Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-02-23
WASHING TON LETTER.
ION our regnIar corre.pondent.

Mr.. Blaine's letter to chairman
Jones Of the National Republican
committee, announcing that his
name would not 90 before the Ma
tiOual nominating convention this
ear, has overshadowed everything
Of political nature at the National
Capital this week; and although it
has now been nearly week since it
WAS made public, 1t Is just as eagerly
discussed az it was the first day it
was printed, and opinions differ as
widely upon what its effects are
likely to be on the people and after
wards on the nominating conven-
tion. The opinions for convenience
may be put in three classes:
First, those who were opposed to
BIane's nomination, but would vote
for him if he received the party
nomination. They believe, or at
least they say so, that the letter re-
moves Mr. Blaine entirely from the
field, aud that be could aot consist
emily accept the nomination even if
the convention should unanimously
tender il to him.
Second, those who acknowledge
the illness Of Mr.. Blaine to be the
nominee of the party, but who for
personal reasons prefer some other
man. They believe-beoause it is
in accordance with their wishes -
that the letter takes Mr.. Blaine out
of the race and leaves it open to the
best which of course Is their
candidate.
Thnd, those who believe that
Mr.. Blaine il entitled To the highest
honors that his party can give him,
IN account of his life long work in
it+ interest, to say nothing ot giving
him "A chance To obtain what was
lost III 1854 10y an accident. They
say that MIR. Blaine cannot prevent
the Republicans of the country from
nominating and electing him To the
Presidency, that the matter is out
of his hands entirely, and that the
letter will have no effect whatever
except TO make them more deter
mined than ever To nominate him.
This classification does not in.
clude the opinions of the Democrats
They all hope that Mr.. Blaine will
not be the candidate. They fear
him ON account of his powerful in-
fuence over the Irish-Americaus,
more than any other man in the
Republican party. A Democratic
politician of National reputation
Was overheard to-day saying to q
Senator Of the same party: "Blaiue
Is the only man We have got to look
out for. If the Republicans had
put up any other man in their party
ia 1854, Cleveland would have car
ried New York by fifty thousand
majority Instead of the beggarly
eleven hundred that we pulled
through With. Our policy from now
on should be to prevent the nouln-
alton of Blaine"
Ii the old maxim, find out what
your opponents don't want you to
do, and then do IL" is right, then
the Republican party should GO
right ahead aud nominee Blaine, his
letter Notwithstanding But poliucs
are not run by maxims old or new,
aud who Is to be the nominee is be-
coming a burning question.
Whichever way the Blaine letter
be taken, it has resulted 10 bringing
Gen. Phil Sheridan well up il the
front rank Of eligible candidates
for the Republican nomination. He
would make a strong candidate,
certain to be elected, and what a
President he would make.
The administration circus is TO
be put on the road again for short
exhibition tour Of one week. The
far a. =