New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-14
REPUBLICANS ALL TALK OF III.
UNIVERSAL HOPE THAT THE DECISION IS
NOT FINAL.
TALKS WITH cHAUNCEY NJ. DEPEw, EX-SENATOR
MILLER, Ex-JUpGE DAVIS AND MANY
OTHER INFLUENTIAL MEN
or THE PARTY.

r.rxs WITH cuAUSCEY NJ DEPEw, EX-SENATOR
MILLER, Ex-JUpGE DAVIS AND MANY
OTHER INFLUENTIAL MEN
OF THE PARTY.
Chauncey NJ. Depew was just finishing up his
DAVIS work in his office at the Grand Cehtrai
Station yesterday, when TRIBUNE reporter
asked for his opinion Of Mr.. Blafne's letter and
its nrobable effect upon the political situation
LAYING aside his eye glasses, Mr.. Depew said:
Mr. Blaine Is the most dramatic parsonage III
America, without meaning to be dramatic lie -
an astonishingy able man, with that quick put
comprehensive grasp Of all public questions winch
endows his uterances with an instant and respect
full attention accorded to no other living man III
this country His answer to Clevelands message
met with the same conditions. Every other public
man of note had reviewed the situation WIN more
or less ability but Mr. Blaine instantly gave 1t that
picturesque popularity which attracted universal
attention and brought the whole country TO us ieeC
Oh one side or the other OF the question.
HIS ENEMIES AT THrIR OLD TRICKS.
II see that the papers hostile to Mr. Blaine unani
mouslv take the position that he is not sincere
in the declaration Of his purpose not TO De can-
didate and that the promulgation of his letter is
only another way OF promoting bis personaI can-
vass which they have persistently charged him
Of Mr. Blane's making these gentlemen believe
ANYTHING in regard to him, except what they WISH
TO believe or to put any Interpretation upon whao
he saws except what they determine IL snail Sig
nify is one Of the phenomena attending 'he
utterances Of public man which attach 10 no
one else in the country. One reason Tor thls Is
that they are afraid Of Mr.. Blaine. They don't
want him nominated, because they fear the cam
yass that he would conduct and The enthusiasm
with which his name would inspire it. 80 they
create stuffed Blaine made up on model WHICH
they think could be easily broken and vigorously
practise on it every day The model in the mean
time bears no resemblance whatever to the real
Blaine.
A letter of such Importance must be interpreted
by the facts and circumstances which have pre-
ceded it. saw Mr. Blaine twice before he sailed
for Europe. The first time some Of his devoted
friends were present and were urging him to make
a puI lie announcement of his candidacy and to
make an open canvass Both Of these propositions
he pcremptorily declined. The second time was
the occasion Of personal conversation In which
he stated to me that he did not desire TO be
candidate and that he did not wish anything done
to promote his candidacy. That this was his
position before going abroad thoroughly under
stood By his immediate friends.
81 heard him say the same thing in London the
hight before he went to the continent, ana he re-
peated IL at Homburg, whenever the question was
under discussion IN the walks and at the luncheons
aud dinners which were common at that watering
place | have no doubt that Mr.. Blaine means
exactly what he says, and | make this statement
unequivocelly, for / have had abundant oppor'
tunity to indge Of his sincerity
REPUBLICAN SUCCESS PREDICTED.
"The letter opens the Republican canvass for
tb of Ranu
gives the reasons for il. 1t will resound through
the country like q bugle note, inspiring the Re-
publican party with enthusiasm. 1t will strength
en- Mr. Blaine very much with the Republican
party 1t Immediately brings to the front the
canvass of the other candidates, which was COM
paratively feeble before because OF the hopeless
ness OF success with Mr. Blaine as the important
factor In the field.
This canvass made by the friends OF these
gentlemen in their several States, Will all prove
capital preparations for the campaign after the
nomination is made because Of the fact that
the canvass must necessarily be OF such char
acter that it will lie impossible for animosities
or rancors TO survive the nominations which
will be finally made at Chicago. IL. In the fail'
ure to agree in the Convention upon some one
of the admirable names presented. there shouid
be a sudden and uncomfortable enthusiasm Tor
clamation and the Convention then adjourned
T do not believe that he would make it necessary
for the Convention to be called together again
WHAT SENATOR HAwLEY SAYS.
Senator IIawley who seen at the dinner
OF the Brooklyn Republican League iast hisn"
said: "Of course, Mr. Blaine means what he
saws. The letter may prevent HIS nomination. and
that will cause sincere regret TO his friends But
he NAV be nominated in spite OF it, IL is dihcult
to foretell what may happen in politics. BE that
MS IL NAV, Mr. Bane's friends are not the sort OF
men to sit on the fence and sulk II things doh
turn out exactly to suit them. For the presen'
the letter changes the aspect of the poticai heiu
T. .trangtbens Mr. Shermans and Mr. Ahisoh
cbances Of receiving the nomination UuG irS' %
,,,h;ob ., them will be helped most by IL ID nh-
possible to say"
EX-SENATOR MILLEns Hiiosorhi'N|
Ex-senator Warner Miller was "roiouhdiy
stirred by the letter from Florence Anu ye''
bc said. in speaking Of it can VOL uhoers'anu
how Mr. Blaine. whose position at the present
tims il altogether unique, should ieei as ne oocS
nhoro .re now I'm the tied several announced can
a;da,ss They IRE statesmen Of influence ana
-o,n,otion. Their friends are not likely TO
,i,hdrn,v them. even II Mr.. Blaine had consented
NV silence TO let his name 20 before the Conven-
ton. IL is possibly true that when tho Conveh-
tion actually met no name wOLld be presented but
Mr. T,ain-'s, but he undoubtedly considered that
the worry and work OF preliminary canvass
however distant and reserved might be his at
titude toward It, was scarcely worth enduring.
"Do you think the letter disposes OF MI
| Blaine's candidacy p -
| have no doubt that he is thoroughly sincere
z