The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-05-06
THE REPUBLICAN, SITUATION
A Calm, Dispassionate Review of the
Present { Condition OF National Politics.

rson'S trip through the South and West
should turn peoples minds actively in
the direction OF the next Republican
Presidential nomination. 1t is every
where assumed that Mr. Harrison aspires
TO a denomination, and IL is very certain
that he will do nothing during his alb
sencc from the capital to weaken his po-
sition before the country. This tour will
again bring into prominence that admir-
able equipment by means OF which he
grew immensely as candidate from the
day of his nomination to the time of his
election. He rarely or never talks with
out adding to the popular respect in
which he is held. and he wins this as
easily from political enemies as from
political friends. Already his speeches,
made in passing through some of the
Southern States, have attracted the at
tcntion of the country and drawn out
the most favorable comment from oppo-
nents as well ~ supporters
No man can say whether President
HarrisOn's apparent wish To secure re-
nomination will be gratifcd or not.
There are political forces which are not
favorably disposed towards him, ard
which can be depended upon TO do their
utmost to throw every obstacle in the
w IL
should be for him, it will be when his
denomination has become inevitable, and
further opposition would be as fool
hardy as useless.
To the most of those who discuss the
matter as il now stands. it is practically
conceded that there is but one man who
could stand in Mr.. Harrison's way, and
that is Secretary Blaine. That Mr..
1oi, hac bn han ~ of ha Ipan
lican party of the country, no less now
than at any time in his brilliant career,
is not to be disputed, and in the general
esteem he mas never stood so high. 1t is
only giving expression to what is unmis
takably the almost universal Republican
thought when it is said that either
Blaine or Harrison will be the Republi-
can candidate next year.
While Mr.. Harrison is presumably o
candidate, Mr.. Blaine, as presumably, is
not. The lattcr's most intimate friends
have been unable to draw anything from
him on the subject. One so close as
Chairman Manley, of the Maine Repub-
lican State Committee, is unable to say
more than that Mr.. Blaine much pre-
ters to take care of his health than to
subject himself TO the dangers of a ia
tiguing Presidential canvass This may
state accurately al there is to Mr.
Blaines present position He could have
had the nomination i'm 1883, and would
have had ii but for his positive refusal
to allow himself TO be nominated. He
may have the same feeling on that sub
icct now that he had then, but whatever
his feeling. it may be taken for granted
that he will not be n candidate while he
continues a member of President llar-
risonS Cabinet, or President Harrison
himself is candidate. He has SO far
seen no reason for making any public
assertion or declaration on the subject,
and he cannot be anxious for any condi-
tion to arise which will make that ncccs-
sary.
Meantime it is thoroughly well known
in inside circles that some of the in
fuences which are opposed to the re-
nomination Of Mr.. Harrison are arrang
ing to use the Blaine sentiment of the
party TO ObStruct the Presidents
chances. These influences will osten-
sibly support Mr. b aine for the nomina-
tion-not because they love Blaine more,
but Harrison less. The most potent of
these forces are in the Republican Ma
tional Executive Committee Senator
Quay and Senator Cameron have 10th
declared to their friends that they are
now for Blaine, and to that extent they
have at last adjusted themselves to the
popular feeling i'm Pennsylvania. Sew
era members of the National Executive
Committee have recently been spreading
their programme in different States.
They are all seeking to make Harrison 5
nomination impossible, and it is not too
too much to say there is no other par
tiCular object in the movement, unless il
be TO make Blaine impossible. too There
is every danger that such will b( the re-
suit Of the work now in progress.
The plan, as SO far developed, is to get
Republican State conventions which will
meet this year to declare for Blaine
wherever possible. There is natural
| expectation that such resolutions would
go through with the greatest enthusiasm
and goodwill Whatever the effect of
this upon the prospects of Mr. Harrison,
its effect upon Mr. Blaine must be most
unfortunate. 1t would be to him singu-
larly embarrassing. 1t would almost
inevitably put him in a position where
he would feel Obliged to resign his place
in President Harrison's Cabinet, or it
would force him To make public an un-
equivocal declaration that he cannot be
a candidate, and TO make it i'm such a
way bndb any HOpt vi Stlbiup HIN 10
reconsider il would have to be aban-
| doncd, as it was three years ago.
Against his leaving the Cabinet and
| dropping the great work which he has
| in hand the whole country will protest
1t would be regarded rs unfortunate for
the administration, for the Republican
party and for the country. Against his
being forced into the other alternative,
there are already plenty of protests from
| Mr. Blalne's earnest personal friends
Whether circumstances shall ultimately
! put him i'm the position of being "a will
| ing candidate or not they do not want
| him To be forced into an attitude that
would complicate him with any portion
of the party, or else compel him to leave
the field of possible candidates. -Phila-
deiphid Press.
The Increase of Our Foreign Trade.
The free-traders told us while the
present tariff law was under considera-
81 an tnlI I,