The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-22
A Correspondent Briefly Interviews the
Distinguished Republican Leader.
He Is Not, for Reasons Personal to Himself, q
Candidate for President, and Knows Moth
ing Of q Movement in His Interest
His Friends Say Only a Unanimous
Nomination Will Induce Him to Run.
Gossip About Movements of Mr.. Blaine's Sup
spOrters-Arrangements About Distribu-
tion of National Convention Tickets.
He Does Not Want To Be q Candidate,
Reaaona Personal tn Himself.

COhIHEh ftOm nLAlNE
He Does Not Want To BE q Candidate, for
Reasons Personal to Himself
New YORK, May 2L.-A correspondent Of the
Press In Paris cables that paper as follows: The
stories that have been for some time in circula-
ton on the other aide of the Atlantic. that the
intimate friends Of James G. Blaine, while dis
c~rediting any announcement that he would ac-
cspt the Republican nomination If it were
offered him, have nevertheless been quietly
working in almost all the States to secure dele
CITES for him after the first ballot. were all
csbled over here. The publication here of the
actual figures Of the supposed Blaine managers
IN New York city. however. gives anew impetus
to.the Blaine talk. 1t seemed from the figures
that Mr.. Blaine would have the largest number
Of votes, something like 800 or $40. on the first
ballot, even before tho ~favorite sons had been
paratively few delegations had been instructed
fog him, his vote would 60 to $50. and that his
nomination with the greatest enthusiasm
aud yet the greatest calmness could
net be postponed beyond the third
ballot. The moment this news arrived. I took
the most strenuous means to find out what Mr..
Bhine's attitude on the movement is, and / am
happy to say that my efforts have been success
fua. Mr.. Blaine had not heard the full details
Of the reports published in New York, and I was
very glad 10 give them to him. Naturally, be
was not displeased. but he said without equivo-
cation that his Florence letter and his later in
tsrview. which Mr.. Crawford secured for the
World. represented his present attitude with
complete truth. He had felt sure, he said, that
after his letter stating that his name would not
60 before the Chicago convention had been pub
lished, many acknowledged leaders Of tho
Republican party, East and West, would be act
lively pushed for the nomination. and he was glad
to see that they had been put forward so honestly,
and he could rot see why so many should assume.
even in matters of the greatest Importance to
his own domestic and personal interests, as well
as to those Of his party, that it was impossible
for Thin to Be honest. He did not want to be
candidate. and he had reasons for not wanting
to be . candidate which were personal to him.
self, and which. as could so readily be imagined,
he was under no obligation TO mako known. Tho
fast was, he had been through one terribly hard
ffEhf; It had been a cruel strain on his FIRMLY
also; and while he could never be accused Of
willfully Sinking any Of the duties of leadership
which the Republican party had honored him
with, he yet felt that he had a right to draw out
ard leave the fight to other hands, and especially
since they were plentiful and quite capable
of winning the victory for protection and other
good Republican ideas. All the vague and mis-
~chievous stories about his movements, and mo-
tives, and health had been very annoying at first,
and it would not have been unreasonable to ask
TO be spared; but now they had become anus
ing rather than anything else. He thought it .
good way for all of his friends to pass them over
as 90 much twaddle. His health was not so
good in all respects as he should like to have it;
very few men Of sixty could say anything differ
emit from that, but he hoped to live many years
yet He felt confident that he should greatly
enjoy his trip through Scotland with the Car.
negies. and he was already anticipating its pleas
ures.
When I called Mr.. Blaine's attention to the
reported fact that his friends in New York city,
ex-senator Plat, Stephen B. Elkins. Whitelaw
him. or at least were taking no pains TO dis
courage those in New York State and elsewhere
who were disposed to favor him from frat to
last at the convention, tho Maine statesman
said that he knew nothing about II. His letters
from his friends in America were purely per-
sonal and familiar, and did not relate to poll
tics, for he, at his distance, could not talk about
politics 10 reply. He did not believe, though,
that his friends who knew him best would do
anything to show that they misunderstood his
position or were willing 10 allow others to misun-
derstand it. The prospects of Republican sue
cess were too good for any loyal Republican
leader to fritter away the confidence OF the
party By any course that would be uncalled for
40 we'll a. dishonest.
Mr.. Blaine has grown gray since / last saw
him, five months ago. As he himself says, q
man cannot help growing old after he is fifty
five. But il he is q sick man I am unable to dis
cover it Aside from q touch Of the govt, now
and then, which very naturally has . tendency
to make him unhappy and irritable for the mo-
ment, he 10 the same whole.hearted, charming
man. He is certainly enjoying himself In
tensely.
Andrew Carnegie was seen BY a reporter of
the Press last evening, and he said that it was
his opinion that Mr.. Blaine would abide by his
first statement to the public. when he said I
decline to run he meant it He said, let the
army choose another leader for the next cam
paign. If it will not, and calls upon him, he
cannot and will not decline TO lead the
Republican ticket to victory. Mr.. Blaine
IL TOO honest . man to decline TO serve
his country when duty calls him. If the Repub-
liesn national delegates At Chicago choose James
G. Blaine by q unanimous vote, he will undoubt-
eddy consent TO run. Mrs. Blaine" said Mr..
Carnegie. .'cabled from Paris yesterday, stating
that she has recousidsrsd hss decision to come
home. Herself and Mr.. Blaine are both in OK
cellent health
Hon. Stephen B. Elkins said last night that
there is no doubt whatever that Mr.. Blaine will
not change his determination not to run for the
presidency unless persuaded to do 90 by the
unanimous voice of the national convention. He
disbelieved that Mr.. Blaine would decide against
the entire body of Republican national delegates
If they voted 70 place him in nomination.
AN INTERESTING STORY.
Maine People Believe an Effort VIII BE Made