The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-02-18
BLAINE'S ONLY REASONS.
Chairman Jones Says He Has Lost the De-
sire for the Presidency.

Chairman Jones Says He Has Lost the De-
sire for the Presidency.
PITTsBURG, February l3.-Hon. B. F.
Jones, chairman of the Republican Ma.
tional Committee, was interviewed this
afternoon on Mr.. Blaine's letter. Mr..
Jones stated that MIR Blaine was in the
best of health, and it Was not for this
reason that he declined. denomination.
''His trip" said he, ''has been wonder.
fully beneficial | have had many letters
from him, and in nearly all of them he
has spoken of his health, and said he
was entirely recovered. No, sir, it is not
ill-health nor the fear of the result, nor
the worry and strain of another cam
paIgn, which impelled Mr.. Blaine to
write that letter"
Twill you tell me what Mr.. Blaine S
reasons are?'
CAS- given to me at the time to which
Mr.. Blaine refers, the reasons were these:
Before the nomination by the Repubi.
cans in 1876 Mr.. Blaine was very anxious
to obtain the presidency, and worked
for it, with the aid of his friends. He
was disappointed when it went to an
other man in the manner it did. In 1850
he was still anxious, although in lesser
degree, and his disappointment was less
marked. In 1884 he had to a great ex
tent lost the desire for the office, and
now he withdraws from the contest be
cause he has no wish to become president.
He takes keen interest in literary work
and wants rest and quiet. | assure you
these are the only reasons for Mr. Blaine S
letter that are known to me. Every body,
sooner Or later, loses a desire for some
thing which they were once anxious to
obtain, aud this is entirely true in the
case OF Mr.. Blaine"
SIS not Mr.. Blaine's letter somewhat
Inconsistent with the action of his friends,
presumably with his consent, i'll working
FOR the control of the state delegations
and committees"
No, sir, it is not inconsistent. No
such work has been done by us. o.
course, | have received countless letters
on this subject from people North, South.
East and West Mr. Blaine's friends
nave not sought to set up or secure a
single delegate anywhere. We have
made no concerted action. There has
been no meeting to map ont course
favorable to Mr.. Blaine, and assure you
that whatever has beeL done by admirers
of MIR. Blaine has been done on their
own accou.t, and not at the instance of
his close friends.
1--WE have done nothing to secure the
nomination for Mr.. Blaine. When people
write to me on the subject | send them
in reply the call of the convention, as
issued by the committee. and some ex-
tracts from the history OF the convention
of 1854. | have written no letters in
Mr.. Blaine's interest"
WAS this letter laid before any sort
of meeting OF his friends or of the
National Com mittee?''
at was not. The letter was received
by me on Tuesday last, it having come
directly from Florence to me. 1t was
entirely in Mr.. Blaine's handwriting.
AS you see by its opening sentence, 1t
vas intended for the Republican party.
| did not tell anybody OF its existence
until Friday. Then told one man, who
assisted me in preparing copies of the
letter for the press. 1t was not given
out on Saturday. because macy papers
do not print Sunday editions, and | was
anxious to give it the widest publicity.
arranged to have it go out by the
Associated Press. Even man as close
to Mr.. Blaine as Mr.. Stephen B. Elkins
knew nothing of the existence of this
letter until this morning."