Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-21
SON RUSSELL'S PAPER
MAKES SOME INSINUATICNs AGAINST
JAMES G. BLAINE.

An Editorial Inquiring Why, If His Health
Is Good, He Does Not Take Part in the
Ohio Campaign - An Utterance From
| Young Harrison.
| Helena, Mont, Journal.1
1t does not seem to have occurred to the
well-meaning but injudicious Blaine organs
of Montana that they are inficting upon
| their chief an obvious injustice in trying to
| create a Presidential boom for that gentle
man at this time. An attempt has been
made to educate the people to the belief that
Blaine's reputed illness is fgment of the
imagination, born of a malicious desire to
thwart the purpose of those who are anxious
to effect his nomination for the Presidency
There is of course nothing in the allegations
of this character. We know of no disposi-
tion to deal other than fairly with the inter-
ests of the Name man and his friends. But
Blaine has ample reason to demand deliver
ance from his friends at a time when they
are so industriously seeking to compromise
his political honor.
Blaine is either sick man, breaking
down from complication of disorders from
which he has long suffered, or he is not a
sick man. If his vital powers are not equal
to the hopes and ambitions of his friends
and to the tremendous responsibilities of
an active campaign and successful admin
istration, his availability is not a
debatable proposition. Like Tilden in
1880, he cannot afford to wager his
strength drawn by his party and his coun-
try. If, on the contrary, he is, as pictured
by his Montana advocates, basking in the
sunshine of perfect health, friends of pro-
lection, who recognize in that question the
chief issue of the next campaign, have a
right to inquire why the powerful influence
of the Maine statesman is not on duty as q
factor in the great struggle for supremacy
in Ohio.
If Blaine is well man his duty is plain,
and insisting upon accreditIng him with
ion-like vigor his newspaper friends are
placing him in a compromising position
relative to question that Repub-
licans interested in party success
cannot afford to ignore, when placed
upon its preliminary hearing before the
voters of McKinley's State. In the event
of Democratic success in Ohio; and the sub
sequent nomination of Blaine, it is easy to
foresee that the Democratic press would
place the Republican standard bearer in a
negative attitude toward the issue in chief
in the national contest for supremacy.
The Journal believes that Blaine should be
fairly treated, and that his political honor
anu Ills Huellty 10 tne great pTlHclples OI
the Republican party should not for one
moment be questioned 1t believes that his
lack of interest in the Ohio campaign is due
alone to his delicate health, and we
indulge the hope that Providence
will deal kindly with the brilliant
New Highlander and revive the energies
that have so long been dedicated to the adj
vancement of the party to which he be-
longs and which have popularized his name
within its ranks. 1t is unjust to infiict
upon his reputation the thought that he
is sulking in his tent in the pride
of his manhood. when the skirmish
lines of a mighty battle are being formed.
Blaine is sick man. When he RECEIVERS
his health and strength, and gives public
evidence of his physical ability to shoulder
the burden of a great campaign, it will be
time for his admirers to advocate his claims.
In no other way can he be protected from
the unjust imputations of the Democratic
press and retain the political prestige to
which his honorable career entities him.