Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-08
Mr.. Blaine-Again.

That was IN interesting letter which we
published yesterday from our Washington
correspondent. II shows that Mr. BLArSr's
name is in everybody's mouth whenever
the subject Of the Republican nomination
for the next President of the United States
is brought up for discussion. Mr.. BIAISE
Is the one live man in the Republican party,
rs we have maintained ever since the re-
suits of the elections of last fall were made
public. No other Republican has ghost
of q chance Of success in the next presi-
dental race. Why it is preposterous 70
talk as IL HARRISON were strong enough 70
be elected. His administration went be
fore the voters in November, 1890, and de-
mAnded their judgment upon his
conduct as the Chief Executive of
the United States. They answered
with such unanimity as had
not for many years marked their ballot
box utterances that Mr.. HARRISON was not
worthy of the confidence of the country.
They elected Democratic House of Re
representatives.. They showed as clearly as
il was within their power to show that it
would be worse than folly for the Republi-
cans to nominate such man for reelection
10 the highest Office in the land. There
was no room left for doubt. The results
were all OF kind. They indicated be-
yond mistake that the end of Mr.. HARBI-
soN's career as public man was near at
hand.
The attempt of Mr.. HARRIsoS's friends to
steal Mr.. BLAISE's reciprocity thunder will
be q complete failure, The truth is that
neither BLAINE nor HARRIsoS is entitled TO
the credit of having inaugurated the move
ment in favor of reciprocity. This move
ment is a natural result Of the teachings Of
the Democratic party on the tariff question.
The idea Of reciprocity between nations Is
suggested and recommended by every ar
gument in opposition toa protective tariff.
Opposition to reciprocity is suggested and
recommended by every argument in favor Of
aprotective tariff. MIR. BLAINE and MIR. HAIR
RIsoS both become in a measure advocates
of Democratic doctrine when they come
out for treaties establishing free trade, or
even for low or non-protective tariff, as
between the United States and foreign
countries. However, so it is. The Re-
publicans are not ashamed to advocate
reciprocity and the friends of Mr.. HARRI-
BON and Mr.. BLAINE seem not to see the in
consistency involved in their position on
this question. We do not expect either of
these two gentlemen to be nominated for
President by Republican National Con-
vention because he favors reciprocity.
There must be reasons more consistent
with the teachings of Republican national
platforms for the last twenty years.
We write as if Mr.. BLAINE were likely to
leave the Cabinet and announce his will
ingness to make q race with MIR. HARRISON
for the Republican nomination for Presi-
dent. We do not know that he has made
up his mind TO do so. There is reason to
suppose that be fears the excitement of
such a contest. All that we mean TO say
on this point we have said before. Mr..
BLAINE will leave tho Cabinet the moment
he decides to run for President. He will
be nominated if he manifests desire to
be nominated. Mr.. HARRISON has an i'm
mense public patronage under his con-
troll. Some persons think he can force
his own nomination. We are not one of
these persons. We cannot believe that the
Republicans would be so silly as to
nominate HARRIsoN if BLAINE would
consent TO carry their banner.
1t would be an act of suicide on their
part. The nomination OF HARRISON would
be equivalent to surrendering the next
term in tho presidential Office to the
Democrats. The nomination of BLAINE
would mean hot and fierce contest. II
would be contest which would become
memorable. The Democrats, however,
would gain the victory unless in making
their nomination they should act un-
wisely.