River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-02-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
IFrom our regular correspondent.l
February 18th. 1883

February 18th, 1888.
Mr.. Blaine's letter to chairman
Jones OF the National Republican COM
mittee, announcing that his name
would not go before the National nom-
mating convention this year, has over
Swallowed everything of political
nature at the National Capital this
weeE; and although it has now been
nearly week since it was made pub
lie, it is just as eagerly discussed as it
was the first day it was printed, and
opinions differ as widely upon what its
effects are likely to be on the people
and afterwards on the nominating
convention. The opinions for con-
venience may be put in three classes:
First, those who were opposed to
BIaine's nomination, but would vote
for him if he received the party NOM
inatiOn. They believe, or at least
they say so. that the letter removes
Mr.. Blaine entirely from the field, and
that he could not consistently accept
the nomination even if the cOnven-
ton should unanimously tender it TO
him.
Second, those who acknowledge the
fitness OF AIr. Blaine to be the non-
nee of the party, but who for personal
reasons prefer some other man. They
believe-because it is in accordance
with their wishes-that the letter takes
Mr.. Blaine out of the race and leaves it
open to the best man which of course
is their candidate.
Third, those who believe that Mr..
Blaine is entitled to the highest hon.
ors that his party can give him, ON
account of his life long work in its
interest, to say nothing of giving him
a chance to obtain what was lost in
1884 by an accident. They say that
Nj. Blaine cannot prevent the Repub-
Leans of the country from nominating
and electing him to the Presidency.
that the matter is out of his hands
entirely, and that the letter will have
no effect whatever except to make
them more determined than ever to
nominate him.
This classification does not include
the opinions of the Democrats They
all hope that Mr.. Blame Will not be
the candidate. They fear him on
account of his powerful influence over
the Irish-Americans, more than any
other man IN the Republican party.
a Democratic politician OF National
reputation was overheard today saying
TO IA Senator of the same party: Blaine
is the only man we have got to look
out for. Ii the Republicans had put
up any other man in their party in
1854, Cleveland would have carried
New York by fifty thousand majority
instead of the beggarly eleven hundred
that we pulled through with. Our
policy from now on should be to pre-
vent the nomination of Blaine"
II the old maxim, '.find out what
your opponents don't want you to do
and then do it," is right, then the
Republican party should go right
ahead and nominate Blaine, his letter
Notwithstanding. But politics are
not run by maxims old or new, and
who is to be the nominee is becoming
burning question.
Whichever way the Blaine letter be
taken, it has resulted in bringing Gen.
Phil sheridan well up in the the front
rank of eligible candidates for the
Republican nomination. He would
make strong candidate, certain to be
elected. and what a President he
would make.
The administration circus is to be
put on the road again for "a short eX-
hibition tour of one week. The show
is to 90 South, as far as Florida, on a
special train which will leave here on
Tuesday, returning Saturday night.
Whether the special train will include
the celebrated car with plate glass
sides in which the menagerie was ex-
hibited during the western tour last
year, has not been learned at this
writing. This hurried step has been
arranged to help the good cause of
electing Cleveland delegates to the
Democratic nomination convention,
some anti-Cleveland mutterings hav-
ing recently been heard in that section.
rhe show will consist of the following
stars: Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland, Mr. and
Mrs. Whitney, and Col. and Mrs. La
mont. The show will be accompanied
10y representatives of the Associated
and united Press, whose duties will be
TO supply any enthusiasm that may be
lacking in the reception of the circus
Toy the natives.