Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-06
WAITING AND WATCHING.
AN EMINENT EDITOR WHO IS ONE OF
BLANE's ADVISERS

Declares the State OF Affairs In the Maine
Secure u Nominstion, which Is Left
with the Party-A Rap at the Mug
wumps-Chances Discussed.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Jan. 6--Charles EN-
DRY Smith, editor of The Press has long been
known as one OF Mr.. Blaine's chief advisers,
and thorough politician In the best sense of
the word. "What is the attitude Of Mr..
Biaine's friends concerning his candidacyf'
he was asked "Their attitude" replied Mr..
Smith, lis one of waiting and watching.
They are not making a canvass and are not
pushing Mr.. Blaine. They do not want Mr..
Blaine nominated, unless it is clear he is the
strongest possible candidate and unless it Is
equally clear that the general sentiment Of
the party demands his nomination"
"Do you think tie conditions are favorable
10 Mr.. Bleine's candidacy"
IL am willing to leave that question to the
Republicans of the states where the battle Is
TO be fought IL takes 20l electoral votes to
elect The Republican are sure of i6s. They
must win thirty-three more to succeed. The
doubtful states are New York, New Jersey,
Connec icut Indiana, and the Pacific coast
states-C California, Oregon, and Nevada"
swell, how do these states regard Banef'
"More than three fourth of their delegates
will be for Blaine"
"Will not the opposition of papers like
The New York Times Harpers' Weekly, and
The Evening Post make his strength doubt
fil in New York state and tend to defeat his
Nomination."
In 1884. with all these papers against him,
ar Blaine lost New York by less than !, LOG.
In 1885 the Republicans nominated Mr.
Co..
the support of these papers They sustained
him heartily, and he was beaten by 1000,
ton times as badly as Mr.. Blaine"
"Do you think New York state can be won
by the RepublicansP
II do, with the right kind of a fight II
the Republicans will make battle for pro-
lection in Now York city, and begin it now,
l do not believe there can be any doubt of
the result.
"There are those who have approximations
concerning Mr.. Blaine's foreign policy, If he
were presi lent Is there any ground for fear
on this scoreN
"Not at ALL On the contrary his foreign
policy should be a 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 1t
aimed at two objects. The first was to bring
about and preserve peace throughout this
continent The second was to cultivate close
commercial relations and expand our trade
with all the countries of North and South
America"
"But what about differences with Great
Britainf"
"The only issue Mr.. Blaine raised with
Great Britain was in objecting to the politi-
cal control of the Panama canal by Euro
pean powers, and in asserting the para
mount rights of this country"
"Then you think Mr. Blaine will be nom.
inated9"
II think he will be il he concludes to yield |
to the prevailing voice of the party 1t 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, it is the strongest thing the party
can do"