The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-14

didate and plainly shows that he regards the
good of the country and the success OF his
party as of higher Importance than any In
divdual claim to the Presidency. Out Of
Office and out Of power, he VIII yet remain
the party adviser and leader and possibly
can render more influential services and adj
vice than as If he were President.
lHon. j. S. wheelwright.l
Hon. j. S. Wheelwright said II should
say If this letter was final and TO be acted up
on by the Republican party, we should all
exceedingly regret 1t. He Is the ablest and
Notwithstanding, this letter, l believe him TO
be the strongest candidate which the kepuD-
lican party can present. i think the effect OF
this letter can but be to lead the party to In
sist upon his accepting the nomination.
Speaker LittIefleId.
Especial to the Press.l
koCKLAND, Feb. 13.-A reporter Of the
PRESS interviewed Speaker Little6eld Of the
Maine House concerning the letter Of Hon.
James G. Blaine, published in today's pa
pers, in which he declined to allow his name
to be presented at the Republican conven-
tion as q candidate for the Presidency.
Speaker Littlefeld's views are as follows:
My impressions are that this letter does
not materially enange the situation. IL em-
Blaine's position for some time, viz: that he
Is not a candidate for the Presidential nOmi-
nation and would made no effort TO obtain Ii.
/ understand from this letter that he does
not intend to allow any act Of his or his
barrass a successful campaign Of
the Republican party which now seems
inevitable III, as the result OF complete
harmony and cordial cooperation on the
part Of all Republicans" the nomination
we're rendered him, l see nothing In this let
ter inconsistent with his acceptance. That
he would decline IL otherwise Is clear. In
my judgment, the feeling that he combines
more Of the elements that the candidate
should possess who Is to lead US to victory,
Is fast peryading the whole Republican par
ty. There are probably some VINO, before;
would not support him In any event, but
think the temper Of the party Is such that it
will not tolerate the dictatiOn OF its candi-
date by those whose political conduct has
been characterized by conspicuous folly and
insincerity. That Mr.. Blaine openly de-
clares himself ready TO subordinate any per-
soDal ambition he may have and the devo-
tion Of his friends TO the welfare Of the par
~, viii not, in my Judgment tend TO weaken
his hold upon its masses. deem IL more
than probable that he will be the nominee OF
the convention.
Hon. J. W. Wakefield.
Especial TO the Press.l
BATH, Feb 3.-Asked for his views Of Mr..
Blaine's letter, Hon. j. w. Wakefield said
The highly honorable position taken by
Mr.. Blaine in regard to the nomination OF
Presidential candidate by the Republican
convention will endear him more strongly
than ever TO the Republicans Of the nation.
His strong words In behalf Of protecting
American industries and labor, viii make
him more prominent than ever before, and
this coupled with an unselfish desire not 10
impair the prospects of the Republicans In
the coming contest by seeking the, nomlna-
tion, leaves the whole question In the hands
of the Republicans Of the country.
When we consider the DC sition assumed
by President Cleveland's advocacy OF free
trade In his recent message, there can be but
little doubt as TO the issues In the coming
campaign, viz, free trade and protection.
James G. Blaine is the grandest represen-
totive Of all that Is American that stands on
the American continent, and as such, has
hold upon the American people that will not
down even at his own bidding. No political
party ever existed that had such a just APP
probation Of fair play as the Republican
party, and their sense OF justice viii demand
the nomination Of Mr.. Blaine.
Mr.. Blaine proved to be the strongest can
didate In 1884, and was only defeated in New
York State by few hundred votes, and this
when the opposing party dared not openly
advocate free trade.
Now that the issues are clearly defined no
one can doubut but what Mr.. Blaine Will be
far stronger today than ever before. such
sires the success Of his party can doubt the
adyisability Of his nomination.
other Comment.
[senator Hale.l
New YORK, Feb 13.-Seuator Hale, Of
Maine, when asked what he thought Of the
Blaine letter. looked serious, and replied
slowly and with apparent regret, Il think he
Is sincere, and means every word he says.
Mr.. Blaine was not anxious TO run last time,
N..k Of hA
consented He certainly will not be candi-
date. He does not seek the nomination, and
by his letter puts an end TO all rum0rs 10
that effect. He will return In june or July,
and when the campaign opens will speak for
the ticket. There can be only one construc-
tion put upon the letter, and that IS that ne
intends to do everything contained therein.
fChalrman Jones.l
PrrrsBURG, Pa, Feb. 49, Chairman
Jones, Of the Republican National Commit
tee, states: "Mr. Blaine was In the best OF
health and it was not for this reason that he
declined the nomination. The reasons were
these: Before the nomination by the he
publicans in 1876, Mr.. Blaine was very anx-
ious to obtain the Presidency, and worked
for It with the aid Of his friends. He was
disappointed when IL went TO another man
in the manner 1t did. In 1880 he was still
anxious although in lesser degree, and his
disappointment was less marked. In 1854.
he had, to a great extent, lost his desire for
the Office, and now he withdraws from the
contest because he has no wish to become
President. He takes keen interest IN lit
erary work and wants rest and quiet. These
are the only reasons for Mr. Blaine's letter
that are known to me. Whatever has been
done in the matter of his nomination by tho
friends of Mr.. Blaine, has been done on
their own account and not at the instance Oh
his close friends, We have done nothing 70
secure the nominatfGH for Mr.. Blaine, MI.
Jones explained that the letter was In Mr..
Blaine's own handwriting and that no one,
not even Steve Elkins, knew Of its existence
except himself, Jones. 49,
[GOv. Forakerl
COLUMBUS, o., Feb. 13.-GOv. Foraker
said Il have long believed, on very credit
able authority, that Blaine would not enter
tine lists as a presidential candidate for nom-
ination. Hence the letter Is no especial sur
prise"
DEs MONIES, Iowa, Feb. 13.-J. 5. Clark
son, the Iowa member Of the Republican
National Committee, an intimate friend and
supporter Of Blaine, says: II have been
expecting the letter for some time. l. ls In
the line with letters l received from Blaine
in November and December.
[Hon Clsauncey NJ. Depew.l
NEW YORK, Feb. 13.-Hon. Chauncey M
Depew makes the following statement in re-
gard to Mr.. Blaine: II don't believe. SAID
Mr. Depew, ''that Mr.. Blaine will not be
the next candidate Of the Republican party
for President In fact feel pretty certain
he will be the candidate, and feel pretty
certain. too, that he will get the nomination
by acclamaton. There will be no ball0tlng
at all None will be necessary, for Mr..
Blaine will sweep everything before him.
II believe that Mr.. Blaine will be the next
nominee Of the Republican party and also
next President of the United States
[senator Allison.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator Allison
said: II regard Mr.. Blaine as perfectly hon
est and sincere, in his refusal to be candi-
date. The letter is not, In my judgment,
written for any ulterior purpose 'fhaFa ia
Of course, nothing in the letter that could
prevent the convention nominating him, but
/ do not anticipate any action OF that sort,
as Mr.. Blaine's withdrawal Is final.
[Senator Sherman.l
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. Ex-senator John
Sherman, who Is In this city, on hearing that
Mr. Blaine would not allow his name TO De
used before the Chicago Convention, sald
this morning that he had been expecting
some such utterance from Mr.. Blaine Tor
some time Mr.. Sherman thought Il would
cause a number of other candidates TO come
10 the front. He himself proposed TO make
a race for the Ohio delegation, and would
make a contest for the nomination.
[senator Hawley.l
New YORK, Feb. Ex-senator Hawley,
,,,ho IL in this city TODAY, when shown Mr..