The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-04

| To the EiitOrGthe MteiliJncer:
SIR:-I beg leave to supplement my
recent communication to your columns
in rcfutation of the Parkersburg dispatch
therein referred to touching Il supposed
double meaning in Mr.. Blaine's letter Of
January last declining to be a candidate
before the coming Chicago convention.
The following remarks on the subject
from the Chicago Tribune, paper that
has been known Us a conspicuous friend
Of Mr.. Blaine.
Referring TO recent insinuation IN
the New York Times that Mr.. Blaine
had written his letter to cloak his real
design, which, MS allcged, was to cnthusc
his followers and thereby the more sure
" stimulate and accomplish his nOmina-
ton, the Tribune repels such an insinu-
alton and adduccs the following proofs
that he had no such object in view, but
on the contrary meant to explicitly and
unoualillcdly decline to be considered
longer in the field as apostolic nominee.
Says the Tribune:
iIf there were any trick in this letter,
as the New York paper thinks, or ii it
sustains the Interpretation which our
mugwump contemporary places upon it,
it was not necessary for Mr.. Blaine to
have gone a step further. Indeed, any
more explicit utterance would have inn
periled the scheme. But he did go
further. AS soon as the Democrats and
mugwumps began TO attack him us in
sincere he authorized the publication OF
an interview with his friend, Mr.. Craw-
ford, February %, in which he cmpha-
sized his position and stated positively
and explicitly why he did not wish to
be considered candidate. He declared
that as long ago as last December he had
decided for sufficient reasons not TO be Il
candidate, and that when he left for Eu-
rope he decided fully to retire from poll
tics. Assoon as he found there was n
movement on foot which might result
in his nomination he determined to pub
lish his letter and arrest the movement
so that the field might be open to other
candidates. He gave Mr.. Crawford eN-
plicit reasons for his deClinatiOn. He
was convinced that man who had once
been candidate and been defeated
should withdraw and not be candidate
again. To head off any possibility that
his friends might notSlccept such a rea-
son he declared that he was unable TO
bear the fatigue and burden OF such n
campaign.
When told that he need not raise his
finger in the campaign or appear ut
single meeting Mr.. Blaine replied that
he could not accept nomination and
do any less than he had done in the for
mer campaign, and this he was not able
to do. He expressed to Mr.. Crawford
his absolute determination never again
to enter the political field rs Prcsiden-
tial candidate. In this connection he
said: % WOiIld not 90 through another
contest rith the certainty Of the Presidency
at he end Of il. The struggle is too great
and there is nothing in life worth such
q contest"
If those words mean anything, they
mean u positive, pcrcmptOry, and final
refusal to be candidate, and they have
been taken as such by the Republicans
generally.
Even in the great Blaine State OF Penn
sylvania his friends have accepted his
declaration rs final, and it is so regarded
by Chairman Jones OF the Committee,
to whom his letter was written. Though
not so publicly expressed, it is the un.
der talk in the Pennsylvania delegation
that his letter means what it says. The
candidates in the field have organized
and are pushing their boOms with that
understanding They have every reason
to believe in Mr.. Blaine's sincerity, for
words could not go further in giving rs.
suranCc. As il TO Clinch his original
letter, he informed Mr.. Crawford that
che had been urged on to speedy action
on account OF the candidates. Of promi-
nent Republicans, and he not only
wished to leave the field clear to them,
but upon his return home he should
work to the best OF his ability for the
success OF any candidate nominated by
his party"
mo one can question rightly the sin
Ccrity OF such an utterance. Its terms
forbid it. To doubt it would he to i'm.
pute to Mr.. Blaine n degree OF insincerity
that would be the height OF injustice to
his friends and to the prominent Repub.
licans who have worked SO Loyalty for
him, never ceasing to do so until he
himself gave them the signal"
For the information OF those who may
wish to peruse the I'ribune'S entire arti-
Gle, with which do not care to burden
your columns, will say that it may be
found in the issue OF that paper OF May
.. And in the same paper will also be
found Reproduction Of the major por-