The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-06-01
BLAINE cL1NCHEs HIS DEcL1N ALTON.

It would hardly be fair 10 suggest that
after reading Jamas G. Blaine's letter from
Paris he has any friend who still thinks he
might be induced to accept the nomination
for the Presidency. And yet, had not . few
close and prominent friends who were &C.
credited with being better informed than the
people generally of Mr.. Blaine's attitude,
s%edulously aud persistently encouraged the
idea that be might be induced to accept If q
very complimentary nomination were given
him, the Florence letter would have been
accepted as quite Is positive IS the one writ
ten from Paris an unconditional with
drawal. They apparently had his assent to
the course they pursued or acted on the
theory "We will make him take it," but Mr.,
Blaine says again, pointedly, be will not,
and they will now necessarily drop The pro
ject. Mr.. Blaine has established himself
more firmly in the estimation Of the country
by reciting precisely the attitude in which he
would be placed should he now accept, and
declining to be placed in that position. Only
the day before Blaine's Paris letter was pub.
lished in the Tribune, Whitelaw Reid said a
Pittsburg, "If the nomination were rendered
Mr.. Blaine I think he would accept it." The
Philadelphia Times said be would accept.
So Mr.. Blaine is q more sincere man than
even some of his friends gave him credit fol
being. That his avowed candidacy would
have been almost as solidly supported as Mr.
Cleveland's, and that he would have polled
a larger vote proportionately than four years
ago, there is little room to doubt but there
are several other candidates, either of whom,
if nominated and supported by the Republi.
can party With deserved and certain unanim
ity, can do all that Mr.. Blaine could have
done-defeat Cleveland.
Just who that person will be is now q
knotty and pressing problem. Who will the
Blaine votes 60 to: Of cours they cannot
all be delivered to one candidate, even if II
were known Blaine had . preference, and
Notwithstanding his wishes would have
weight and his active support of the nominee
be desired. Much of it would 60 c~heerfully
to Morton or Depew, but q large proportion
Of the Blaine support has other second
choice. Sherman's support was obtained in
the face of Blaine's supposed candidacy, and
the situation At present leaves him in the
lead with more delegates than any other can
didate, and . fair probability Of gaining
largely by the breaking up Of Blaine's forces.
During the past few days q foray has been
made against Gresham's "protection" record,
bis boom assuming proportions that necessi.
tated some distractions thrown in its way.
but it was not sufficient for the purpose, and
the sentiment is growing stronger in his IA
vor. If Allison or he are acceptable to New
York, one of them can probably have either
first or second place on the ticket, If the other
place is filled from east of the Allegheny
mountains. One thing appears clear now
1t is not going to BET "stampede' convention,
and its balloting is likely to be quite protrac.
ted. No candidate can now approximate
even the AL votes necessary to nominate,
and although their friends will work like
beavers now, it is doubtful if any candidate
can be pulled in sight before the Convention
meets. Mr.. Blaine's letter has put his friends
into warm work while he goes coaching leis.
urely through Scotland.