New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-06
The REP UBLICAN CANDIDATE.
A TALK WITH CHARLES EMORY SMITH.


TO BE THE FREE cHorcx OF THE PARrr-rHE
CHANCES OF Mr.. BLAINE.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan g." The Evening Call printed
the following this afternoon: Tho following interview
concerning the of the Republican party. between
Charles Emery Smith. the Editor OF The Press and
the proprietor OF this paper will prove Of more than
ordinary interest to readers and will be eagerly read
by thousands Of Republicans everywhere throughout the
country.
what is the attitude OF Mr. Baine's friends concern
ing his candidacy was the nrst question asked
Their attitude" replied Mr. Smith, Is OF waiting
and watching They are not making canvass and are
not pushing Mr.. Blaine. They don't want MI. Blaine
nominated unless It clear he il the strongest possible
candidate AMI unless Is ually clear that the general
sentiment OF tho party demands his nomination There
Is call for struggle now The situation is very
different from what il was in 1884. Then there
Republican President with full control OF the power and
patronage Of the Government which carried most OF the
Southern delegates and Northern delegates without
regard to the sentiment OF the party. Under such
circumstances a contest necessary. Now all these
influences No candidate can be forced, and
the nomina will be the absolutely free choice OF the
party Mr. Blaine will be nominated with practical
unanImity. or he will not be nominated at all
~How strong objection to Mr.. Blaine's candidacy
Is his former defeat !"
"Our political history shows that it Is an objection
without force Andrew Jackson first for the Presi
dency in 1924 against John Quincy Adams and was
beaten He ran again against Adams In 1928 and was
elected. Van Buren, and Harrison were the opposing
candidates In 1886. and Van Buren, was elected Four
years later $780, the candidates ran against
each other and Harrison elected high and Dry
Much is said of Henry Cay's defeat Clay was never
fairly candidate before the people but once Ill 1884,
and then he was defeated by nearly 5000 votes in New.
York aud only because OF letter written by himself on
of Texas in which he declared he had no
personal objection the annexation and which declara-
| alia tha
Had Clay been nominated In 1910 he would have been
elected decisively as Harrison was HAD ne oeen
nominated 1913 would have been elected as Taylor
was and declsvey. for the wings were very
mucn dissatisfied with Tayors equivoca attitude, and
he only saved by the Democratic division In New
York Here YOU have aud Harrison both elected
after being defeated and Clay only defeated because ne
ran the wrong time ami because OF his own utter
ances These show that it Is tue surrounding con-
ditions much the mans personality which de-
termne success defeat"
Do you think the conditions are h'oraoie u" VIZ
Baine's candidacy 7"
For my part / am willing to leave that question 10
the Republicans OF the States where the battle Is 10 he
fought 1t takes POI electoral votes to elect The Re
publicans are OF l63 They must win SO more to
succeed The doubtful States are New-Y0rk New
jersey. Connecticut Indiana and the Pacific Coast states
california Oregon and Nevada. SO far as Pennsyl-
vana Ohio, Massachusetts, and other states are con-
cerned it makes difference who Is the Republican
candidate. But II Is vital question IN the uouoIu1
States II the Republicans Of these doubtful states say
that Blaine strongest candidate for them take IL
that everybody will recognize the wisdom oil MS homi
nation"
Well how do these States regard Blaine :"
the stands to-day more than throefourtns
OF their delegates will DO for Blaine"
When questioned the effect OF the opposition OF
certain Republican ne spapers Mr.. Blanes nomna-
ton Mr. Smith thought 1t Would not be strong enough
70 defeat him.
Do Won think New-York state be won by the Re-
publcansi"
LIDO, with the right kind of fight II .ne Repubh-
can, will make battle protection in York City,
and begin II now, do not believe mere can 10 any
doubt OF result We are 70 tnin IN oil
Philadelphia a. tue largest mahuIacturlng ci5 IN 'ue
country and It in great special Industries but IN
tue sm0Sns Is the largest manHactur
ing city We always think OF Manchester and birmnk,
ham AZ great manufacturing cities OF Ehganu, anu
never think OF LONDON manuf cturing city at all;
and vet London with ts great population aud its multi
Re xor lntetT Just SO leads this country
though always speak OF It as commercial c'y more
pecpe there are in manufactures than In com
inerce III the friends OF protection "oud go into Ne"
York and take half dozen speakers like John Jarrett
Of th. state who understand relations OF the pro-
tective system TO the wages OF the laborins Grass %
sc1ooldIsrrct meetings this question believe they
would make Broadway enough among tne WOrNnsmen
10 reduce the Democratic majority in New YORK City to
or less Aud when that majority can be cut down
to 10000 Newly is sure Republican state
Mr. Blaine's foreign policy II he were PRESIDENT Is
there ground for FEAR on tnis score
Not at all on the contrary his foreign policy would
9Th with all business clements TOT IL
IA conceived in their interests. what MS fOieigl phcy
j. MIR elaine made when he Secretary OF state
II aimed at two objects The nrst was 10 DrIhs "ouC
and preserve peace throughout this continent Inc
SECOND was cultivate close commercial relations ana
expand our with all the countries OF North ana
south America The first preliminary ana esst ntlal
70 he second and 10 promote Mr. Blaine proposed the
This proposal received Win great
favor by the other Governments OF this continent ana
accented by all hut two. had Mr.. Blaine continued
a. Secretary would have been carried through sue
fully
population OF 5O.OOOOOO. We import from hen nun.
dred million dollars worth more than We export
TO them. What Mr. Blaine aimet at was that they
shouId do their buying here Instead Of in Europe. IL
there anythng that for business Interests 10 De AFRAID
But what about differences with Grea. Britain y
The only Mt. Blaine raised with Great brttain
was IN obectng the political nrol of the Panama
Cana by Powers. and In asserting tue para
mount rights OF this country. He malntAne that the
hal supreme inerrst IN Watching over
the highway the Atlantic and Pacinc coasts,
an could permit ts superior rights 10 ne Superseded
! by apv foreign Power. Will any American challenge
! that position As to the pending fishery question,
have no doubt that II Mr. Blaine were President or sec
retary he wonft save our country from oehg
trcked into anv false and sided treaty as IL was IN
1854 and in 1871 which gave up our markers 20
proect the interests OF ctzers but he would do it
by intelligent and firm assertion OF tntir rights anu
| IL would involve conflict In short, MT biiho
foreign policy IL simply one or American nahhoou anu
American commercial developer NJ. ami II means peace
and business growth under statrsmanllKe direction In
| stead OF cor timed agitation and disturbance.
| Then YOU think Mr.. Blaine will be nomlnateft
think ne will he II he concludes TO yied 70 the pre-
yaiing voice OF the party II will not be by his own ACT
or activity of band or supporters nut py Tue
general iu gment or Republ leans that, surveying inc
whole field II strongest thing the party can no.