The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-11-30

incompetent q crowd OF
as the country ever saw, from w.
w. Phelps to Warner Miller. They
ruined him in his last campaign.
As some one picturesquely said at the
time, ''Thcy did not display ability
enough to run O. tramp lodging-house
on the Bowery." They are no better
| adherents; but, in the main, his lieu
tenants are the am old gang. Be-
sides, they have ALMOST entirely lost
the grip of the party machinery which
they commanded previous to the con-
vention of 1884.
But supposing Mr.. Blaine should be
nominated, what then? Would the
people consider that the facts on
which he was condemned in 1884 were
atoned by the history of the succeed
ing years? Would they consider, for
instance. that his service as Secre-
tary of State wiped out all the venal-
ity and dishonesty of his previous
public life? We think not. We are
sure that with the s~o-called Mugwump
element. the old tattoo marks are in
effaceable. His whole record would
be before them for Judgment, and
they would conclude that the man
who was too dangerous to be voted
for eight years ago was the
same man today in spirit,
temper and principles-or lack
of them-a fiashy, snowy, shifty,
tricky, self-seeking man who would
sell the peoples birthright for money
and power for himself, who would
recklessly embroil them in war, if by
doing so he could write his name in
vivid colors on the page of history.
But would Mr.. Blaine's service as
Secretary of State bear the searching
enquiry of a Presidential campaign?
We think it would not. The State De-
partment is a very close organization.
and ordinarily very little filters
through Congress TO the public, OF its
doings. But there has been very
severe criticism of its course in
many respects and the honesty
of its motives has often been ques-
toned in the last four years. If Mr..
Blaine is nominated, it is probable a
great deal of new light will be thrown
on its doings. 1t is more than likely
that inside information will not be
-..~A:.. TJ,o FOOLS IF tive email onn-
tleman with the large hat will, we
rather think, see to it that Mr.. Blaine's
policy is pretty thoroughly shown
up. Perhaps the coming Congress
may take a hand in this amusement.
An investigation of one or two sub
jects, after the model of the famous
Belmont enquiry regarding the guano
and nitrate scoundrelism in Mr..
Blaine's former term, may help to kill
off the magnetic man before the Con-
vention season comes around, even ii
his health is as good as his doctor
says.
We certainly see nothing for Dem
ocrats to be afraid of in the prospect
of his candidacy. Take him at the
best, he will poll the full Republican
vote-we have shown some reason to
think he will not, but assume that he
will;-there is no reason to think that
he can draw away any strength from
the Democratic side. Assuredly Dem
ocrars have no love for him and no
love for the theories and Tenderness
that he represents in politics.
There remains the unattached body
of citizens, who belong to no party
and vote from year to year on the
state of the country as they find it.
Among these, we believe, Mr..
Blaine will have no sup
port. The tendency of this body
is thoroughly Democratic at present
on all national issues. The recent
election fully demonstrates this.
With the voters who make it up, Mr..
Blaine will have, not only his W
sins, but those of the Republican
party at large, to answer for.
The paltriness of the Harrisonian
administration, the crimes OF the Bill
lion Congress will be millstones tied
around his neck, and we do not be-
Iieve he can swim to the White House
with such a burden.
So far as we can see. the nomination
of Mr.. Blaine a only bring disaster
to his party. Mr.. Harrison would
have as good a chance of being elected,
we think.
AMuSEMENTS