New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-14
THE LETTER IN WASHINGTON
COMMENTS AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

| COMMENTS AT The NAIlONAL ChIlihL
Mr.. pLArSE's ANNOUNCEMENT READ WITH ABB
soRBrSG ISrEREsT-opISIsNs OF SENATOR'S
| AND REPRESENTATIVES, on THE EFFECT OH
| THE wrTHDRAwAL--NO DOUBT OF ITS
| SINCERITY EXPRESSED AMONG RE-
| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES PREF
| EREXCEs FREELY ExPREssED.
| JsY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, Feb 1910 say that Mr..
Blainc's letter to Chairman Jones Of the Republican
| National Committee, created sensation in wash
| InCton Is but to state an undenlable fact In
the simplest manner possible. There has been
| no other subject Of conversation and discussion
all day long. Nor Is comment upon it confined
m politicians 1t is talked about on tho streets,
| in clubs in hotels. in shops-evervwhere In fact.
| Were anything wanting to Trove MIR. Blaine's
| immense popularity, the strange hold he has upon
the masses the loyalty Of which no other I'M
| successful candidate for Presidential honors H.
tho history Of this country has been able {,
bCash.c unyersH regret ,Sdr. cef rom tbo W ed
| has been received would prove it.. Never before
has tho letter Of simple private citizen, enjoying
wellearned rest on the other SIDE OF the Athtc'
| created such an impression upon his fellow
| citizsns irresDective OF party.
The Presidents letter sent 90 managers OF the
| Rrooklvn feast given to commemorate the birth
day Of his party's patron saint Samuel j. Iilden,
| did scarcely raise any comment. Even Demo.
cratic papers thought it hardly worth an extended
i nOSlee Of its t eyisenc c And Mr. TidoHs owa
utterances on an occasion similar in many respecSS
r. that on which Mr.. Blaine finds himself now?
WHO re the tottcring old man np''i in
his chair at Greystone, when no
wrote that letter in 9S4 IA which, resgning him
| self to the stern DEGREES of fate, he decined-nOt
what he had only his hands TO stretch forth in order
| to reach as is the Of Mr.. Blaine today, bnt
what IT, was absolutely impossible for him to OBJ
| hot loft of Til1pn'S
talk of short hour Here 1t WAS scarcely hoticed
1t was disposed of as soon as 1t was read.
READ AND RE-READ BY vRIENDs AND ENEMIES.
Not So however, in the case of Mr.. Blaine's
missive It is read and re-read. 1t is received
by his friends with profound regret 1t searched
| bv his enemies for hidden meaning. In the camp
of his adversaries it has created fear that u may
| be but a ruse after al They whisper TO each
other congatnat0nSs IN an % @
4 iety almost that they ask themselvos Can 1t be
trueT" That Mr.. Blaine's withdrawa has been de.
termined upon by him in perfect pood tatn Is nos
questioned by any of his friends here Ine ee
are many Republicans, however VINO SIN
cling induced the 70 h TsssntG p M hs aeo S
/ without reason do they argue that Mr. Blame IS
not master of his own destiny. Shond it be con-
lead the Republican forces in the coming struggle
! he would not they think refuse to sacrlhce per-
sonaI for the good aware OF tat
! he never sought the nomination either IN loog
| or in 1884 though party hatred has represented
! him az Ia ing wires and entering into base IN
trigues for the purpose OF confronting lno I"o 0o"
venti0ns. >, IT..
1t would be idle, perhaps. to contradict these
slanderous statements now, though IN que 'iihe
! they will be proved TO have been such. There IS
! the best authority. too. for saying tnaI NJ
departure for Europe. 1t was only upon the most
urgent tatlOns OF his friends that ne ageeu
to defer the publication of his intentions ana even
now it is done only the face of the earnest pro-
| test of b,s admirers and simply upon his peremD-
tory request. TO his friends. therefore. It seems
absurd III the highest degree to question the goou
faith and perfect sincerity Of Mr.. Blaine in this
matter.
SENATORS TALK OF THE SITUATION.
It goes without saying that the number of can
ddates now being discussed Is rapidly increasing
| Their chances, their availability, their record
everything is weighed and considered All tnls,
however, is done in spirit of harmony no laction
or representative Of any one candidate displaying
| q tendency to push his man at the expense OF the
party. BY strange coincidence, many OF the
| most prominent candidates were absent from town
today. Mr.. Sherman is in Ohio, Mr. Evarts
could nowhere be found and Mr. llawiey was 10
Mr "a iS SU Gunm of
Illinois, and Hiscock of New York Mr. Edmunds
STAYED away from the Senate chamber h during sh tne
might tend to compromise his chances.
No QUESTION or SINCERITY.
Senator Allison in conversation with TRIB-
UNE correspondent, said
Il regard this letter as being written in perfect
good faith Mr. Blaine undoubtedly has
sufficient reasons of personal nature. as he says,
not yet made public that have dictated THIS
SIr niscock had no doubt whatever of the
letter having been written by Mr.. Blaine in perfect
sincerity and that it reflected the writer's honest
! intentions.
Senator CuIlom, when asked his opinion of the
letter, said:
II think Mr.. Blaine is perfectly sincere in de-
clnng the nomination, and means what he says.
| II has been evident that ne would I've nominated
| If he announced himself candidate or permitted
! his name to be used, and l cannot see why his
sincerity in declining the nomination should be
he it, he does
wish to be considered candidate, the near APP
proach Of the convention made it necessary TO
announce the fact, the party was entitled to
What effect will this have on the party?
It is n good time for the party To sit DOWN and
! think The thing to do it seems to me- is to
canvass the situation carefully, with view to
uniting upon whoever Shall be deemed most
available and most certain to carry the doubtful
States. There has been no time In recent years
! in which Republicans generally have been so en-
thusastic and eager for the contest and so conf
! lent of success as they have BEEN this year with
iudicous nominations. there Is general feeling
among Republicans that the party will be tri-
umphanty successful in the next campaign.
TIE VIEWS OF SENATOR CHANDLER
Senator Chandler said Il am not surprised
at Mr. Blaines refusal to allow his name to go
before the Convention. He did not have an
affirmative desire to run in 1884, and his nomi-
nation was unqucstionaby surprise to HIM.
Since the outcome of that year he has felt person.
ally aversc to again undergoing the annoyances
and undertaking the responsibilities of candl-
dacy. do not believe-he has ever seriously con
templated running in 1888. His delay and hest
fancy in declining have thought, arose from the
fear that it would be said that he did not believe
the Republican nominee could be elected lie has
| now spoken in view of the fact that he has seen
that he would certainly he nominated IL he did
not, and after expressing his confidence in Repub.
lcan success takes himself unequivocally out of
the fcld.'
What do you think of the effect of Mr..
Blaine's letter."
We shall lose certain advantages which will
come with no other candidate. lie is stronger on
the Pacific Coast than any other Republican; and
would draw to himself as q representative OF