Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-14
Mr. Blaine,s Letter.

EUEsDAH, FEBRUARY IA, 1888.
AF. Blaine,s Letter.
The impression that James G.
Blaine has had as strong an aspiration
70 be President of the United States
~ ever possessed the soul of citizen,
has been a very general one. There
can be no doubt that this impression
has been well founded. It will be
remembered that the HERALD few
weeks ago published an interview
which = member of our staff had with
Hon. Joseph Pulitzer, the editor Of
the New York World, and that Mr..
Pulitzer therein expressed himself as
convinced that Mr.. Blaine did not
now wish to bear the standard Of his
party in the campaign of next fall,
and that, moreover, four years ago,
Mr.. Blaine would not have been
disappointed has some one else been
selected as the candidate of the
Re publican party. At the moment
when Mr.. Pulitzer gave expression to
these views, they were novel to
most of us. But since that date
rumors have been rife to the effect
that a letter had been received from
Europe in which Mr.. Blaine withdrew
his name from before the Chicago
Convention. Yesterday morning
this letter was given to the world, and
was read by patrons of the HERALD
in Los Angeles, as we'll as
by the people Of the Atlantic
cities. This sets at rest all
doubt as to the desire of
Mr.. Blaine not to be the standard
bearer Of his party a second time-and
until the letter was published these
doubts were almost universal. In the
telegraphic dispatches in our columns
this morning will be found the SUBJ
stance OF an interview with Mr.. Jones,
Chairman Of the Republican National
Committee, and Mr.. Blaine's most
intimate friend. In this Mr.. Jones
sives publicity te what he purports to
know to be Mr.. Biaine's reasons for
this step. This interview first settles
the fact that We were all right when
We supposed Mr.. Blaine to be am
bitious to wear the highest civic
crown in the gift Of his country
men. Mr.. Jones says that in 1876,
and again in 1880, Mr.. Blaine was
very desirous Of securing the nomina-
ton; and that furthermore, he was
deeply chagrined when he found
what no doubt the Maine statesman
considered far less worthy men
Hayes and General Garfield carry
away the honors. Mr.. Jones says
that in 1884 Mr.. Blaine had ceased to
care for the honor of carrying the
banner Of his party before the people,
and that now, in 1888, this Indifference
70 be so honored has greatly increased.
II is worth while to inquire into the
reason Of this change of feeling, tits
not that the prize is less glittering or
less valuable. It is more so. 1t is
not that Mr.. Blaine is grown 80 old
that the fire Of ambition is less warm
IN his veins, nor still less is it that
he is too old to be able to bear the
burden Of the Presidency. He is only
IS years old-a young man still
am ong the rulers of the world, and
not an old one as compared with the
average age Of our Chief Magis-
tTates, or with tnat Of aspi-
ran&s to this high Office. Mr..
Jonee assures US it is not Mr.. Blaine's
health which puts him out of the race.
His tour In Europe has done him a
wcrh Of good, we are told; and he is
now in excellent health. Is Mr..
Blaine then sincere in his desire TO
withdraw? Yes, he undoubtedly is.
Not that he may not still carry the
banner Of his party before the people
next fall. Should the Chicago con-
vention press the honor on the man
from Maine, with anything like
nnanimous enthusiasm, however he
light like Cesar push the
pfofIered crown aside even
- the third time. yet in the
ed he would be prevailed upon to go
MORO the country. So Mr.. Blaine
may after all be the Republican can
didate for the Presidency.
Why then his letter? Mr.. Pulitzer
4 his interview referred to above
6ivun the keynote to the situation.
~. Blaine's indifference to the great
nor d presiding over the greatest
fn1Ioa On the earth dates from the sum-
- a 1884. At that time public
4 lnion had become most pronoun-
10y n favor Of 3 change in the ad-
fol1u1ion. The defeat Of the
Mem candidate had become
M alnost foregone conclusion.
la1lous q Presidential honors, Mr..
ino ~ but faint rays Of hope To-