The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-09
Blaine,s Position Stated.

Charles Emory Smith, the editor Of the
Philadelphia Press, who is one Of tho recog-
nized leaders of the Republican party, IN
widely published interview on Mr.. BIaiue's
chances of getting the Presidential nomina-
uon OF his party, and of being elected, IL
nominated, SAYS that no canvass is being
made for Nj. Blaine and that none will be
made, He says that Mr. Blaine doesn't
want the nomination unless it comes TO him
almost unanimously, and unless he is salts
tied that the prospects for his election are
good. There is good reason for thinking
that this is a pretty fair statement Of Mr.
Blaine's wishes He would make grave
mistake TO accept a nomination if any con
siderable faction of his party were opposed
to him He would stand very poor chance
of being elected even if his party were
unanimously and enthusiastically in his
favor, and he would have no chance at all
if even small faction of it were hostile to
him
Mr. Smith says that the Republicans are
absolutely sure of 1858 electoral votes, and
that they expect TO get the other 80, which
are necessary to succeed, from the doubtful
States, which, in his opinion, are New
York, New Jersey, Connecticut Indiana
and the Pacific coast States This state
ment is important in that it indicates that
there is no intention TO adopt Senator
Chambers plan TO capture three or four of
the Southern States. NJ doubt Mr. Chan
der never thought that il was possible for
the Republican party 70 carry Southern
State, and his bill TO conduct Congressional
elections in Southern States wholly under
the direction of Federal officials has no
other purpose than TO afford an opportunity
to the Republicans to manufacture cam
paign material.
While no efforts will be made, according
to Mr.. Smith, to pack the convention for
Mr. Blaine, nor to control it in his favor,
great weight will be given to the preference
of the delegates OF the doubtful States. II
they say that Blaine can come nearer carry
ing the doubtful States than any other can
didate he will be nominated. Mr.. Smith
also says that at least tmee-fourths of
the delegates from those States will be for
Blaine. If he is correct in this then there is
not much, if any doubt that Mr.. Blaine will
be nominated
As matter of fact the admirers Of Mr.
Blaine have never had doubt about his
nomination, and while they may not openly
work for him they will do so secretly, and
if they succeed they will say that he was
chosen without an effort on his part, or that
of his friends.
Mr.. Smith expresses the opinion that
New York can be carried by the Repubh-
cans if they begin work at once and CON
duct the campaign on the protective tariff
issue New York being the greatest manu-
featuring city in the country he would have
the shrewdest workers of the party sent
there as soon as possible TO talk to the work
ingmen on the tariff question
This is a very nice plan, of course, but
the Democrats are not going to let the Re
publcans monopolize the tariff talk They
have something TO say TO workingmen on
the tariff issue, and what they say will in
terest the toilmg thousands fully as much
as anything the Republicans present. The
Democratic position on the tariff is
impregnable The Presidents message
is well calculated to show the work
ingmen of New York, as well
as Of other cities, that the benefits of pro-
lection are theoretical rather than real, and
that it is TO their interests to give low tariff
a trial