New-York tribune., 1888-03-23
MIR. Blaine ON HIS CRITICS.
HIGHLY AMUSED BY DEMOCRATIC AND
MUGwUMP COMMENTS.
noRx EVIDENCE OF HIS RESOLUTION NOT TO IL
A cANpIDArE-ALL ENGLAND SURPRISED BY
rnE HUaENEss or Mr.. RITcHIEs LOCAL
GOVERNMENT BILL = LORD ROSE
Berry AS A REFoRMER-IMPE-
RIAL RgnERATI0N.
TBY CABLE 10 TIE TRIBUNAL


LONDON. March pa returning traveller from
Italy tells me that nothing affords Mr. Blaine
more amusement than the Democratic and Mug
wump comments on his refusal to allow his name
to be presented to the National Convention IS
candidate for the next Presidency.
~Thcse gentlemen" said Mr.. Blaine, seem to
think, or wish their readers to think that with
drew nv name as o sure method of securing
unanimous nomination How wise they arel
How much better they know my plans than
myself know themi They are, Of course, the
persons whom before all others should take into
my confidence
judge from what my returning traveller Tolls
me that among the Mugwumps it is Mr. Godkln
especially who contributes to Mr.. Blaine's enjoy
mcnt Perhaps the flavor of Mr. Godkins wisdom
cannot be fully appreciated till it has become
mouldy A voyage across the Atlantic ripens 1t,
and Mr.. Godkn read among the Catacombs Is
more comic than Mr.. Godkn on his adopted SOIL
Such, gsther, arc Mr.. Baines opinions. AS
his retirem,n mt appears to be still matter OF
dispute, may refer you to some earlier evidence
The lay before Mr.. Cleveland's Free-Tr message
reached Paris l sent you dispatch relating to Mr.
Blainc's intentions 1t was sent by his autnorlty
and anybody who will read it, even Mr.. GodlSin
can see that Mr.. Blaine had then resolved to with
draw his name as a candidate His friends then
termination in consequence Of Mr.. Clcvelands
message and his own reply. That message was
and is regarded by Americans here as suicidal.
Mr. Blaine's answer made him, in their Judgment
necessary candidate. His name became
aagt He was the foreordained leader in the battle
between American protection and English free
trade.
Such views were pressed on him. He agreed
that Mr.. Cleveand's message had insured the
election Of the Republican candidate, but his rc-
solve could not be shaken. lie persisted In re-
fusing to be q candidate, though deeming the
nomination his own or any other Republicans
equivalent to an election. His letter Of declination
followed lie has been gratifcd by the express ons
Of regret that the letter elected but his purpose
remains what it was when the letter was written.
Mr. Blaine and family are still in Rome. My
friend appears to have heard him iken the Eternal
City to Milwaukee, so new are nine-tenths OF the
Rome of to-day, with its long rows OF cream
,olorcd houses His health and spirits continue
good lie is likely to be in London in May.
Mr. Richie has stepped suddenly into the front
rank where place seemed marked out for him.
His Local Government bill is by the general
consent of opponents well as friends one OF the
largcs5 measures ever offered to the House OF
Commons, and one Of the most wisely drawn. Ii
has surprised both parties. The Liberals have
heretofore said that the Tories only took up the
question of local government in order to divert
attention from Home Rule. They were expected
to coquet with il. Few Liberals believed that
measure SO conceived as to enlist Liberal OF
Radical support would be adopted by the Cabinet.
Mr. Ritchie was known to be in favor OF COM
prehcnsivc scheme but some Of his colleagues were
relied on to white down his bill before it saw
The light Lord Salisbury was supposed to be the
most hostile of all to any plan which should really
allow people in counties to govern themselves,
elect their own rulers, and manage their own local
affairs.
All these and many other predictions have come
to grief The Liberals freely admit that Mr.
Ritche's bill is broadly democratic. Thcy critcise
particular points, but concede that II tho measure
as whole be passed, it will amount to the entire
overthrow of the existing county system Ihere-
fore thoy insist that it cannot be passed; Is not
meant to be passed. On the other hand, hear
from the Ministers themselves that they intend and
expect to carry the BILL substantially as intro
duccd, through both Houses before Parliament
q n. rrns Some features may be modified No
measure of this magnitude ever becomes law
in the exact shape first brought in. They expect
q hard fight on some points Licensing is one'
but they believe they will ultimately have the
support of the publcans because their vested IN
tercss are recognized and of the temperance party
because they get local option. It has been SAID
that they included London only to drop IT, but
London is in their view an essential part OF the
BILL They know they have to reckon with TO
sstance among their own supporters Inc chle1
marty organ on some points more Tory than the
Tory leaders, sounded forth at once note OF
defiance, yet the country gentlemen for whom that
paper is supposed to speak are far less hostile.
They believe that under the new system they may
still retain much Of their old influence. II is, OF
course, too soon for judgment TO be formed
either way on the measure as whole, or Oh tne
view that parties, sections, or the whole country
NAV ultimately take, but it is certain that the
bill IL meant to pass, and tho Ministry are in
nigh spirits over 1t. The ralUnonists, who
have been Consulted from the beginning, have
donc much TO iberalize the scheme, and will
support it ~fth zeal.
Since writing tho above have met late col
league of Mr. Gladstone whom asked what I'M
uression the bill produced on the Liberal side OF
The House. ~Unbounded as,onishment," answered
he. "This feeling increased as Mr. Ritchie de-
veloped point after point, advancing with great
trides toward that democratic policy we advocate.
rhe Liberals hailed them with laughter and cheers,
while the Tories grew even more and more Silent
and gloomy. l assure you that regardless Oh i's
effect on party politics, we keen to pass this
bill The Liberals as party, however, have yct
TO come to dccison. meeting OF the whole
party is summoned for next week at Spencer
House. We shall then decide what to do"
There is, in fact, some prospect that this huge
bill will put even Irish questions in the back
ground for the remainder of the session Yes
answer the Radicals. but when you have gwen
English counties Home Rule, you will have made
q SO much the more difficult to deny Home Rule
IN Ireland That is not line Of argument which
.,,oh tarr;6cS the Tories Certainly 1t has
somewhat lcssened the general interest in the re-
form OF the House OF Lords. Lord Rosebcry's
speech and scheme at any ordinary time would
have supplied a topic for many weeks' discussion
Ills proposals are alike bold, careful and practical
He has thought out his subject as it has never been
thought out before There arc the elements oi
6orIxshle schema In his SUGGESTIONS Even LOrd