The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-06
MR.. BLAINE's FRIENDS.
They Are Waiting and Watching-Chas. d.
Smith Talks in Behalf of the Maine Man.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
PHILADRLPHIA, Jan. 5-The Evening Call
publishes an interview with Charles Emery
Smith. editor of the Press, on the probability Of
Mr.. Blaine being the choice of the Republicans
for their next presidential candidate Mr..
Smith has long been known as one of Mr..
BIaine's chief advisers and thorough politician
in the best sense of the word.
ssWhat is the attitude of Mr. Blaine's friends
concerning his candidacy9" was tho first ques-
tion asked
'sTheir attitude" replied MIR. Smith. ''is one
of waiting and watching. They are not making
canyass, and not pushing Mr.. Blaine
They do not want Mr.. Blaine nominated unless
1t is clear he is the strongest possible candidate.
and unless it is equally clear that the general
sentiment of the party demands his nomina-
tion."
do you think the conditions are favorable to
Mr.. Blaine's candidacy7'
sI am willing to l.ave that question to the Re-
pubiicaps OF tho States where the battle is to be
fought 1t takes 201 electoral votes TO elect.
The Republicans are sure OF l6S. They must
are New York New Jersey. Connecticut Indi-
ana, and the Pacific coast States-California.
Oregon and Nevada"
swell, how do these States regard Blainel"
tsMore than threefourths Of their delegates
will be for Blaine
ssWill not the opposition Of papers like the
Evening Post make his strength doubtful in
New York State and tend to defeat his nomina-
ticn ~
t.In 1884, with all these papers against him,
Mr.. Blaine lost New York by less than II, 90.
In 1885, the Republicans nominated Mr.. Daven-
port for Governor in order to secure the support
of these papers. They sustained him heartily.
and he was beaten by II, 000-sen times as badly
AZ Mr.. Blaine"
.Do you think New York State can be won by
the Repu olicans9"
II do with the right kind of fight IF the
Republicans will make a battle for protection in
New York city, and begin it now, do not be-
ieve there can be any doubt of the result"
.There are those who have apprehensons
concerning Mr.. Baine's foreign policy. if he
were President Is there any ground for fear on
this score"
..Not at ALL On the contrary his foreign
policy should be source of strength with all
business elements, for it is conceived in their
interests. Mr.. Blaine made clear his foreign
policy when he was Secretary of State. It
aimed at two objects; the first was to bring
about and preserve peace throughout this con-
tinent; the second was to cultivate close COM
the countries of North and South America"
ainF'
.sThe only issue Mr.. Blaine raised with Great
Britain was in objecting to the political control
~ tbs 2 .rss ma canal by Ec,apean powers. and in
asserting the paramount rights of this country
ssThen you think Mr. Blaine will be nomin-
ated2
81 think he will be il he concludes to yield to
the prevailing voice of the party. It will not
be By his own act or by the activity of any band
Of supporters. but by the general Judgment OF
Republicans that, surveying the whole field, II
is the strongest thing the party can do"