The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-06-02
THE LETTER TIMELY AND IMPORTANT.
Leaving the Convention Free from
Personal Bias.
The Thunderer's Comments with a
Word for Free Trade.
Tennessee Delegates Determined to
Vote for Blaine.


cials We're pouring forth their wisdom and
experience to Chauncey NJ. Depew yester-
day at his Office in the Grand Central Station
when reporter interrupted the discussion
to ask Mr.. Depew's opinion ON Mr. Blane's
last letter and its effect upon the Republican
party. After moments reflection, how
ever, he said in reply to the question pro
| pounded
''Mr. Blaine's letter to Mr.. Reid from Paris
Is timely and important 1t relieves situa-
ton that had become decidedly strained 1t
brings things down to first principles. Pre-
vious to the publication of Mr.. Blaine's first
letter there was practically no other candi-
date in the field besides himself. He had a
majority of the convention easily. Every
one conceded this fact. But after the an
nouncement Of his withdrawal the friends of
hs 9sner candidates Immediately set to work.
\ AweEemarshalled ont All Of these developed
strength, but In the opinion Of Mr.. Biaine's
friends none of them showed as much pewer
in the country at large as Mr.. Blaine, or
even as much as he in any of the States. Mr.
Blaine had majority of the votes.
I'm consequence of this fact or belief, Mr..
Blalne's friends concluded that if the con-
yention. should nominate him unanimously
ne could be induced TO accept despite his
withdrawal. On this supposition they set
to work and again succeeded in obtaining
the votes OF majority of the delegates.
10 the friends of the other candidates who
believed that Mr.. Blaine was really out of the
field this naturally proved somewhat trying
and the element of uncertainty about the
whole matter tended to increase this feeling.
This unpleasant situation Mr.. Blaine has
most happily relieved by his second letter
which leaves no doubt about the absolute and
final withdrawal. As he himself says, 1t was
not written TO- the purpose of relieving him
fran hostile criticism, but from the just dis.
pleasure of friends"
The field now, in Mr. Depew's opinion, is
entirely open. Party sentiment has not suf-
hciently crystallized in favor of any other
withdrawal particularly affect the canvass of
any one of the men prominently before the
country. He added "The Republican del
egates are now absolutely unfettered. New
free from any personal bias The question
OF paramount importance with all, is to Sc
cure the most available candidate. There is
no State pride to crafty, no personal re-
wards to bestow, or individuals to glorify
TINS year. We are simply after the best
man."
With the South still in the grasp of the
democracy, the margin is too close he said
to take any one but the strongest man. Who
That was he did not believe could be told un-
and discussed the subject. This utter free
dom OF choice was peculiar to this conyen-
ton: Mr.. Depew added
There has been nothing like it since 1860,
when Lincoln was nominated and loyalty
supported by Stewards friends though these
went TO the convention to nominate the IL
llustrlous New Yorker. Mr. Lincoln had not
Deen IN Congress for years. He had not been
Identified with any of the questions that had
divided the parties. but his debates with
Cf ro tod oh 30 l1o
with the perplexing problems that confront
ed the country. He was chosen because il
was the opinion of the great majority that
ne was the most available man, not because
ne was the choice Of any faction. Since then
Republican nomination has been equival-
ent to an election. and as a result the fight
has been made in the convention. But what
ever IS the. result at Chicago, there will be no
h1eartburnings, near SO patent it is to all that the
erned solely by the desire to make the wisest
choice"
Tennessee Men For Blaine.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. June 1.-The letter of
Mr.. Blaine announcing that he is not can
didate for the nomination for the Presidency
has been discussed at length by both Repub- I
licans and Democrats. Twenty-one of the
"a delegates elected by the Republican State
Convention at its recent session were under
stood to be for Blaine, Sherman being the
first choice of the other three. The Blaine
men say that the last letter is an explanation
of the first one written by him. and that they
are still for him. 1t is question, they say,
whether he can refuse the nomination when
it is apparent that majority of the dele
gates wish him to be the nominee of the par
ty. TheyIexpect to go to the convention ia
voring the Maine man above all others, and
should it appear that Mr.. Blaine will not ac-
nof fhnx mill Ar,fo x.,st
the other Blaine men and decide what shall
be done. There is some opposition to Sher-
man on the ground that his record upon the
Chinese question would weaken his pros
poets in the West. Gresham's boom has at
tracted attention, but comparatively little is
known in the South about him. 1t is appar-
ent that the Blaine delegates will stand by
their man until it is demonstrated that a !
change must be made, in which event the |
delegation will be divided.
Ex-Governor Chamberlain.
SYRACUSE, n Y, June 1.-Ex-Governor
Chamberlain of Maine is in Syracuse. Dis |
cussing Mr.. Blaine's Paris letter yesterday |
he said ''Mr. Blaine has written some |
very skilful and admirable letters. If he had |
been willing to accept forced nomination |
for President and desired to play his very |
along. that he did so in his Florence letter;
but his Paris letter, l think, puts an end to |
the matter" Ex-Governor Chamberlain |
looks upon Chauncey M. Depew as the most |
available Republican candidate.
The Letter In London.
LONDON, June 1.-Mr. Blaine's letter to |
Whitelaw Reid is printed in the London |
papers today and has created sensation. |
The Times devotes two column editorial to |
It, in the course of which it says: "Mr, |
Blaine's letter to Mr.. Whitelaw Reid relieves |
The Republican party in the United States |
from a serious perplexity. Multitudes of |
voters evidently want to nominate him and |
he resolutely repulses the compliments. His |
attitude does him honor and on the whole |
he is not likely personally to suffer by it. By |
his self-dcnying decision he continues to be
the most powerful Republican manager and |
the most conspicuous politician |
In existence. Out of office he can impose on |
the Republicans almost any terms he will. |
Whomsoever the Republicans select, whether |
Or somebody in absolutely obscure retire |
ment, Mr.. Blaine Is sure to bestow upon |
their choice a character and unanimity it |
could not otherwise have attained.
MT. Blaine Is too keen sighted not to per- |
ceive that Mr. Cleveland is a strong candi- |
date. The present signs are that the leaders |
OF the Democrats are not inclined to narrow |
the basis of their controversy with the Re- |
publicans to the point Mr.. Blaine proposes. |
Some of them are weakened in the de- |
fence of free trade. Mr. Blaine talks as if |
he were wholly ignorant that free trade in |
Europe is the exception and protection the |
rule. He seems to have no suspicion that |
poverty in protectionist States is as acute as |
in those which bave free trade. Let him ex |
anime the conditions of labor in the in |
dustrial districts of protectionist GERMANY |
and acquaint the American protectionist |
with the lesson they convey. If he will |
listen to French reports ON French destitu- |
tion in a period during which France has
been reverting to protection from free trade
the account ought to modify his assurance
of the invariable connection of protection
and satisfactory wages. 1t suits his argu-
ment to mass together Europe as at once
poverty-stricken and free trading and at
tribute the misery to the alleged doctrine.