Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-18
Mr.. BLAINE'S LETTER
Served to Recall That He, Not Harri-
son, Originated Reciprocity.
A POINT VERY CLEARLY MADE.
Great Amusement Among Politicians Who
Understand the President.
NEW GOSSIP ABOUT BLAINES RETURN
rFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT. ]

tFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, Oct. H.-Gentlemen in
official life here, who, while recognizing
Secretary Blaine as great statesman, also
know that he is an exceedingly smart poll
tician in the narrower sense of the word, pro-
fess to see double purpose in the letter OF
Mr. Blaine to an Ohio inquirer in regard to
his position on the Mckinley bill. While
Mr. Blaine was doubtless glad of the oppor-
tunity to state his exact feeling touching
the tariff bill, he certainly took equal pains
to recall to forgetful people that it was he
who forced upon the Mckinley bill as it
came from the House the reciprocity meas
ure which was affixed in the Senate.
This neat letter of the great statesman
politician is appreciated here, possibly
more than outside of the capital, where it is
known better than has been described how
indnstriously President Harrison has at
| tempted to transfer to himself the credit for
the reciprocity movement which rightfully
belongs to Mr. Blaine. Correspondents of
Harrison newspapers have been coached to
iterate and reiterate that all the time when
Blaine was talking reciprocity at Congress
and the country Harrison was modestly be-
hind him furnishing him with all the ideas
NO WORD OF PRAISE FOR BLAINE.
In Mr.. Harrison's speeches during his
long Southern and Western tour he con-
stantly vaunted his devotion to reciprocity
without once uttering word of praise for
the enthusiasm and labor of Mr.. Blaine for
the reciprocity scheme. Especially during
the Secretary's absence a persistent and
methodieal purpose has been evident, and
during that absence it must be admitted
that the President industriously has at
tempted to carry out wherever possible the
plans carefully mapped out years ago by
Mr.. Blaine. The letter of the Secretary to
his Ohio friend, VINO kindly made exactly
the inquiry that was wanted, therefore
causes good deal of amusement here
The letter has also aroused anew discus
sion in regard to the return of Secretary
Blaine, and the opinion is again seriously
advanced that he will return only to resign,
and that his resignation is only postponed
till the elections are past, that no diverting
subject may be introduced into the cam
paign.
SIGNIFICANCE OF BLANE'S SILENCE.
1t is known that there has been little COM
munication, and that only of the coolest
and most formal character, between the Pre-
sident and Mr.. Blaine since the latter began
to be so conspicuously doomed as candi-
date for the Presidency. No utteranee from
the White House has encouraged the return
of Mr.. Blaine. His purpose to return the
1st of October was suddenly abandoned, after
it was positively announced that he would
come.
Mr.. Blaine could, with the word, have
stopped all the rumors of a break with the
President by simply announcing an approx |
mate date for his return, but he steadily re-
manned silent.
OF course, the assumption of rupture
which would lead to the Secretary's resig- |
nation may be violent, but there is some
thing very peculiar in the complexion of
things. At any rate, this expression of the |
serious belief of some very prominent peo-
pie will heighten curiosity.