The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-15
MR.. BLAINE's LETTER.
What British Free Trade Papers Say
of the Maine Statesman.

England seem to be taking keen interest
in American politics and many Of them dis
cuss at length Mr.. Blaine's letter of with
drawal. Extracts of many of the London
papers have been cabled to America today.
some of the opinions follow
[The London Times.l
There is no denying that the bold an
nouncement is unexpected. Every one in
America is asking what it means. Mr..
Blaine has achieved across the Atlantic the
reputation of an extraordinary and shrewd
politician and everything he does is supposed
to have deep significance. With an ordi-
nary man we should expect that the retire.
ment would mean one of two things. either
that he was persuaded that he could not
carry he election or that he himself was
weary of the disappointments of political
life. With politician so old and expert
enced as Mr.. Blaine, it is hard to suppose
that either of these obvious explanations
will meet the case. So some Americans seem
to think.
Mr.. Blaine is universally recognized as the
finest example of the professional politician
that has vet been produced on the Ameri-
can continent, and therefore in the world.
His power in managing a Congress, a caucus,
or local vote is uneQualed. Assuming
that Mr.. Blaine definitely retires, it remains
to ask who win be the Republican substitute.
The party appears to prefer John Sherman,
though diffelsnt districts have men, more or
less known, whom, to certain extent, they
are prepared to push. New England has
Hawley. a politician and soldier New York
has Evarts. The West has Sherman. And
then there is the energetic little hero, GEN
eral Sheridan. OF these it seems probable
that Sherman will be selected unless the coz
popuH, H,mysteriously schooled from the caucus
officers, gives out the name of Blaine after
all.
1t would seem, however, if we are to judge
from the recent State elections, that Mr..
Cleveland's majority will be maintained.
[London Evening Globe.l
The Republican leader has the reputation of
never acting without some specific intention,
Nobody knows better than this most expert
enced and dexterous party manager in the
world how strong are Mr. Cleyeland's pros
poets for reelection, how divided is the Re-
publican party. how steadily the Mugwumps
are becoming power in the land and that
to issue nolo episcopdri in terms of patriot
ism and self sacrifice draws attention to
ones self in favorable manner, and
strengthens ones hands all round. There is
also another fact of which Mr.. Blaine must
be perfectly aware; that Is, that the Repub-
lican party may and very likely will refuse
to take their leader at his word.
Mr.. Blaine may, however, have simply per-
form an act of loyalty to his party. He has
never, with all his ability, proved candidate
to win with and the solution of tbs mystery,
no doubt, is that he appreciates the fact.
[Pall Mall Gazette.]
Those who saw Mr.. Blaine when he was
in London at the Jubilee will not be sur
prised at his letter. He looked as if he wers
utterly exhausted. 1t is but natural that so
old man, so worn and wasted as he, should
prefer that the standard of his party shold
be placed in younger hands. His letter may
be only move in the campaign against free
trade. He is one of the very astutest of par
ty poll tlcians in the whole world and when
he is most solemn and apparently most dis
interested, those who know him best will
probably see most reason TO be on their
guard. The selection of Mr.. Blaine would
be misfortune for his country, and * is
difficult to repress heartfelt wish that he
may mean what he says this time.
[Daily News.l
The request would be more impressive If
1t were the first of its kind, but before now
Mr.. Blaine has consented, after saying he
would never consent. Blaine is fanatical
pr0tectionist.
Mr.. Depew a Favorite.
NEW YORK. Feb 15.-The New York
World today publishes the report of CONVEX
sations with large number of men promi-
nent in Republican politics throughout New
York State, who favor the candidacy of
Chauncey M. Depew for the presidential
nomination in case Mr. Blaine's withdrawal
is final. Mr.. Depew himself is non-eommit-
tai, and says he is not hunting after any
more presdencies than ne has now.
To please His Wife.
Especial Despatch to the Boston Herald
AUGUSTA. Me-, Feb. 14.-It is current re-
port this afternoon among Mr.. Blaine's init
mate friends and neighbors that letters have
been received from him here to the effect
that his formal withdrawal from the presi-
Dental candidacy is on account iof Mrs
Blaine and their son Emmons. 1t is stated
that Mrs. Blaine has never recovered from
the terrible sorrow into which she was
plunged during the last campaign by the
scandalous stories which were told, and that
she made ii special request of her husband
not not to- to accept another nomination, as she
feared that she could not pass through an
other such trying ordeal.
sheridan's Eligibility.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Feb. 15.-Mr L. Nc
Cabe Of this city is cousin of Gen. Phil
Sheridan. The General has on several oc-
casions been visitor at Mr.. McCabe's
home. The latter was seen by Journal re-
porter today, and when asked for some facts
concerning his illustrious cousin, Mr. Nc
Cabe who appears nraI 70 Oe apous NJ oV years ot
and visited him every time he came to Mil
waukee.
"Would you like to see him elected Pres
ident >" asked the reporter.
"Why not, If he could be?" he an
swered.
When asked for his reason for this re-
mark. he replied: Because Phil Sheridan
was not born in this country. The house in
which he was born is not stones throw
from my early home, and was born in Ire
land?"
Aibert's Twin.