Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-05-12
whitel.w Reid on Blaine. c.nd,d.ncx

WhttelaW Reid On Blaine's Candidancy.
NEW YORK, May e. The comments in
to-day's Tribune reflects my sentiment
exactly. said WhitelawReid to the reporter
OF the world, and he pointed out para
graph. 1t said the Philadelphia Tines cor
respondence was like the recent stuff about
Mr.. Blaine's dreadful state of health, chiefly
tosh.
Continuing Mr.. Reid said: 81 do not
know that need say anymore. There is
nothing in the story"
Then you believe Mr.. Blaine will not be
a candldate?'
"ae has done all in his power to prevent
it. He was perfectly sincere in withdraw
ing his name from consideration and he
did it In good season. He did it against
the earnest and vehement protest of every
friend, so far as / know, who had any idea
of what was impending.
The field has been absolutely open and
free, ever since, to any candidate who could
give reasonable promise of carrying enough
of the doubtful states. The sound republi-
can who can now convince the party that he
could probably get more votes than any
other republican IN the doubtful states,
would be sure of the support of those who
have heretofore pushed Mr.. Blaine
us it true, MIR. Reid, that Mr.. Blaine's
friends in New York have been pushing his
nomination in spite of his letter of declina-
tion?"
do not believe they have. So far have
not been concerned in any movements to
push him, nor have 1 reason to suppose any
of the other gentlemen mentioned in the
Philadelphia letter have.
have been waiting to see if anybody else
develops such popular strength as would
seem to give assurance of carrying the
had for hoping that Mr.. Sherman
could carry the state of New York, 1 would
give him the heartiest support that know
how, The same might be said of Harrison,
Gresham or Allison. If Chauncey Nj. De-
Pew himself, or his most sagacious politi-
cal friends, believed that while carrying
certain doubtful states in the east, he would
not run the risk of losing several important
republican states in the west, we should sup
port him with energy and enthusiasm.
The Chicago convention when it meets,
will, above all merely personal considera
lions. try to nominate to win.
Then do you think there is any POSSIBLE
ty of Mr.. Blaine's nomination.
Yes, possibility. Blaine has withdrawn
his name as candidate, which was his
right. The party is engaging in considering
offered under the prevailing volunteer sys-
tenn and the convention will do the same.
If, after full consideration, it fails to find
any candidate about whose strength, in the
doubtful states, it feels an equal degree
of confidence, it may finally conclude, as
Mr.. Lincoln did at the critical period of the
war, that the volunteer business is played
out, and that draft must be ordered.
That contin gency might never occur, and
at present it is certainly distant,
but if it should occur, 1 believe
the service of the republican par
ty at this time to be in the
highest sense the service of the country and
do not see why Mr.. Blaine, any more than
any other person who has sought and re-
ceived honors from his party, could or
should be exempt from its draft. To refuse
under such circumstances, in fact. seems
not unlike desertion in the face of the
enemy.
The presidency is not an Office to be
sought as some say it is, certainly not one to
be refused. I do not know any public man
in the United States big enough to under
take to refuse the greatest Office without
making himself ridiculous, or worse"
"Do you know, Mr.. Reed, whether Mr.. |
Blaine has written lately to any of his |
friends in this city on the presidential ques-
tion?"
mot to my knowledge. The only letters |
aave seen or heard of from him since the |
Florence letter have absolutely refrained |
from any reference whatever to political |
gpestiOns."