New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-06-06
EMIL WEsCHCKE, Managing Editor
Wednesday, June 6, 1853.

Wednesday, June 6, 1883.
1t may properly be said, in comment
ing on the motives which urged Blaine
to again express in unmistakable words
his determination not to accept the
nomination as presidential candidate,
that the great champion of Republi-
can principles had but the interest of
his party at heart. Proof of this was
amply presented when he uttered those
words of eloquent craftsmanship: that
the party is greater than che man, and
his second letter is a just admonition to
his followers and co-laborers to bear IN
mind this great truth.
Never before in the history of cur re-
public has an episode occurred which
could bear comparison with the one in
which James G. Blaine played such a
conspicuous part Enthusiasm and
admiration for the statesman have been
the leading impulse which urged the
Republican party to express the wish
Of having Blaine as its leader, and a
man OF less fore thought, of less char
acter, would have unhesitatingly ac-
cepted the trust and honor.
His resignation, which from the start
was written with a clear conception
of its Importance and governed by hon.
orable motives only, had given rise
to comments on the Democratic side,
which were unjust in the extreme, striy-
ing to lower the great Republican in
the esteem of his friends.
Blaine opponents have'clearly shown
their anxiety in view of his possible
nomination, and although his position
as q defeated and yet powerful candi-
date was without a parallel in the his
tory of our Union, and was one. to re-
gard it unbiased, the results of which
might not have been altogether in his
favor, enough has been CLEANED from
the aggressive attitude of the Demo-
Gratis, to prove that they at least wore
not over confident of Cleveland's cleo
ton in case his former opponent should
accept his challenge.
The conditions to-day in national
politics are essentially different than
four years ago, and this short time has
given the people clear understanding
of what they might expect under Dem-
ocratic rule. Cleveland's administra.
ton, aside from the invigoration which
its presence inaugurated in the ranks of
the two great parties, who were then
practically on level, is fraught with
so much of unstatesmanlike character
as to surprise even those, who believed
more in the ability of the Democratic
leader. Dissention is even to-day ex-
listing in his party, and comparing his
strength with that enjoyed by him at
the commencement of his dictatorship,
a material difference becomes obvious.
Taking this in account with the dissat-
isfaction created in the country by his
advocacy of free trade principles, it is
evident that Republican chances and
prospects are gaining, and that the
next administration will be that of
Republican president.
Considering this state, fattering in
the extreme, we must the more &C.
knowledge Blaine's unselfshness, and
must5needs hold him higher than ever
in our estimation. Would this political
episode bear closest comparison with
the political state existing after our
first presidents second term, we might
have honored the greatest Republican
by comparing him most favorably with
the greatest American.
Still the situation as it presents itself
would be of as great an Importance but
that it does not imply the revelation of
q character so noble and true as that of
Washington, who, after the people
presented him their Offering of another
term, which in the infancy of the re-
public would have been equivalent to
dictatorship, if not to monarchy,
well recognized that his acceptance of
their offering would be detrimental
example to his followers. In his case
the republic was greater than the man;
with Blain the republican party, the
party of the republic, was greater than
the man. Men of less patriotism would
have sacrificed their country, but as it
is, the country and the party will ever
remember the noble example given
them by two of its most noble states
men, and the Republicans may point
with greater pride to such man as
James G. Blaine, and ask: Democracy,
wher els thine champion ofright, nobili-
'ty and patriotism?