The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-02-18
What MIR. Blaine's Letter Means.


Just written by Mr.. Blaine IN relation to
his candidacy for the Presidency. 1t is
not to be supposed OF course that either
his Democratic opponents or those of
his own party who are unfriendly to
HIM, will treat him fairly, or put rea-
sonable Interpretation upon his letter.
But outside of all mere speculation upon
the language of it, we think the act of
his writing letter at all upon the sub
iect at this time is a fair and reasonable
indication that he does not desire the
nomination for the Presidency, that is
in the sense of his being a candidate
for the nomination. But what his party
may desire when its delegates meet in
National Convention at Chicago is
quite another thing.
Now any one at all familiar with the
drift of sentiment in the Republican
party knows that Mr.. Blaine has not a
serious competitor for the nomination.
That if the Chicago Convention were
to assemble tomorrow his nomination
would be practically unanimous one.
1t would be folly to argue that any
other leader of the party has personal
following at all to be compared to his,
and outside of those with whom the
preference for HIN is sentimental one,
there exists today general conviction
in Republican councils, that in spite of
any disabilities resulting from his defeat
in 1884, he is nevertheless the strongest
candidate his party possesses and can
today command larger vote than any
man in its ranks.
If this be true, where the necessity
of Mr.. Blaine writing letter palpably
meaning one thing-hls declination Of
Presidential candidacy-but when read
between its lines meaning another thing
VIZ, that he does desire the nominal
ton. We think Mr.. Blaine means what
he says "that his name will not be pre-
sented to the Republican National
Convention called to assemble in
Chicago in June next for the nomina-
ton of candidates for President and
Vice President of the United States"
that is it will not be presented through
his own agency or effort, or through
that of his friends. So far as he can
control it.
As illustrative of Mr.. Blaine's position
we have seen no comment on the letter
more sensible than that of that conser-
vative journal, the Philadelphia Ledger.
"Doubtless," it says, he is greatly
averse to going through. again, all the
unwelcome circumstances and condi-
tons that beset a nominee tor the Pres
idency of the United States and he
pushes the prospect aside, hoping it is
entirely banished. He prefers to be
rid of the expectancy. But he writes
in full knowledge of the fact that times
change; and men change; haze to
change Nothing could have been
more clear, more positive, more de-
cided, SO far as he could rule it, than
Horatio Seymour's declaration 10 the
Democratic National Convention in
1868, that he would not be and could
not be its candidate for President. The
refusal was put in the most solemn form
of protestation. He meant his refusal
to be conclusive and final, yet within
an hour or two from that time he was
nominated for President by acclama-
ton, and he accepted the nomination.
Mr.. Blaine's letter is written with full
knowledge that such things do occur,
and that the resistless sweep of circum-
stances overbears all opposition, even
the opposition of the man who says l
zVlU not. We are speaking now of
events that are beyond the control of
any man unless he is something beyond
mortal mould. Mr.. Blaine cannot pre-
vent his name from being presented,
and if nominated by spontaneous up
rising Of his party he cannot resist being
a candidate.
He is today in stronger position to
be made the candidate of his party
than he ever was before, even at the
time when he was swept through in
1884. His letter has placed him on a
ground of vantage he has never yet
occupied. For more than fifty years
no man who was front in pursuit of the
Presidency has ever been elected. The
last one was Van Buren,, in 1896. Har-
rison was gone after as an availability
Polk was taken over Van Buren, and |
Cass for the same reason Taylor ousted |
Clay as the successful Wing candidate !;
Pierce supplanted Marcy, Buchanan,
Wright, Dickinson and others 8uch-
anan, who had been pursuing the Dem
ocratic nomination for dozen years,
never got within reach of it until he re-
tired from the chase, and then, while
he was absent from the country Gas
Mr.. Blaine is now, he was made the
Democratic nominee by a spontaneous
movement that swept everything out of
its path. Lincoln was brought in as a
strong availability over Seward, Came
ron, Bates and others; Grant was caught
up in the same way without trying to
get the nomination or seeking it. Hayes
was taken as compromise from among
the hot contestants when he was nomi-
mated; and so was Garfield; and SO
finally Mr.. Cleveland was gone after as
a strong candidate who could win.
There is 10 break in the long line.
The foremost men in the pursuit of the
Presidency never get If. The most