Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-08-22
aLAINE.AND OTHERS.

The Globe Democrat must have an
 inkling that Secretary Blaine, ID cass he
 decides to decline the presidential nomi'
 nation, will transfer his following to
 some preferred candidste,and vigorously
 enters its protest against it. Its loyalty to
 the great secretary is apparent in every
 line, but in case he does not want the
 place himself it declares he must "aands
 on" so far ns others are concerned. It
 says:
 "The next republican nomination for
 the presidency is within the easy reach
 of Secretary Blaine. He can have 1t II he
 wants it. TEere will be DO fight against
 him in casa he shall decide to be can
 didate. He is the first choice of large
 majority of the party; the sentiment
 m his favor is stronger, apparently, than
 it has ever been before. It is for hIm
 to say the word, and all other names
 will be withdrawn. But it must not be
 supposed that this preference can be
 transferred at his will to another per
 son. He can nominate himself, and that IS sll. 1t is not in his power, If he were % disposed, to control the action of his friends as to second choice in the case. They are for him in the most jealous and uncompromising manner; but they are not for any man whom he may recommend ss 6 substitute for bimself. If he proposes to decline the nomination. then they will exercise their own iudg- ment concerning other statesmen who have claims upon their respect and con fdence. Their devotion to him does not imply 8 willingness on their part to | yield the right of choice between those who may try for an honor which he re- fus;s. They are for him because of his signal ability and his great services 10 hIs party and his country; but they are not bound to agree with him concerning | the relative merits of other leaders.
 There is nothing to show that Mir | Blaine expects to use his remarkable | popularity in the interest of some other man; but it is well enough, nevertheless to let the fact be understood that he cannot do so under any circumstances 1t will not do for him to decline the nomination and still ask his friends to be governed by hIs wishes with regard to their further discretion in the matter. The moment that he takes his name out of the list, his supporters are free to do what they please in the way Of forming alliances and negotiating bargains. They are under no obligation to him that requires them to carry out his de- sirss in contingency of that sort. It for them to do if they cannot have him for a candidate. That is a question to be decided without any reference to him or hls associations. He is wise enough, it must be believed, to see that it would be an ungenerous and improper thing for him to manifest any partiality for one over another of the aspirants who will be in the field if he is not a candi- date. They have right to demand that he shall keep his hands of, and refrain from even the appearance of inter ference. He has had the favor of all of them at one time and another. They have recognized his supremacy in the party, and worked for him with untiring diligence and perfect loyalty. He can not afford to espouse the cause of any one of them, whatever he may think about the fitness or eIpediency of par ticulsr nomination. It is for him tc preserve an entirely neutral attitude, provided he does not want the nomina- tion himself; and the people will expect him to adopt that course as @ matter of simple justice and propriety.