Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-03-08
THE eLAINs LETrER.
Why tho PIumsd knight May Still ue
Considered u Pos sibiIity.


Your candidate I can not be. ;" said
Horatio Seymour in 1868. yet he was
the candidate.
Two days before the assembling Of
the Cincinnati convention in 1880. Mr.
| Tilden. universally credited with I'M
| common astuteness as politician,
wrote letter to the New York delega-
ton, wherein. having reviewed the post
election proceedings of 1876. he said:
| Ihave steadfastly endeavored to preserve to
| the Democratic party OF the United States the
supreme issue before the people for their de-
cision next November, whether there shall be
| a government by the sovereign people through
elections OF a government by discarded ser
wants, holding over by force and fraud, and
have withheld no sacrifice and neglected no OPP
portunity to uphold, organize and consolidate
against the enemies of republican institutions,
the great arty which alone, under God, can
efrectuallY res ST their overthrow.
But he protested that he desired
nothing so much as an honorable dis
charge from leadership which had left
its scars upon HIM. and the convention
its platform rebuke for the fraud
which had defeated Tilden in 1876. and
met defeat under another candidate.
1t will be moot question always
whether or not Mr. Tilden's declina-
ton was unalterable. 1t is certain.
however, that by the assumption that
under 10 circumstances would he be
candidate the convention of the party
threw away an opportunity of triumph
as full as that enjoyed by Jackson's
friends in 1928.
Mr.. Blaine's letter from Florence
declining to have his name presented
to the Chicago convention may or
may not be sincere. The bitter ex-
periences of 1884 would justify the
declaration of withdrawal Let the
best possible showing be made for the
candidate in that campaign-and no
one could have presented it more
deity than the candidate himself-it
remains the fact that Blaine was dis
tinctly repudiated by the American
people because of n lack of confidence
in the integrity of his character rs an
official. The vast Irish vote sum-
moned to his aid upon the superstition
of his deep-seated prejudice against
the Government of Great Britain could
not save him. He would be bold
man who, having no new evidence to
present. would venture new trial be-
fore twelve million American electors
and hope for yindication. But au-
dacity is ono of Mr.. Biaine's marked
characteristics. This was shown in
the swiftness with which the Indian
apolis suit for libel was instituted, and
the readiness with which. the CAM
paign being over, it was withdrawn,
upon the allegation that an impartial
jury could not be impaneled in Indi-
ana to try such an issue.
To be in the attitude of having a
forced upon him would suit
Mr.. Blainc's purposes if he still feel
that he must have a chance at the Pres
idency, but such letter as that from
Florence is dangerous expedient 1t
releases every politician from all sense
of personal obligation to Blaine and
sets him searching for and making in
terest with new leader. So far as
expression has been heard from the
Republican press upon the Florence
declaration the willingness to let Blaine
go in peace must prove humiliating to
iAHh 4OI PtObCoto LHO
course he indicates rs personally nee
essary and desirable.
Whether Mr. Blaine write an open
letter for general reading or private
letter. which he insists shall be burned. |
his reputation makes his effort unfort-
innate. No one who knows him will |
incline TO the opinion that he dismisses
the ambition of fifteen years thus read
lily. The general inclination will be to
await the progress of events. But the |
shrewd, it may be the super-smart OBJ
server, will tlatter himself with the no
ton that the letter was designed to
raise up a colony OF rival claimants for
the nomination in order that their con-
tention may create Blaine's oppor-
tunity.
MIR. Blaine knows that the American
people look upon the Presidency as
great prize, and will not readily be-
lieve that any man having even the
mere chance of grasping it will permit |
the opportunity to escape him. Mr..
Blaine has not stated that he would |
under all circumstances decline nom.
ination. And he will be regarded,
therefore. as still possibility.
ca9o Herald