The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-12
SEATTLE, SATURDAY., SEP. 1@.
NEARLY ALL FOR BLAINE.

NEARLY ALL FOR BLAINE.
The sentiment of the New York state
Republican Convention, like that of Penn
syIyania. was overwhelmingly for Blaine.
The State Convention of Pennsylvania
came within an ace of putting Blaine in
nomination for President by direct recon-
mendation addressed to the next National
Republican Convention, and this was only
prevented at the last moment by sagacious
friends of Mr.. Blaine who wish to avoid
for the Secretary of State an embar-
RAISING situation. With these two great
states of the East, one of them belonging to
"the doubtful states" essential 10 victory,
declaring for Blaine; with the whole West,
from Ohio to the Pacific Coast, enthusiasts
tic for him, Mr.. Blaine, even when an in
valid, is the most vital figure in the party
Blaine is in retirement at Bar Harbor, and
yet from all parts of the country come I'M
mistakable indications that he is as pow
erful party shape as he was the day he
swept the Chicago convention of 1854 by
storm.
No man of either party has taken so
much punishment from both parties as
Blaine. In 1876 he received blow that
few other men would have recovered from.
and yet he came up strong and confident
in 1880; strong enough in defeat to name
the candidate. In 1884 he was beaten
at the polls. and in 1SSS he could if he
had consented to run, have been the cam
didate, and he named Harrison then for
President, even as he did Garfield in $780,
He could be nominated today, against
even so strong man as Harrison. He is
the most enduring political figure the
country has seen since the days of Andrew
Jackson, who, beaten in 1924, was elected
In 1928; reelected in 1892; could have had
third term in 1895, but was content to
name the candidate, Van Buren,. It is
common to compare Mr.. Blaine and
Henry Clay; but Clay was never
SO strong with the people as Blaine.
In 1924 Clay had but 81 cleo.
toral votes out of total of 26l;
In 1882 Clay had but 40 out of 2sS, and in
lSi4 but loo out of 275. In 1825-1S36-1Si0
Clay was not strong enough to secure a
nomination. Mr.. Blaine in 1884 carried IS
states out of SO, and 1872 electoral votes
against 2l9, while on the popular vote he
was but 5000 behind Cleveland. He
would poll today more votes by at least
5000 In Washington, Oregon or California
than any other candidate, and is stronger
today in the granger" states Of the mid
die West than Harrison. Harrison is
strong with the soldier vote, but no
stronger than Blaine; Blaine is stronger
with the independents than in 1SS4, be-
cause he has falsified all their fears con-
corning ''jingo" foreign policy; there
Gre no terrors in the future for Blaine.
The Mugwump effort has wrought its
worst; IL can do nothing but try and re-
load its gun with its ammunition of 1884,
but spent scandals are like exploded
shells, the fragments don't make very
destructive missiles. The Mugwumps beat
Blaine in 1884, but they cannot do it in
1892, for while they have exhausted their
culver Of all its poisoned arrows Blaine
has gained greatly in strength with all
classes of Republicans, and his public
abilities are spoken of with great respect
by the ablest and purest leaders of the
opposition, like George Ticknor Curtis.
Ex-Secretary Bayard, and United States
Senator Carlisle. Mr.. Blaine is exceed
ingly popular with the rough and tumble
masses of the party, who like a man for
President who believes when the victory is
won that all the enemy should be driven
out of the captured camp. With these
Republicans Mr.. Blaine stands for the
popular idea of Il strong partisan and pos
tive President; man of vigorous, en-
phatic ideas; full of aggressive determine
ton to lead his party.
Blaine is likely TO be nominated if he
cares TO be. and far more likely to be
elected than any man in the party. The
Republicans. under the present circum-
stances of discomfort with the party in
Kansas and other Farmers Alliance
states, are not sure of holding the White
House under any leader, but Blaine would
make the best battle; with the best chance
Of success in calling back 10 camp the dis
rruntled farmers, with whom he IS a
great favorite. His wonderful political
vitality is not only nowhere exhausted.
but it looks as if it would
never leave him save with his life
The spirit and charm OF the man still
fascinate the people and make the party
enthusiastically follow his flag, and he is
far stronger today than he Was in 1854
with the critical, independent minds
whose opposition spoiled his success by a
scratch in New York when Cleveland was
elected president. In word. Mr.. Blaine's
Old friends of 1854 are all with him TODAY.
while thousands Of his former foes are to-
day among his warmest friends. Even
the Mugwumps, who stjll oppose him.
speak Of HIM with increased admiration
for his political genius.