The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-27
The Plumed Knight Explains His Posi-
ton on the Presidential Question.
His Mind Long Ago Made Up Not To Be a Candi-
date--IIe Has No Preferences Among Aspir-
ants and Thinks the Party Will Win.
A Candidate Who Has Been Defeated
Owes 1t to His Party to Withdraw,
And the Stanehest Supporters Of the Maine
Statesman Are Forced to Admit that Their
Fayorite Is Entirely Out of the Race.

Fayorite Is Entirely Out of the Race.
to New York World.
AIr. Blaine looks bright. confident and salts
fed. His most intimate friends see no sign of
regret at his withdrawal from politics Ii 10
rather the satisfaction of man who has fought
through many campaign, aud feels that he
has earned period of rest. His family ID
pleased TO have him retire from public life
During my conversation with Dir. Blaine upon
two or three different occasions during my visit
to Florence Mrs. Blaine most emphatic terms
approved of her husbands withdrawal from pol
itice. Mr.. Blaines hair and beard are longer
than he usually wears them. This. to SLIGHT
extent changes his appearance He was dressed
in q rough tweed suit His eyes look bright
ard clear. His color was good, and he had
the same alert movement of his body in
moving about as of years ago. In
no way do his movements Indicate
illness. Mrs. Blaine, who was not looking st all
weli in Paris, has completely recovered her
health. She is looking now well as at any time
during the last fifteen years. The Blaines ara
now alone. Miss Dodge and Miss Margaret
Blaine are in Rome, whore they write almost
daily for Mr.. Blaine to come on. Mr.. Blaine ex-
poets TO remain in Florence for several weeks yet
The climate here is very agreeable to him. It
is sunny and bright, and yet at the same time
cool and bracing. He made his headquarters
here for the last four weeks, aking little ex-
cursions in and out He was out during the
carnival, and drove up and down throughout.
joking good natured ranks OF revelers-
Everybody in Florence seems to know Mr..
Blaine as well they do Mr. Gladstone. An
Italian is very quick TO understand and appreci-
ate any thing that is told him. Americans hsra
have made Mr. Blaine,s fame known so quickly
that his appearance in the streets here is now
the the signal for bows and smiles from the
Italians. who regard the presence of foreigners
as a great compliment to their country. Mr.
Blaine made the target of a good many
flowers during tho carnival parades. His earri-
age peited and cheered American resi-
dents i'm Florencs were particularly enthusiastic
Upon the occasion OF my first call. after some
preliminary chat the conversation turned upon
the subject Of American politics. Mr.. Blaine
asksd questions Al first hs wanted to know
what had heard as to the way his letter had
been received. told him that had no infor-
NATION except meager scraps that had been
bed TO the London papers. The general opin-
ioa however. among the papers unfriendly to
him WAS that ne was not sincere in writing that
letter to Mr. Jones. and that it was considered
by such unfriend1y papers as calling attention
to himself again az a candidate. Tho general
comment of the English papers, told him, Was
", -
sfncsre Withdrawal.
In this connection, asked Mr.. Blaine the di-
rect question. whether he would under any cir
cumsfances permit his name to be used again
as a candidate He replied in the most phat-
ic negative, but then added Il do not wish Ia
make any new afirmatious upon the subjscE
have said all that wish to say upon this SUBJ
ject in that letter. That letter, you must
know. was not hap hazard, off hand affair ft
was the result of much delibsration and careful
thought. You will remember that told you in
r;a 1est m had po inte of
being candidate again, and that had practice
ally made up my mind at that time to forbid
the ., use , OF my name nan ,j1a.. 10 the aEps aEp,
further IN the conversation, that he came to
Europe to get away from politics, to be in po-
sition whore his actions could be subjected to as
little Misrepresentation possible. Several
weeks ago he saw that there was such mcye-
ment in the Republican party to make il al
most certain that he would be renomnated. and
it to head of this movement that he wrote
the letter to MIR. Jones / said to Mr. Blaine at
this particular point that his friends in London
had controverfed in every possible way the
English view. questioning the sincerity of his
letter; that he could and would certainly have
been renominated by remaining silent; that the
drift was so strong his way that there was hard
ly Republican or Democrat but who believed he
would be renominated with the same acclama-
ton Cleveland. Mr.. Blaine then said, in
speaking of his withdrawal, that he had bsen
urged to more speedy action on account of the
candidacy of other prominent Republicans IL
there had been no other candidate in the field at
this time he might have delayed it little, but
he wished to leave the field clear for other can
didates nowIin the field 1t could not be said that
ne was deserving the party in any way. there
were now q number of good candidates in the
work TO the extent of his ability for the success
of any candidate nominated By his party.
Growing more explicit he said, 81 hold that
have no right to be a candidate again. A man
who has once bsen a candidats of his party and
has been defeated. owes IL to the party 10 with
draw, and not bs a candidate the second time
M 4t,c ~ h. 1efa4 L.
plain reason for my withdrawing--I could not
60 through the burden and fatigue of another
canvass, such one as the canvass
of the last campaign. To accept a nomination
and do less than before would be impossible. Is
would look AZ if had no faith myself in tho
success of the party"
Mr. Blaine talked easily and without the
slightest feeling. He is out of poltics--some-
thing that his enemies will find very hard to be-
lisve No one who knows Mr. Blaine can ques-
tion his sincerity. saw him nearly every day
during the last presidential camp aign, and
know just how much of . burden he carried
then Since that time he has fully recovered
He believed, aud perhaps still believes. that his
final defeat was owing To a mere accident but
he accepted the result with philosophy from
and study 20 fhat of the fevered action Of
politics He is enjoying his Europsan visit
in a moderate degree. He would much prefer
many words. but it plainly to be in
ferred from his manner in discussing home
Affairs. His two daughters are getting much
good from their visit, and have so much enjoy
nent in il that he has yielded his personal
wishes in the matter He does not now expect
20 return to the United States until after the !
Repu blican convention in June. He wishes to
lvoid the slightest criticism directed against
lin desiring 10 influence. IN the remotest de-
.ree the action Of the Chicago convention.
/ asked Mr.. Blaine the direct question whether
10 had Withdrawn in favor of any He re-
,lied: II have not have expressed no opinion
,u the subject to any one, and do not intend TO.
4 were 10 mako the slightest suggestions in
my way il would merely afford people an oppor-
unity of saying that was desirous of continu-
ne To gain powerin politics through indirect
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