Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-15
REPUBLICAN pIsInreeRArIoN.
The Confusion Resulting From the blaine
Letter-Good Advice 10 Democrats.

The Confusion Resulting From the blaine
Letter-Good Advice to Democrats.
The doubts about the real meaning Of
Mr.. Blaine's recent letter, and its effects
upon the Republican party, are far from
being cleared up. The expressions Of some
hundreds Of party leaders In various sec
tons Of the Union have not marked out
aconclusion satisfactory to the reading
and thinking rank and fiie that followed
the "Plumed Knight in 1884 The
Democracy are alone serene. Whether
Mr.. Blaine is to be regarded as finally out
Of presidential consideration, or as still
having the coming Chicago convention in
his hands, the Democratic party has the
advantage. Mr.. Blaine Is what the poll
ticians frequently call "burnt powder"
He has been before the people and has
been defeated, and three years of Demo-
cratic rule has not thrown the country
into convulsions. We have gone on as
prosperously as under any similar period
Of Republican ascendency.
The Republican party is in no greater
demand at the hands of the people than
it was in 1884, and Mr.. Blaine is in no
more aggressive position than he was in
that year. Still, a large portion of his
party follow him and insist that he must
be nominated, notwithstanding his letter
Those who are anxious to accept the
Florence manifesto as final and conclu-
sive are unable to concentrate on anybody
else. Neither Sherman nor Allison nor
Hawley nor Harrison seems to command
popular assent, and there is q sadly scat
tering search for ''dark horses"
The general judgment appears to be
that the Republican party will be beaten
this year, with or without Blaine. 1t is
in state of disintegration, and while
Blaine still seems to be the rallying point,
he does not, so far, present the elements Of
victory. The Republican leaders seem to
be afraid to let go of the man who led
them to defeat in the last great struggle.
They are seriously apprehensive about the
deeper sloughs into which he may lead
them now, but find 1t difficult to pick
man who can direct their declining des-
TIMES with any greater skill and enthusi-
asm than they can. The Republicans are
fioundering without, while the Democrats
have the citadel. With judicious man
agement and unity Of action the party in
power can hold the reins for four years
more against any action of the opposition;
and 'four years more" means still long
er command of the government.
The tide has turned, and while it has
not been flowing with that force that to
many Jacksonians would have seemed
just, it has been gaining. and in the pres
ent incoherent condition of Republican
politics it seems resistless, whether Presi
dent Cleveland shall be renominated or
the leadership given up to some other
Democrat. The party leaders, whatever
their divisions may have been in senti-
ment, have wisely refrained from making
war on their own choice in 1884, and have
been skillfully placing the party in posi-
tion to command the influence of the ad-
. ministration, whoever shall be the nomi-
nee. The business of the Democrats now
is to stand steadily by their guns and let
the other fellows worry.-Ciucinnati En-
quirer.