Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-14
BLAINE'S LETTER.
1T STIRS POLITICAL CIRCLES TO
THEIR CENTER.
Republicans-Great Diver
sity of Views.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE RECORD UNION

-
to be the candidate of his party, did not
cause minimum of the sensation which
was felt here to day over the publication of
James G. Blaine's letter to Chairman Jones.
refusing to allow his name to be presented
to the Republican National Convention.
TIlden had orally refused to become can
didate, and it was simply a question
whether the Convention could compel him
to accept nomination. Blaine, on the
other hand, was regarded as an active can
didate, expecting the nomination, and will
ing, if necessary, to fight for it. His replys
cabled from Paris, to the Presidents tariff
message, was regarded as q joinder of issue
between Cleveland and himself in expecta-
ton that he would be the Republican can
didate, on a protection platform, as against
Mr.. Cleveland as the Democratic revenue
reform standard bearer.
SUPPOSED CAUSE OF HIS ACTION.
About week ago some of the Republi-
can leaders in Washington received init
nations that Blaine would soon issue a
manifesto declining the nomination, and it
was whispered about that the real ground
for his refusal to undergo the exertion and
anxiety of Presidential campaign was his
physical inability to stand the strain 1t
was known that Blaine had gone abroad
for his health. Bright's disease was the
malady from which it was said he suffered.
After consulting the best physicians of
Europe, and partaking of the most famous
waters of the Old World it was said that
Mr.. Blaine had received no substantial
benefit. Notwithstanding these reports,
but little credence was given the rumors of
hJS intended roftlcol m ha tho
candidate. When his letter to Jones was
seen in print it aroused the deepest interest
among the members of both parties.
The interest manifested elsewhere is
shown by the fact that the opinion of
nearly every Senator and Representative
worth having has been eagerly sought by
newspaper correspondents to-day. Never
in the history of Washington newspaper
work has there been such wholesale
demand for individual opinion as to the
meaning and effect of any printed letter or
communication, public or private.
THE GENERAL BELIEF
Among Republican Congressman is that
Blaine's declination was written in good
faith, and that he does not intend, under
any circumstances, to become candidate
Reasons strongly corroborative of this opin-
| ion are found in the fact that the New York
L'tOeptc Pllid L ICSS, lllG iWO
leading Blaine organs of the country, ac-
| cept his letter as a finality II is also
argued that if Blaine had intended his let
/ ter as double-header, designed to put
| other competitors out of the race, he would
| not have written it until near the time of
| the holding of the Convention, when its in
| tended effect could not have been successfully
! discounted. Upon similar basis of rea-
| soning it is said that if Blaine had not
| fully determined to retire from public life
| he would not have given his old friends
| this opportunity to make new alliances
and give pledges to other candidates. 1t is
somewhat singular, among Blaine's many
| friends in the National Legislature, that
more expressions of regret have not been
heard anent his declination of the party
leadership. There seemed to-day to be
GENERAL FEELING OF RELIEF
Among Republicans that Blaine had de-
| clared himself not q candidate and
| an anxious desire to accept his let
| ter as final. This feeling is undoubtedly
| due to the belief that if Blaine was candi-
date the Democrats would retain the active
| cooperation of the Mugwumps in New
York, and The silent aid of the Stalwart
wing of the party, which has stubbornly
refused to swallow Blaine or to train with
his followers.
| place no confidence in Blane's pronuncia-
mento. They think he is ambitious
shrewd and tricky, and that his letter is
adroitly worded to create feeling that will
compel the Republican National Conven-
| ton to nominate him by acclamation
Whatever the contrary opinion NAV be. it
is certain the majority OF the Republicans
in Congress regard it as certain that the
! letter is conclusive that he will not be a
candidate.
VIEWS OF PACIFIC COAST MEMBERS.
Following are the views of some of the
| Pacific coast Senators and Representatives
| upon Biaine's letter. Senator Stewart said
believe that Blaine is entirely sincere in
| refusing to be candidate for the nomina-
| ton. He could not have written such a
letter and been otherwise than sincere.
| believe there ale men in the party who
| could poll more votes for President than
Blaine. / do not like to discriminate among
| men who are eligible as candidates of the
| parry, but it sees to ME that General Sheri-
dan-if the convention should see fit to
nominate him-would be a very strong
man before the people. He is a native of
Ohio, and big man Intellectually. Blaine
| is very popular on The Pacific coast, but
any good Republican nominated on a pro-
tec;ion platform will carry the full Repub-
llCdn NOt6 vi OdlllOTDld ana N eVdQa.
Senator Stanford said Il regard Blaine's
letter as honest and sincere, and as express
i've of his determination not to accept the
Republican nomination for President |
think bis explanation will be relief to
many who are friendly to him and would
have supported him, had he been candi-
| date for the denomination, yet who in their
hearts felt that there was great possibility of
his defeat. Blaines letter leaves the party in
position of being able to select candidate
who can poll the full party strength No
| man that we can nominate would probably
| arouse a personal enthusiasm among the
masses OF Republican voters like Blaine,
| but it is now in the power of the party to
| choose candidate who will command the
Mugwump vote and the vote of the stall
wart faction in New York that has always
been opposed TO Blaine and his friends. |
believe that Blaine's refusal to be a candi-
| date will defeat Cleveland for the Demo-
cratic nomination. With Blaine as the
Republican candidate, Cleveland was
reasonably sure to obtain every Independ-
ent and Mugwump vote that he re-
ceived in the last campaign, and per-
! haps to gain some more from the
| Republican ranks. BY the nomination of a
| good Republican not identified with anv Of
| the old factional quarrels of the party.
|
the regular Democratic vote in New York
| State, and that vote, in my Judgment, will
fell off considerably on account of the
recent free trade message sent by the Presi-
dent to Congress-"
Senator Mitchell said: q believe that
Blaine was entirely sincere ir his letter
declining the nomination, but notwith-
standing that it is my judgment that he
| will be renUminated and will accept the
nomination. He will be forced to accept it.
as there is no one so popular in the Repub-
lican party as Blaine on the Pacific Coast.
and in Oregon especially, and in my opin-
ion no one so popular in the rank and file
OF the party throughout the country. Nv
judgment is that Blaines refusal to accept
the nomination may tend to give Cleye-
! lands enemies an advantage in the Demo-
cratic Convention and to prevent his nomi-
nation. am sorry for this, for after the
message Cleveland has sent to Congress on
the subject of the tariff regard him as the
weakest man the Democrats could put in
| nomination"
Senator Jones, of Nevada, saws: "Blaine's
letter is manly, patriotic document. He
has risen superior to all personal consider
| atioDs to maintain the great prlncinle