New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-15
ECHOES FROM THE CAPITOL.
DISCUSSING MIR. BLAINE's LETTER.
1T Is STILL THE CHIEF TOPIC AMONG SENATOR'S AND
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES UDE IN THE
DEMOCRATIC RASKs-sHARP TALKS
BY LEADING MFN-GENERAL
AiGEg's PROSPECTS.


BY LEADING MFN-GENHRAL
AlGEg's PROSPECTS
WILMINGTON Feb l4-Mr Blaino's letter continued
10 be the chief topic OF discussion In Washington TO-
day. Politicians OF both parties had slept over IL
and had discussed 1t in every aspect In private ana
public and yet they did not seem to have lost In
terest in tho subject. II the political event OF
the yoar and they realized It, They realized. uso,
that It was not an event of a day. or week Tho
| moro tho Democrats have thought 1t tho worse
| confoundod they have been. At first, they pro-
fessed to be happy, but the who were hsppiest
yesterday showed tho most sollcitudc to-day They
| seemed TO feel that the confidence OF Republicans
BODIED no good to them, and some OF them were pos
sossed by fear that, after al, Mr. Blaine might 10
required to lead the Republican hosts In the coming
| campaign Altogether tho Democratic cheerfniness
| to-day on account OF the Withdrawal OF Mr. Blaine
was of a nature TO remind of the grisy hiarity
of Gabriel Grubs Christmas Eve experiences In the
| graveyard
CH.ERED By THE PARTY PROSPECTS.
Republicans OF all shades OF opinion had boon
| cheered by Mr. Blanes telling comparisons show
ing the improved pros poets Of the party as compared
with those OF four years well as touched by his
| manly utteranccs in respect to himself Many OF
| them were in mood to say "We arc on the eve
of great victory, and 1t would DO nngraeful for US
strong is this feeling, among Republican members Of
tho House especially, that IL the matter we're left TO
his ti," discrimination As between Mr. Blaine and
other candidates: the difference In the minds
is that between conviction and persuasion They be-
leve that the party can win with any good candidate
be attributed a feeling, which appeared to day to be
gaining strong Roadway that the National Convention:
bs S @h
to write his letter, will demand that he shall carry
course tina. such fecng would manifest itself among
tho personal followers Of men who have been men
toned Presidential candidates. They believe In
their favortes all of whom are good men anu STRONG
men.
WHAT THE SITUATION DEMANDS.
Senator Dawes Of Massachusetts, thinks that there
is no reason to believe that Mr.. Blaine did not give
uterance to what his honest conviction in thu mat
ter "The letter. said he, must DO accepted as 1t
stands and to its meaning the-c can be no doubt
The present duty OF the party is to select with due
the best man IL can, and to give TO him ioya ana
uDhcs ating support" 80
Senator ioar said: "The lie ter IS no doubt written
lions should be set aside The sole object should 10
to nominate a man whose character record and sur
rOundings are such az to commend him TO the intcI
lige2cc and confidence OF the country, North ana
Commission when asked abon The PLANE letter said,
press any opinion on that letter.
WESTERN MEN BOOMING ALGRn
The retirement Of Mr.. Blaine seems to settle one
thing among Michigan Republicans. They will pro-
to the convention tho name Of General Russell
A. Alger candidate for the first place on the TICK
et For some time the Of General Alger has
been mentioned In the Vice Presidential list bnt tho
retirement of Mr. Blaine and the probability that
Western man may haye.the first place have changed
Colonel Henry NJ. Dnfie d. who represented Michi,
es s6s bo now Si here t@e % guest Of Se
ator Palmer, said TO day " Tho letter OF Mr. Blane
@ ss Of Aser oT M Sy
nomination II seems TO make tho candidacy OF Cen
eral Alger for the VIcc President al nomination mex
dtpnt for In INV
ticket will be likely to go to the West. now that Mr.
The w.hdrawaI Of Mr. BlAine was much of surprise
to mo At the recent meeting Of the National Com
foregone conclusion His friends appeared to be In
a majority the committee. and the choice of Chi
sS ss the to IS and that
Blaine will not DO the coming candidate. Among the
ddates It seems to me that Senator sherman has the
greatest eem nts of strength He has the most thor,
ough organization and that goes far In such contests
Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan said "Well, have
| been a BalLe man from the beginning In my Opin-
ion the decnation of Mr.. Blaine Is ina and removes
| him from tne list of candidates. Tens of thousands
of Republicans who love and admire him, and yet who
have doubted tho wisdom of his nomination, will feel
absoved from their allegiance to him and will pro
nOunce In favor of some other man"
"Who will take the lead now7'
"we If you will tell where the bulk OF the
Blaine forces will camp will name the candidate of the
convention If New-YorRs seventy two delegates will
|
York man whom thoy pledge the united and
hearty support of the party In that State, he will DO
! likely to receive tho nomination Is there such
man? How would HiScOck do with some strong
soldier like Harrison the candidate for tho
| Vice Presidency 2"
| General HO,ey, of Indiana-Wel have not been
a Blaine man at heart heretofore but am disposed
to think his letter will create irresistible de-
mand for his candidacy OF course, II tho convention
dominates him no cannot decline lie 100 good
Republican to do that
! General Cogswen, of Observation-Disclosures unless
Blanes letter means that the condition OF his health
| will not permit him to make the rlce he Will be
/ Obliged to accept the candidacy.
VIEWS OF MIR. LONG oF MASSACHUSETTS.
Mr.. Long, of Massachusetts, said: 81 am glad
that Mr. Blaine has written this letter. In speech
two years ago, before a club In Boston, l expressed
| the opinion that he would decline TO DO candidate
In l do in the least doubt the sincerity Of
the letter of his motives In writing 1t. lie has by
his manly act relieved the political situation and
removed the unjust prejudice against him. The last
vestgc Of personal ISSUE thus disappears, and the
contest henceforth will 10 between tho doctrines and
principles of the Republican party and the doctrines
and principles OF the Democratic party. MIR. Clcve-
land, average rel resentave OF tho latter, will
have to contend against representative Of the former
AS to CANDIDATES, hope that W. shall have Tho lnest
discussion and heeSt expression vi oplnOn ana have
conclusion. Ii woulu be premature to express a
preference Of this tme, and Trust that for the pres
ent MasSsc husettS wall Cot be committed to the sup
| port oil any particular candidate"
1t is that Governor Long privately leans toward
Sheridan whJm General COgswcl, OF Massachusetts,
Is said also favor with Nj. Blaine tbs ncid
| Congressman Mason, of chicago, said he had no
doubt about the letter taking Mr. Blaine out of the
campaign, and having been intended to do II
sincere and 1t left the road open to MIR. Masons can
didate who is seuaor Earwel he thought the people
OF the country would be glad to have a business man
| who bad made his own money. and who had cicar
head and plenty force of character, and he do
ciaied that Mr.. FarwelI had this and knew than
| any othei member Of the senate
| Congressman Cannon, of Illinois, said very slowly
and with a little bit of diplomacy Ia HI, tone that he
had doubt the sincerity OF the letter. and
he thought with Blame ths way the party ought
TO DO aDle TO reach agreement on some man VINO
possessed all the qualifications and c0Jld gel all tho
| Eepublican votes. neither the withdrawal were a
goUa or bad thing for the party pnded on whether
or Mr.. Blaine was the strongest OF any cahdidate
or not, and that very hard question TO decide.
| Congressman Rowel, Of Illinois, seemed entirely