The Republican journal., 1888-02-16
Mr.. Blaiue's Letter

Mr.. Blaine's Letter.
We publish elsewhere TIE full text of the
letter in which Hon. James G.. Blaine an
nouUcc- that his name Will not be presented to
the National Convention in June next as a
candidate for the Republican nomination
Ihi> is hardly surprise. As the Wing says:
LII this letter he has taken the position openly
and publicly that he has long been known
by his friends to hold. and which has been
repeatedly stated. that personally he did not
desire the nomination. The letter does not
therefore materially change the situation, save
10 this extent. Ifany felt that Mr.. Blaine was
entitled to the nomination, and supported his
candidacy OH no other grounds, they are now
free to 90 elsewhere The common sentiment
of Republicans is that the strongest candidate
should be nominated, and if there is more assur-
ance of success under some other leader than
MI. Elaine all will acque>ce in his nomina-
ton But if a great majority believe that Mr..
Blaine is the strongest candidate. what then:
The Wing well says: 1.-The first question that
viii arise to every lip. how eyer.i is will he with
the views hc SO ably sets forth as to the duty
OF every Republican positively refuse a nomi-
nation rendered him by the overwhelming voice
of the representatives of the party should they
insist on marching TO victory under the gallant
leadership of Blaine of Maine"
The letter has called forth a variety of com
nlent Some hold it to he conclusive that Mr..
Blaine is not to be the Republican standard
bearer this year; others that he vii! surely be
| nominated and accept the nomination. Hon.
j. IL. Marley, Chairman of the Republican
State Committee says:
1t does not change the situation. Mr..
Blaine'> friends have insisted that he was not
Il candidate. II, however. the Republican Con-
ypntion believe Mr.. Blaine is the man who can
best unite the party and nominate him, be-
lieve that he is too much of patriot to decline.
Mr.. Blaine is grand in his loyalty to party.
He lecves its success is for the best interests
OF the country. Having once been the candi-
date and having been unsuccessful he could
not again seek the nomination. He must leave
the party free to act. He has 10 right to de
cline any position the party may assign to him.
IT, however. some other Republican than Mr..
Blaine >houldbe nominated, it will. in my judy
| lnent, make no difference in the vote of Maine.
This is 4 Republican State and it will give its
! electoral vote to whoever shall be the nominee
Of the Republican National Convention.
II
Blaine'> letter, looked serious and replied slow
~ with apparent regret, Il think he is sincere
and means every word lie says. Mr.. Blaine
was rot anxious to run the last time but at the
vigorous urging of his friends lie consented.
He certainly will not be a candidate again.
lie does not seek the nomination and by his
letter puts an end to all rumors to that effect.
lie will return in June or July and when the
campaign opens will speak for the ticket.
There can be only one construction put on the
letter and that is he intends to do everything
contained therein"
Senator Frye said suppose Mr.. Blaine en-
tircfy in earnest when he wrote the letter. At
| the same time it contains nothing that prevents
! the convention from nominating him and
throws all the responsibility off his shoulders
If lie should take the nomination he could say
! lie did not force the party to give him the
honor.
Congressman MiIlikcn when asked if he
thought the letter settled Mr.. Blaine's call
,lidacy. replied: No. l do not think Mr..
Blaine'> candidacy is Il matter that he can
settle fer himself | consider his letter entire
ly sincere but it will take some stronger declar-
| alton than that to induce his friends to let him
retire from the field. His letter is an able
document such as he would write. / have
taken part in every campaign of any import
ancc in New York for many years and am
satisfied that any other man than Mr.. Blaine
would have lost the State in 1884 by more than
$1,000 As candidate he can do more now
than any man to put the party back in power.
For this reason his friends will not accept his
refusal As tinai.
There were about fifty sent to Jail in this city
for drunkenness in December last and only
seven or eight in January, and the Prog. Age
says that. The very favorable showing for the
past month is no doubt largely, if not wholly,
due to the abolition Of the fee system of the
night police Yes, but something is also due
to closing the rum holes, which breed pauper-
ism and pile up criminal costs, making bills in
two directions which taxpayers must pay. This
recalls the remark of citizen anent the Per-
sonal Liberty League: ''Tbe personal liberty
l want" said he, sis to refuse to ,ay the pau
pers bills and criminal costs created by rum
selling. Legitimate taxes l am always ready
to pay; but L want the liberty to decline to pay
those it is proposed to impose upon me by an
organization i'll the interest of rumseling.'
In his speech at the Portland Club last week
Hon. Hannibal Hamlin began thus: Il thank
God there is no vote of mine in the thirty-four
long years of Congressional life that was not
for freedom" Speaking to the young men
cratic party as they would viper" The DEM
ocratic party is not one whit more patriotic or
more honest to-day than in the closing days of
Buchanan's administration. i do not know
but the Democratic party Of to-day is worse
than the Democratic party of 1860.
Senator Patt has added another to the notable
speeches in the United States in defence. of
American industries and American working
people. He pointed out that the Presidents
message meant the absolute and final destruc-
ton of the protective system; that it meant
practical and absolute free trade, and. that it
could result in nothing else than the entire
downfall of the protective system of the
country. He could not but assume that the
Democratic party intended to follow the recon-
mendations of its ommander-in-chief.
The New York Herald charges Gov. Hill
with having spent $1,000 OF the public money
in furnishing the executive mansion with q
Steinway piano, billiard table, musical clock,
etc. There is to he an investigation The fact
that Gov. Hill has been announced as a candi-
date for the Democratic presidential nomina-
ton may have inspired this charge by a Cleve-
land organ. 1t is war to the knife between
Hill and Cleveland now.
The vote OF the town of Orleans, Mass, on
the license question was as follows: Whole
number of votes, 90; no, Sc; yes,7.
The latest thing in the way of a trust is the
"bustle trust" 1t is safe to say it will bust.
Put not your trust in bustes.
Some acidity is already noted among the
members of the sugar trust.