New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-31
NEw-YoRK, THURSDAY, MAY 81, 1888.
Mr.. BLAINE'S DECISION.

MR.. BLAINE'S DECISION.
MUCH SORROW CAUSED HERE BY HIS
SECOND LETTER.
GENERAL REGRET HEARD on EVERY HANp-RE-
PUBLicANs EXPRESS ANEW THEIR CONFIDENCE
IN THEIR GREAT LEADER-No ONE READY
TO SAY WHO SHOULD BE NAMED
AT CHICAGO.
Mr. Blaine's second letter was the one topic
of conversation at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yes
terday. Under its capacous roof while President
Cleveland was stolidly reviewing the Decoration
Day parade. at Madison Square, outside, there
were gathered intimate personal friends or polit-
ical managers for nearly every prominent Republi-
| can whose name has been mentioned for the
Presidency Conference after conference took
place all deg long, and until far into the Eight.
The letter was discussed and debated in all its
bearings. The possible action Of delegates at
Chicago under the influence Of the letter was also
a subject Of consideration. Combinations wero
suggested, and plans of various kinds proposed
When all had been said and DONE the situation
might have been summed up in the language OF
| s. B. Ellins, who was asked as he was leaving
the hotel what was to be the outcome Of the
| letter and the convention.
g Let us wait and see,' said he " As for me,
l am going to Deer Park with my family on
Friday and think it all over
! Besides Mr. Ellxins there were gathered at the
hotel during the day Joseph II. Manley and
Congressman c. A. Boutelle, of Maine, j. S.
Clarkson of Iowa Hamilton Diston and William
Leeds, Of Pennsylvania Attorney-Genenl
| Michener of Indiana Il. w. Fox, Of the Washing
ton Republican; and scores Of other less prominent
| Republicans from O number Of States. The con-
census Of opinion was that the elected delegates
who are friends of Mr.. Blaine, Mr. Depew Senator
Allison, General Harrison, and General
Ager between whom there is COM
munty Of interest and friendship can
| by remaining together select the nominee OF
! the party. There was also an expression OF dis
position to keep these delegates together and
| prevent their being scattered nlscellaneousy.
But when the conundrum of who should be the
! beneficiary of this combination came up 1t was
impossible to obtain opinions. In the chats and
interviews which follow, picked up in the hotel
corridors, some idea of the effect Of the letter
may be cleaned
| MR. MANLEY SPEAKS FOR MAINE
Joseph II. Manley, of Maine, who leads the
| delegation from that State to Chicago, said:
the reasons Why ho should not permit his name % 70
| he presented as a candidate before the Republican
National Convention That letter, @ au mass e
Of the Republican voters for his nomination. hls
recent Paris letter simply supplements MS foFenoe @
| letter There has been conference OF the Maine
delegates they were elected by their varlpus
conventions and therefore, am nnSDe pe 10 sfer a @
consultation shall be had 1t Is safe to say however,
the NV OF Maine Tl 9S With bs
representatives of the great body OF tho friends OF
Mr. Blaine throughout the country who have so gen,
erously united for years in their enthusiastic suppor.
Of Maine, most distinguished citizen Isthink great
Difference should be paid to the opinions OF the Repno
IS pre-cninentiy a time when the office should seek
the man and not the man the Office
NIX BoUTELLE SAYS THERE is NO CHANCE
| CONGRESSMAN Boutelle, Of Maine. who was WIS.,
tied at the Fifth Avenue HOTEL said
After careful consideration Of Mi Balnes Paris IS
LETTER and ae S 9m se 0 reS canvass
cannot see that 1t has practically altered the sitaa IA
FioeEce letter. Of January 90 That letter expressed
moro distinctly than the recent one Mr. haiGe
Of choice far as Mr. Blaine could influence or
control the matter Of his relation to the % Pesdena,
popular demonstration and election of delegates IN
his favor in spite OF that expression OF ms pers0al
wish for retirement, Enthusiastically indicated the pro-
found conviction among the masses Of tho party that
Mr. Balne's candidacy would most surely promote
reae e eeng U that tho Interests Of the great orsan
zaon superior to tho personal wishes or dsnclna-
The recent letter bears internal evidence of having
been influenced by persistent representations to Mr.
friends Of ntier candidate, were regarding the con
nucd popular movement in his favor as In a sense
In injustice TO them, and reflection upon the slp-
Gritty of his former letter But. however much honor
lbs last letter may reflect upon Mr. Blsne,s sensitive
hyalry toward the other leaders Of the Republican
arty, It does not change the fact that the great
Of the party 6SGyo % that no hsr ga@ bTnS Eans
nd there Is nothing in the logic of the situation to
.use belief that this additional manifestation OF
G great leaders magnanmlty can possibly lessen
g enthusiastic desire to make him the standard
arcr. Neither do see any, reason 20 anticipate
ht 1t will any substantial change In the ati
tc of the friends Of Mr. Blaine who have been nom
Z first, as they are now ready to unite cordially In
support of any one OF the tried and trusted leaders
uthe Republican party upon whom its choice and
cthdence can be concentrated.
A SURPRISE TO MR.. HARRISoN's FRIENDS.
Attomey-General l.. F. Michener, of Indiana,
wD has been here for two weeks as the recog-
nhd personal friend and political manager for
ex-senator Harrison, was frank in saying that he
ws surprised to see a second letter from Mr.
Blne. He added:
he letter is also n surprise to tho Republicans Of
| th,Sation One decllnaon by any other Republican
spkcn OF IN connection with the Presidency would DC
sclcnt to take him out of the range OF possibilities
bu the love OF Mr. Blaine is 50 strong, and his wonder
liabilities univ yersaly recognized, that each declna-
ito has only intensified the desire to sec him nom
maid and elected ! know that am right IN saying
Una The friends OF General Harrison In lh1laia arc
loNl and earnest in his support, but there never has
bea time when the nomination of Mr. Elaine would would
nohave been very gratifying them, for they believe
tha the one typical and dstincsvely American citizen
Wb over-shadows all others is James G. Blaine.
REPUBLICANS ALL ADRITT NOW
| hamilton Disston and Sheriff William Leeds, OF
Philadelphia, came over here on the morning tram
to earn the actual political situation. They had
conferences at the Fifth Avenue Hotel with friends
Of Mr. Blaine, Senator Allison, General Harrison
and others Mr.. Leeds was extremely retlcent
in discussing the letter ut has sent us all
adrft at sea- he said, " so that we do not really