Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-16
Rlaine. of Maine.

Our Washington correspondent, III TWO
recent specials in the DISPATCH, states
that in the Republican caucus soon to be
held in Washington TO mark out the path
which the Republicans in the two houses
Of Congress are to pursue next winter,
Mr.. BLAISE will be the ruling spirit.
CANNON, MCKINLEY, McCoMAs, REED,
and all the rest of the sectionalists will
be ordered to the rear. In commenting
upon the results OF the elections Of the
4th instant we stated that Mr. BLAINE
was the only live man in the Republican
party-that is to say, among the recog-
nized leaders of the party. We are not
surprised, therefore, to learn that he has
been selected to lead and command "the
forlorn hope"
But whittier Will he lead his shattered
army? Not into the fields where it lost
its prestige and met disastrous defeat.
He was opposed to the force bill which
the malignant Republicans attempted to
get through the House OF Representa-
tives whilst be was Speaker, and by his
fair rulings rendered most important
and most valuable aid to Mr.. RANDALL
and most important service to the
Democrats in the House of Representa-
tives, and through them TO the people OF
the country at large. Another great
service which Mr., BLAINE rendered to
his country was the defeat OF General
GRANT as an aspirant to this presidency
Of the United States for third term.
No other man than Mr.. BLAINE could
have done it. Had GRANT been chosen
for "a third term he would have
become President for life. Republican
government would have ended in 1881.
So, also, Mr.. BLAINE came out before
the last election for reciprocity" or re-
ciprocal trade with the countries south
of us. His usual good luck attended
him in thus ranging himself along with
the people, though he also advocated IN
a perfunctory manner the MCKINLEY
bill; for the voters flocked to the stand
ards Of the Democratic party, and thus
declared for the most liberal policy of
reciprocity.
MIR. BLAINE is, in q word, "devilish
sly" and not at all afraid to lead where
others almost fear to follow.
We repeat, then, that Mr.. BLAINE is
the only leader amongst the Repubh-
cans who is in q condition to become the
head and front of the demoralized Re
publican party. We base upon this
fact the hope that the malignant Re
pubhcans will not be able to pass
the force bill at the ensuing session OF
Congress, and if not then, never will
pass it. We have not forgotten that the
New York Tribune the leading Repub-
lican journal in the United States, has
since tho recent elections come out foI
the passage of the force bill. But Mr..
WmrELAw REID, the principal owner,
and when he is at home the principal
editor of that paper, is devoted to Mr.
BLAINE, and now holds en- appointment
at his hands. If, therefore, Mr.. BLAINE
antagonizes tho force bill, We shall ex
pect the Iri5nRe's editor to "reverst
the current and run his journal in the
opposite direction to that in which 1t!
home editor started it on the 9th OF this
month.
The Philadelphia Press is another Re
publican journal which we should expec
TO see holding up Mr.. BLAINE's hands
should he declare IN the Republican eau
Gus soon to be held against the policy o
resorting to any such legislation as thu
country was threatened with at the las
session of Congress.
Briefly, We hope for the best, though
it would not surprise us TO find the REEF
faction in both the Senate and The
House of Representatives-we mean the
men who favor REEDS policy-strivinl
to save themselves by clinging to ma,
lignant measures Gas the shipwrecked
mariner clings to the last plank wher
night and the tempest close around
him" We are not afraid, however, Of
these malignants The Democrats IL
the House OF Representatives have been
| authorized to fihbuster whenever it j:
necessary to the preservation of the
liberties Of the people, and they Will do
SO. "There is life in the old land yet. y