The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-02-14
The Plumed Knights Declina'
ti0n u Puzzler.
A SURPRISE TO EVERYBODY
"Blaine Has Made . Blunder and he
Cannot Remedy It" Says
Senator Quay.
The Blaine Letter.

|
editorial upon Blaine's letter, the Ken
nebec Journal tomorrow will say:
"We know not all the reasons which
have caused Blaine to send his declina-
ton to the National committee, and are
authorized in no sense to speak for him
or to interpret his course OF action.
We know we'll that he has strong per
sonsl reasons for not wishing to accept
the Republican candidacy and for as
Stunning the great responsibilities which
the Presidency would impose on
him, but the needs of the country and
the demands of the great national
party with which his name and fame
are so closely identified should and
must override all personal considera-
tions. To make absolutely sure, the
Republican masses call James G. Blaine
to lead them, believing thoughtful
patriotism, sound policy and hopes of
success and victory call for Blaine's
unanimous nomination. We cher
ish confidently the hope that
he will obey the popular
will, when he sees how necessary 1t is.
private feelings and considerations
should Weld to the loyal devotion of
his heart to the great party whose past
career and future purpose are alike
worthy OF homage and brilliant with the
best hopes of the American people"
PHILADELPHIA, February 13.-Inreter-
ence to Blaine's letter declining to be
the nominee for the Presidency, Sena-
tor QUAY said: II am surprised at
Blaine's declination. l was not pre-
pared for it at all. I had reason to be-
} iieve that he was as much of candi-
date as ever. There were special
reasons for this, since the prospect indi-
| Gated his nomination"
, But are you sure, Colonel, he has
declined2" interrupted State Committee
: Chairman Cooper. Cant You. read
. something else between the lines?"
II can see nothing in that letter but
an absolute withdrawal from the field, 1"
3 returned Quay. Blaine has made
blupder and he cannot remedy it. He
would not dare to be q candidate after
4 that letter, becauseif he was nominated
: he would certainly Q !efeated."
AUGUSTA, Me, February 13 The an
{ n ouncement in the morning papers that
t Blaine says he will not allow his name
! to be presented to the National Repub-
a lican Convention, has created breeze
of excitement in this city and has been
. the only subject of discussion among
t Blaine's friends. Mr.. Manley says:
l 1T does not change the situation.
g Blaine's friends have insisted that he
r was not a candidate; if. however, the
Republican convention believe Blaine is
3 the man who can best unite the party
t and nominate him, believe he Is too
3 much of a patriot to decline. Having
. onee been a candidate and aving been
l unsuccessful, he could not again seek
the nomination. He must leave the
party free to act. He has not right
Il to decline. If, however, some other
+ Republican than Blaine should be nom-
!, mated, Maine will vote for the NOM
T inee."
t DEsMoINEs. Iowa, February IA. s..
Clarkson, Iowa member OF the National
e Republican Committee, in an interview
l on Blaine's letter of withdrawal, this
: evening said: II have been expecting
s a letter for some time. 1t is in line
with tie letters l received from Mr..
Blaine in November and December,
which led me to believe and say at the
9 national committee meetings in Wash
g ington and New York, that did not
believe he would be in the field. The
press of the country. led By pursuing
: instrumentation of malignant en-
y emies of Blaine, has refused to believe
: in the sincerity and unselish attitude
8 Blaine has had toward the party. In
1884 he was not candidate for nomi-
d nation, and did not really want it, and
t | received several letters from him in
d the winter and early spring. before bis
9 nomination, strongly expressing wish
not to run. So far from directing his
friends at the national convention ,bas
year, be had no communication with
p them, and not word passed between
him and any of them during
9 the contest there. The masses
= Of the party not politicians,
e were for him, and it was their
= moving forward that sent delegates to
j. Chicago for him. Before he went abroad
i last spring. he told me again of his
s settled disincllnation to run, aud of his
s controlling wish to contribute every
S thing that he could to the uni ication
4 and success of the party in the election
of 1888. But the people still preferring
him, and believing ne was defeated in
1884 by the treachery of some party
politicians, as he was. have been in
tending to move forward again and re-
> nominate and elect him, and would
have done so, but for this letter. His
= action now shows a new greatness of
O the man and his devotion as Repub-
i lican: he has done much to dIsarm
enmity before; this should certainly re-
, move it all now. He will be at the
front for his party next fall, and Blaine
Republicans will be for the candidate
without any sulking. whoever he is.
Iowa has voted in three successive
national conventions for Blaine and
they now believe in him more than
ever. Now that he is out of the field
| 1t will probably present candidate of
, its own 1t has two very strong and
fit men-Senator Allison aud Justice
Miller; both are very strong in the
State. but the Senator, from his closer
relations with the people in latter
years, has great advantage. There
viii be no contest between them, and
, the State will be united for any candi-
! date. Senator Allison is strong in all
points where Blaine is strong in
cludlng the Pacific States. He
, is exceptionally strong with the
business interests of the east
b cause of his Ievel-headed and saga
civus career in Congress for twenty-five