Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-02-22
Blaine's Friend Manley.

How THE CHIEF LIEUTENANT INTERPRETs
THE LETTER OF WITHDRAwAL-sIF THE
CONVENTION DEMANDS IT HE WILL Ae.
CEPT THE NOMINATION."
Especial to New York World
AUGUSTA, MAINE, February 15.-Mr.
Blaine has made few moves since he has
been in public life without careful consulta.
ton with his old and trusted friends here
Every plan of campaign and outline Of
policy has been matured in Augusta with
the advice and discussion of those here who
are admitted to his confidence. To these
faithful lieutenants the subject matter OF
MIR. Blaiue's recent letter has been no sur.
prise. The letter was decided upon before
he went abroad last June, and it was by q
signal from Augusta that the letter was for.
warded to the chairman of the Republican
National Committee to be made public.
Chairman Joseph H. Manley, of the State
Committee, was left in charge of Mr..
Blaine's interests on this side of the water,
and it was he who decided that the time had
come to announce the existence of the prear-
ranged letter.
So many have been the speculations as tc
Mr.. Blaine's exact purpose in this communi
cation to the party that World cores
pondent was sent here to obtain Mr.. Man.
ley's Interpretation of it. He was the same
correspondent to whom Mr.. Blaine accord
ed, last June, the only accredited interview
given to the public since his defeat in No
vember, 1884. The correspondent sat III
Chairman Manley's private office this after.
noon when the mail from the west arrived
and scores of letters were heaped upon his
desk A pigeon-hole was stuffed full Of
kilograms and the leading newspapers Of
every city lay scattered about the room
This accumulation of evidence is being elias
sified and tabulated, and will be transmit
ted to Mr.. Blaine for study. If the result
is satisfactory, possibly Mr.. Blaine will
consent to be the next Republican nominee
but if the issue looks doubtful his letter o.
Monday will be followed by another, il
which his dsclination of prospective honor.
will be made with no uncertain sound.
Mr.. Manley agreed with much courtesy
to formal interview after the correspon
dent had stated his mission.
'sMr. Blaine's letter." he said with de
liberation, lis not to be considered final by
any means. He does not decline the nomi
nation or say that he will refuse to heaC
the ticket. He merely announces that b
is not striving for the honor and that tht
time has gone by when be desired it. M
man has right to ask him whether he viii
take the nomination or not, and no man ha
right to offer it him now.
''If Mr.. Blaine is offered the nomination
by the National Convention, do you thinl
he will take it?"
eyes. sir, believe he will.'
"You are in a position to judge as wei
as is any person, are you not?'
81 am in constant communication wit
Mr.. Blaine. Here is a letter received fror
him from Florence oaly last night, and her
is one from Mrs. Blaine I got this morn
ing"
sara the Considerations entirely per
sonal' that he refers TO, meant to imply i'll
health9"
"Not by any means. Mr.. Blaine is
man of wonderful vigor. Do you know c
another man Of fifty eight who has stoo
any where near as much strain as he has
And he is as strong as he ever was. !"
"Does it refer to Mrs. Blaine's health
them"
''No. | will read you what Mrs. Blain
says to me in this letter about their health
Mr.. Blaine has not been sick moment, ez
cept Geld he caught when crossing th
| Alps. Mrs. Blaine is in vigorous health
"W hat are the personal reasons De refer
to?'
Gle simply means that he has been
candidate once and was defeated and doe
not care for the nomination again"
"You say he will not decline the nom
ination if it is given to himP"
81 think he will accept it."
"What, then, does his letter meanP'
sit means that Mr.. Blaine will not hav
his name presented to the convention as a
| aspirant for the honor. II the conventio
gets up and demands that he take it, he Wi
do so. Mr.. Blaine has made himself a pub
lie man, and as such owes the public some
thing. He has no right to say that he wi
not assume trust that the party demand
bin to take. If it is thought that MI
Blaine is the man needed to win the figh
he will have to take it, and he will"