Omaha daily bee., 1888-01-05
"1fHe Wants It,"
Philddelphid American nPep),

Fhttddetphfd American (ftfp)
The suggestion has been very cody
made, aud is as cody received in GER
tain quarters, that "Mr. Blame can
have the nomination if he wants it,"
This is merely one way of misrepresent-
ing the actual situation, in the interest
of that sort of "boom" which is so
much employed and beloved by Mr..
Blaine's advocates. AS Il matter of fact,
there is no possibility of the nomination
being rendered him by the convention.
If he should get it at all, which we do
not now believe possible, it would be as
the result of u contest, like that of 1884,
but more prolonged and severe.
The reason of this simply is that the
party does not want to load up Mr..
Blaine again. 1t has It's own work in
hand, not his ambitions and interests.
In 1876 he was pressed upon it; in 1850
he was again candidate for
its nominations; in 1884 his claims
were presented third time; and now
in 1883 it is still ''the same story con-
tnued." The party is tired Of his case.
1t has made an earnest and honest effort
to elect him, without success. 1t cannot
afford to give II quarter of century, in
most mOmentous period of American
history, to the effort to carry and elevate
single one of its members. II Mr..
Blaine were much more entirely its
leader and representatives; il his services
to it had been immensely more valuable;
| if his statesmanlike qualities were null
tiplied; there would still be neither rea-
son nor justice in its forsaking its legiti-
mate duties to the country, and becom-
| ing q mere packhorse for his concerns,
1t is perfectly evident, as we have
said, that there is no general willing
ness to give him the nomination. Any
pretense of that sort collapses the mo-
ment it is examined. Every test of the
| public opinion of the party exhibits n
thorough distrust of the possibility of
his election, and an anxiety to secure II
stronger candidate. The canvass of the
delegates to the New York state con-
| vention, the canvass of members-elect
| OF the New York legislature, the cam
vass of republican members of congress,
| the inquiry just made among the re-
publican newspapers of Illinois, Kansas
| and Missouri-all these develop the
same state of facts, and prove the WIDE
| spread prevalence of the wish to take
| IL lleW ulitus NlOEcONcE, UHc ucW Icu
! are already suggested. There are cer-
tainly half dozen other prominent can
dldates beside Mr.. Blaine. Mr..
Sherman will have a large following
outside his own state of Ohio. He will
have, we believe, delegates from fifteen
| or twenty other states. including Penn
| sylvania. Indiana will send, it is now
| quite certain, solid dele CATION for
General Harrison. Connecticut is very
likely to do as much for General Haw-
ley. And there will be votes for Mr..
Lincoln, Mr.. Allison, Governor Rusk,
Senator Cullom, and perhaps as many
| more.
| Nobody presumes to doubt these facts.
They are perfectly well known. What,
then, do they show? Do they signify
that the convention is going to tender
its nomination to Mr.. Blaine on silver
plate? The absurdity Of such a theory
is manifest the instant the facts them
selves are admitted. 1t is evident that
the party is seeking its best candi-
date. 1t is undertaking now, not
futile attempts at redressing the past,
but the performance of the duties Of the
spilled on the ground in 1884 by the COM
bined misfortunes which brought defeat
in New York is spilled entirely. No
amount of bewailing can recompense the
loss, and no sort of effort can gather up
the milk. That capter is closed, and the
plain duty of the republican party is to
go forward upon a fresh line of attack.
Its candidates and itself have now a
clean sheet. There are no old claims
1t owes Mr.. Blaine nothing whatever.
If there be any debt either way it is
from him to the party for the great and
fruitless effort which it made to serve
him, and for the disaster which his
candidacy ontailed upon it. Such 6
debt Mr., Blaine can with difficulty
discharge, but one of the means of un
dertaking to do so would be for him t(
withdraw from the canvass. AS it is
plain he cannot get the nomination, ex
cept by struggle, and in all probability
cannot get it at all, he must certainly see
that the party would be relieved by his
withdrawal, and that at time so tre
mendously critical in the history o
American affairs he should not seliishly
add to the party's embarrassments ant
burdens.
Meantime, let no one be so weak as tt
be deceived by the pretense that Mr.
Blaine's nomination is something GER
tain, IF he wants it," The sober sens
of the republican party does not wan
him, and is showing the fact more
openly every day.