The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-06-25
BLAINE IN EDINBURGH.
Still Thinks the Party Ought to
Select Another Man.
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
And Mr.. BIaine's Opinion of it-Hc
Believes Republican Victory Pos
sible and that the Tariff
Issue Has Done 1t.

New YoRE, June PAT. @. Crawford
in cable dispatch to the Erening World
dated Edinburgh, June 20, says:
Blaine will arrive here at 7 this even
ing. This is the longest days coaching
ride since he set out. The Erenin!
World representative, who saw him him
this morning, says he has become quite
nervous during the suspense of waiting
and shows extraordinary avidity to
learn the latest news, which reaches
him only in hap-hazard, piece-meal
fashion. This morning he had only the
result OF the close OF yesterdays
session. When he reaches here he
will only have the result OF last nights
session, as nothing of to-day's work of
the convention is expected here much
before midnight.
Mrs. Blaine is the most Indifferent OF
all. She still hopes her husband will
not be nominated, Us it is understood
that il the nomination should now
come, after he has done all he could to
avert it, he would not refuse it.
| have obtained Mr.. BIaine's opinion
OF the Democratic platform at st. Louis.
His opinion does not go much toward
its tariff plank. He would not for mo:
ment discuss the personal character OF
the ticket. He has great regard for Sen
ator Thurman. and only wonders why
the Administration has been so slow in
discovering his pre-eLlinent qualities.
OF Mr.. Cleveland he has nothing to
say beyond the fact that when he made
the free trade issue he ut once made 1t
possible for the Republican partyto win
u splendid victory.
Mr. Blaine foresaw this tariff issue in
his book and in his speeches in the last
campaign. But the position OF the
Democratic party was not then clearly
defined. 1t was possible for it, he says,
to make protection campaign in pro-
lection circles and talk Of tariff reduc-
tions, in free trade States. 1t was not
possible then to have the issue sharply
Joined.
Now, thanks to the President, the
issue had been clearly defined. 1t was
an issue that would directly appeal to
the new South, struggling to develop its
manufacturing interests. Protection to
them meant rapid growth and great
future prosperity. Free trade, or legis-
lation In that direction, would at once
nut a stop to this new development.
Nothing but the tariff issue, one ap-
pcaling directly to self-interest, would
ever break the Solid South. 1t was too
early to say that such break would
come this year, but no party making
free trade an issue can hope to keep the
South solid as at present.
The Democratic party had unnatural
advantages in the shape OF the votes
from the South, which they could
count before any campaign was begun,
to-wit: All the Democratic managers had
to do was to make sure OF carrying the
forty odd votes necessary in the North.
It was great advantage, but one that
Mr.. Blaine believes this year can be
easily overcome.
On account OF the tariff issue us made
he believes in the success OF his party.
He read the Presidents message upon
the subject in Paris, and his opinion mas
only been strengthened since then by
the advices he has received from the
United States.
At the time Of this conversation Mr..
Blaine had received no news OF to-day
from Chicago. :,
He was naturally much pleased with
the demonstrations in his favor, and
did not believe, after all that has been
said upon his part, that the convention
should persist in thrusting upon him
the responsibilities and burden of lead
ership, which he now honestly desires
to pass to some one else.
Mr.. Blaine is greatly bothered by cor
respondents OF American newspapers,
who follow him on his coaching tour
and pounce upon him on every occa-
sion, waiting TO make a determined on
slaught on him in the event Of his nom
ination at Chicago.
The interest over the balloting is in
tense, the English papers devoting much
to It, and printing long spe-
cials concerning the convention.