have been disappointment and great
soreness among friends of other men.
But when he published his letter the
door was opened to the field. Every
mans friend had then the right to go to
work for him. And you could not fail
TO notice that they went to work at once,
openly and in every direction. There
were few regrets over his refusal to run,
except among his immediate and per
sonat following. Their disappointment
was keen, OF course, and the keener be-
cause, as they too hastily confessed, Mr..
Blaine had not consulted them or given
them notice OF his intention to with
draw.
every man in the party prominent
enough 10 have Presidential hopes has
friends who desire his elevation-in
part because they like him, but largely
because they like the chances of ad-
yancement for themselves, Mr.. Blaine
has so many friends that il he should be
nominated and elected, the men who
have been led by his letter to declare
themselves for the other candidates are
quite conscious they would not have
much influence or anything else in n
Blaine administration. Until he public
" withdrew everybody was silent, but
since then men who should have stood
by Mr.. Blaine in the convention have
openly and fully committed their for
tunes and hopes to other men whom
they rightly regard as the equals Of Mr.,
Blaine in craftsmanship and worth. To
any such the success Of another would
be unfortunate; but for Mr.. Blaine TO
step in and struggle for the prize would
seem ungracious, tricky and almost
treacherous."
"Then you consider the nomination Of
Mr., Blaine unlikelyP"
ayes, ! could almost say impossible.
1t would be, for the reasons have
stated to you, q most unwise thing for
the convention to do, because it would
disgust large number Of leading men,
without whose very jealous labors in
the canvass our success is hopeless. l
know enough OF the work that has been
done for other candidate to know that
some OF them, at least, will not under
any circumstances be withdraw by their
friends. Foraker or Harrison might
consent to take the second place on the
ticket, but Sherman, Allison, Depew
and Gresham are not in that category.
Their friends will present their names
and claims TO the convention. There
will be friendly but loyal struggle be-
tween them all, and whoever wins will
have the loyal support Of all the others.
But II injudicious friends Of Mr.. Blaine
should force his name into the lists, you
would see very disagreeable state OF
things. have no expectation that this
will happen however. The convention
has many able men among its delegates,
and these will consult beforehand and
take care that the action OF the body
shall be harmonious and judicious. We
cannot afford to blunder.h
This is the judgment Of Western Re
publican on the situation, and he is d
man who has talked freely with other
leading men Of his party in the House,
A KLEPTOMANIAC