The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-30
MIR. BLAINE NOT A CANDIDATE.
IH-Tnformed and Overzeainns Friends Doine
Injustice to the Maine Statesman.


Injustice to the Maine Statesman.
New York Press.
If Mr.. Blaine were not out Of the presidential
race; If he had not deliberately put himself out
of il at a time when his chances were of the very
best, by sincere . letter could be written,
in az plain words as the English language placed
at his command; he would have occasion just
now to pray to be delivered from of his
friends. The natural cordiality with which
several State conventions have received the
mention of popular former nominee for the
presidency has been foolishly seized upon by
these il-informed persons proof that he has
been triaing with the American people, and that,
for this strange reason. he mast necessarily be
his partys candidate again.
This is grossly unfair to Mr. Blaine 1t
places him in position that is essen tally dis
graceful to him. He has a great many friends
and even hi3 wishes cannot control them all
He cannot compel them all to do what of
them-those who are least apt to slop over
about anything - are doine,. in respecting
his wish TO be considered out of the fight once
and for all. 1t is perfectly natural that some of
those who are close to him should not act in har-
mony with others who are cloae to him. This
fact in itself is evidence that there is subtle
Blaine conspiracy, for it shows that every per-
sonal friend Of Mr. Blaine ia doing just as he in
dividually chooses to do.
Such being the case, those who insist on his
nomination without claiming TO have received
any more recent notice of his intentions are
simply displaying their own Ignorance and dis.
regard for Mr.. Blaine's feelings They talk of
the condition of his health if they imagined
he was in state of delirium when he wrote his
Florence letter and has recovered from it now.
But every one who depends on Mr. Blalnes
more prudent and discreet personal friends for
information knows that there other reasons
than the Rtate of his health for his declin alton
They know that his disirclination to en-
dure the strain of another campaign was
strengthened into determination by his respect
for the wishes of his wife.
This regard for the feelings of the estimable
lady who bravely sustained him th roughout the
dsgraceful personal abuse thai wa heaped on
him 1884, and who naturally asks that she be
All od IN 7v1do 49,
a second time, is highly creditable to Mr.
Blaine. Every person who is capable of appre-
ciatiug the chivalrous self-sacrifce of his de-
cision should regard it not only as sincere, but
as sacred.
prompt TO say what he thought and what he
wanted. 1t is not probable that he is going into
the Machiavelli business at this stage of the
proceedings. No one knows his real wishes and
purposes better than his home neighbors, and it
is noticeable that the Maine Republican State
Convention entirely respected his decision not to
be candidate. kThey did not nominate him
for the presidency or urge his claims on the at
tention of other States They simply did what
they could not have helped doing without seem
mending his reply to Clevelands free-trade mes
1t WAS the same way in Pennsylvania-the
banner State of 1884 that gave Mr.. Blaine 81 900
defeated the Cameron wing OF tho party-a
suit that surprised nobody who had closely
watched Quay's rise to commanding influence
but there were no Blaine instructions or resolu-
tions. simply the enthusiasm that native of 8
great State always commands after he has been
his party's nominee for the frst Office in the
country. It is evident that Mr.. Blane's former
political friends as we'll as his wiser personal
friends appreciate the manly motives that I'M
derlie his final retirement from public life.