The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-04-30
AWKWARD FOR BLAINE.

Secretary BLAINE is confined to his home,
and it is given out that he is suffering from
muscular rheumatism 1t is too early in
the season, even at Washington, for sun
stroke Our capital correspondent sug-
gests that the persistent appeals of the
Office seekers have somewhat unnerved the
secretary, but says there are those who
think that the disappointment at not being
able to control the policy Of the administra-
ton is what is the matter with Mr.. BLAINE.
The probabilities are that these latter are
nearer right than wrong in their diagnosis
Of the case. Mr.. BLAINE is very much
disappointed man, and he is one with whom
disappointment is very apt to assert itself
in physical ways. He occupies a most un-
fortunate and awkward position. The
recognized loader of the Republican party,
and the ablest statesman in that political
organization, he could not be renOminated
to the presidency without endangering the
success Of the party. He was so big man
that he had more big enemies than any
other Republican. Before and during the
convention he understood the situation
thoroughly. and realized how fatal to Re
publican hopes ii would be for him to be-
come the standard bearer. The defeat of
four years before, and the element
which brought it about, were uppermOst
in his mind and in the minds Of
his enemies within the party. BLAINE
could not he nominated at Chicago without
precipitating a row in the party ranks, and
bringing on a split which would result in
the perpetuation of the Democratic ad-
ministration. The man from Maine was
powerful and vindictive enough to see to it
that none Of his enemies should profit by
his defeat. He prevented them from
plucking the plum which was denied him.
General HARRISON was nominated because
he was regarded as a weak and noffensive
man, and BLAINE expected to use him for
his own purposes. The selection was no
sooner announced than with one accord all
said that BLAINE would be secretary of
state, and virtual President, being so much
stronger than HARRISON that the latter
would have to defer to him. All during the
campaign, and up to the very day when the
cabinet was announced, ii was universally
conceded that BLAINE would be premier,
and almost as generally admitted that he
would be actual master, the President be-
ing only nominally the head.
General HARRISON was in an awkward
predicament To have ignored BLAINE would
have been to make an enemy Of the greatest
statesman in the party, and the one who
welded more influence than any other Re
publican To Weld to BLAINE what ne ex-
pected, would be to surrender the admins
tration into his hand and to confess that he
(HARRsoN) was a mere fgure-head.
BLAINE had to be taken into the cabinet,
and crushed there, If at all
The Hoosier displayed wisdom, and at
the same time manifested q good deal more
backbone, courage and Independence than
people had given him credit for possessing
He fulfilled the obligation he was under TO
make BLAINE secretary of state. thus
avoiding cause for quarrel; but having
done this it became necessary, in order to
maintain his own self respect, for HARRI-
son to dwarf the Maine man. To have
done otherwise would have been fatal to
the President as "a statesman. There has
been so1much talk Of how BLAINE would
control HARRISON that we believe the latter
has gone out of his way to assert his mas
terry over the former, ignoring BLAINE and
denying him more than he would have
done if less had been said Of the .'plumed
knights purpose and the HOLSTERS weak
ness. At any rate, BLAINE has been
snubbed and treated with disregard from
the first, and has already degenerated into
an insignificant member of the cabinet
without influence with the President or in
the administration. People who know the
man will insist that his treatment by the
President, morethan rheumatism, is respon-
sible for his prostration, and there are
many who will expect any day to hear that
BLAINE has retired from the cabinet 1t is
not in his nature to remain in place where
he cannot be master, and especially where
he is not permitted to retain his self
respect as a subordinate. We believe he
will 90, and that his sickness is pre-
liminary incident to his retirement. An
excuse is needed, and one which will make
it appear that he does not go out disgruntled
over having been sat down upon by a man
he has always regarded as an inferior. If
that excus2 can be found in sickness,
BLAINE will adopt it, and get out of ii
place into which circumstances forced him,
but where il is apparent it viii be painful
to continue.