The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-03-03
BLAiNE'S OPEN LETTER.

Why the Plurned Knight May Still BE
Considered II Possibility.
Your candidate | can not be- " said
Horatio Seymour in 1868. yet he was
the candidate.
Two days before the assembling Of
the Cincinnati convention in 1880. Mr..
Tildon. universally credNed with un-
common astuteness as politician,
wrote letter to the New York dele
CATION, wherein, having reviewed the
post-election proceedings of 1876. he
s.lid:
have steadiastly endeavored to preserve to
the Democratic party of the United States the
supreme issue before the people for their de-
'cison next November, whether there shall be
government by the sovereign people through
elections, n government by discarded SER
wants, holding over by force and fraud, and
have withheld no sacrifice and neglected no op-
portunty to uphold, organize and consolidate
against the enemies of republican institutions,
the great rarty which alone, under God can
effectuallv resist their overthrow.
But he protested that he desired
nothing so much as an honorable dis
charge from leadership which had left
its scars upon HIM, and the convention
took him ut his word. 1t preserved in
its platform rebukc for the fraud
which had defeated Tildcn in 1876. and
met defeat under another candidate.
1t will be q moot question always
whether or not Mr.. Tilden's declina-
ton was unaltcrable. 1t is certain,
however, that by the assumption that
under 10 circumstances would he be
candidate the convention of the party
threw away an opportunity of triumph
as full as that enjoyed by Jackson's
friends in 1928.
Mr.. Blaine's letter from Florence
declining to have his name presented
to the Chicago convention may or
may not be sincere. The bitter ex-
pcricnces of 1884 would justify the
declaration of withdrawal. Let the
best possible showing be made for the
candidate in that campaign-and no
one could have presented it more
deftly than the candidate himself-it
remains the fact that Blaine was dis
tinctiy repudiated by the American
people because of lack of confidence
in the integrity of his character rs an
moned TO his aid upon the supposition
of his deep-seated prejudice against
the Government of Great Britain could
not save him. He would be q bold
man who, having no new evidence to
present. would venture new trial be-
fore twelve million American electors
and hope for vindcation. But arl-
dacity is one of Mr.. Blainc's marked
characteristics. This was shown in
the swiftness with which the Indian
apOlis suit for libel was instituted, and
tho readiness with which. the CAM
paign being over, it was withdrawn,
upon the allegation that an impartial
jury could not be impanclcd in Indi-
ana to try such an issue.
10 be in the attitude of having
nomination forced upon him would suit
Ali. Blane's purposes if he still feel
that he must have chance Mt the Pres
idency, but such letter rs that from
Florence is dangerous eXpedient. 1t
releases every politician from all sense
of personal obligation to Blaine and
sets him searching for aud making in
terest with new leader. So far as
expression has been heard from the
Republican press upon the Florence
declaration the willingness to let Blaine
go in peace must prove humiliating to
man looking for protests against the
course he indicates as personally nee
essary and desirable.
Whether Mr. Blaine write an open
letter for general reading or q private
letter. which he insists shall be burned,
ais reputation makes his effort unfort-
innate. No one who knows him will
incline 70 tho opinion that he dismisses
the ambition of fifteen years thus read
lily. The general inHIination win be to
swait the progress Of events. But the