The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-27

/. an uphill fight before it. He had at that time
had enough Of politics, and would have been
perfectly willing to have withdrawn. Then Mr..
Blaine said that he remembered distinctly this
conversation He did not believe in the spring
of 1884 that the Republican party could win
The defeats of 1882 and 1883 and dissatisfaction
throughout the country made him believe that
the Republican party was doomed to defeat
In that year 1t was with the greatest reiuc-
tance that he saw the tendency az Chicago to
nominate him.
lieves that the Republican party will win in the
coming campaign, il upon no other issue than
that Of the tariff but he has, in spite OF that be-
lief, passed beyond position of reluctance to
one of absolute determination to enter
the political field again a presidential candi-
date. He said upon this head: 81 could not go
through another contest with the certainty OF
the presidency at the end OF IL The struggle
10 too great, and there is nothing in life worth
such contest
asked Mr. Blaine if he had not fully deter
mined to retire from politics when he came to
Europe last year. He said that he had bis
letter of withdrawal was prepared some
weeks ago He had withheld it from publIca-
ton only OFT OF regard for the appeals IN let
tiers and dispatches of his personal friends In
the United States who knew OF his intention,
and who had made repeated requests TO him
to keep bark his declaration, and to stand
again. They had urged upon him that the pros
. poets of the party were now much brighter than
they were in 1884. and that he could, and
would have much better chance OF
being elected He had replied to them, how
ever, that he did not feel equal to the task OF
another campaign. He had reached period
in life when, If ever he was to have any pleas
ure or happiness with his family, it was now,
and when any great burden or STRAIN
would certainly injure his health. He was told
in answer to this that he need NOT raise his
fnger in the campaign; that he could be elected
IL he should sit perfectly quiet and not make
single speech, or ever appear 1t single meet
ing. To this Mr.. Blaine replied that he would
not accept the nomination and do any less than
he did in the previous campaign. He could not
put himself in the position of not appearing to
take an much interest in this years campaign as
in the last presidential canvass; so after due def
erence his friends pleas he published his let
ter.
i said to Mr. Blaine that when he published
from Paris his criticism of the Presidents tariff
message. people in the United States gen.
orally regarded this 40 his formal temperance
in the campaign MS q candidate Mr. Blaine re
piled that he understood that this was the impress
sion at the time Of his permitting that interview
to be published. He was fresh from reading the
message and he saw in it an opportunity for his
party. He became convinced mt once that 1t
could win this year upon the issue made by the
President. What he said then was for the pur-
pose of bringing out and making clear the posi-
bility of victory indicated by the message At
the time of his talk with the correspondent at
Paris he was fully decided upon his letter OF
withdrawal as upon the day of its publication.
Mr. Blaine said that he thought that he had
made this possibility Of victory very plain and
clear in bis ietter. and that he could add nothing
TO that. He had no personal suggestions to
make beyond the general outline, which he had
already given. of what he thought the Repub-
lican party could do to win.
asked Mr. Blaine about several Of the promi-
nent candidates, seeking to gain some express
sion Of opinion from him in a negative and indi-
rect way CONSUMING hi: choice among them all
specially asked him about Senator John Sher-
man--what he thought of his chances-but in
stead of making any answer he asked me ques-
tons upon this subject, and wound up with the
general statements that he had no personal pref
euces to express, and that his hearty sup
port and sympathy would GO to whom
ever should DO nominated. 1t was evident
from Mr.. Blaines manner that If he had any
personal feeling in the past against any OF the
Republican leaders, growing out OF previous
Conflicts they were forgotten. Friends who
have been with him all through the winter
say that he speaks of all his political opponents
in the Same philosophical tone employed by him
in his first volume of Political History. He is
not a man who harbors resentments Some of
his friends think that he should use his influence
against the people who have fought him in the
past. but he has steadily refused to listen to any
harmony in the Republican party, and will re-
main passive quantity. so far as American
politics are concerned. He is at present as re-
mote possible from all connection with Amer
lean politics. He is in country whore all tele-
graph dispatches are scrutinized, and are practi-
caliy public to any one who wishes to pay
bribe to any of the minor officials, that he
could have means of communicating private
ly with his political friends except by mail.
When Mr.. Blaine Was pursued through Eu
rope during last fall and early part of the win
ter by Spies who followed him for the purpose
of distortine and discolorng every petty incl
dent Of his visit, they obtained every dispatch
that he sent out to the telegraph Office. Since
leaving Paris Mr.. Blaine has not been followed
by any of these newspaper spies.
! asked Mr.. Blaine if the report that he was
going TO write book upon his experiences in
Europe was true. He replied in the most en-
phatic negative. He had not the slightest idea
Of writing a book about lis European expert
ences. Upon the whole, il had been rather a
dull year for him. He had enjoyed some parts
of his trip very much, but he would have much
preferred TO have remained at homo it he could
have remained sloof from all questions OF poll
tics
He made q number of observations upon
Americans who live abroad. pursuing aimless
capitals. He said: II do not understand how
unless they called over hero by
business. can be contente6 to settle down in
Europe without any aim or object beyond that
of getting into foreign society, or being taken up
by some of the hangers-on of foreign courts.
These people are in exile, and do not appear to
They lead lazy lives and amount to nothing
They end in losing their own nationality and do
not acquire that of any other county. They lose
and never succeed in becoming anything
over here. At best they only
tolerated in foreign society. and rarely
il ever, become really intimate with itn These
applied exclusively to the wealthy idle
class of Americans who are continually wander
ing from capitalize capital of Europe, seeking |
social attention, and who deride and despise
their own country and it's life. Mr.. Blaine
thinks, however, that these colonies are gradu-
ally growing smaller year by year. and that the |
majority OF Americans, who come to Europe |
come for purposes of study and for limited |
periods. The American colony in Paris, he |
says is gradually diminishing. It il not one |
third what 1t was under the days Of royalty. |
it will almost disappear. The best |
American colony found abroad 10 found in |
En- gland. There nearly all of the representa-
tives of our country are brought by business.
and whore they find themselves In natural and |
relations with the people speaking |
the same language and holding nearly the same |
views as themselves.
Opinion Mt Washington.
Epecial to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-That Mr. Blaine is |
now clear outside of the range OF presidential |