The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-04-15
BLAINE AND THE RADICALS.
Reciprocity as Life-Preserver for ,
Shinwrecked Party.

Reciprocity as a Life Preservcr for b
Shipwrecked Party.
The republican movement in favor of
nominating Blaine as the party candi-
date for 1892 was entirely spontaneous.
After the defeat in November, the
party turned to him as the only repub-
lican with brains enough to lead it in
an attempt to recover lost ground. The
radicals in control of the party had in
two years succeeded in so turning the
country against it that the west was
1evolutionized, while the November re-
turns showed Maine and Vermont as
the only two states east of the Missis-
sippi in which the democrats had not
won signal victories. There had been
no talk of Blaine for 1892 up to that
time, but Immediately thereafter he be-
came to all appearances the unanimous
choice of his party. That he himself
has concurred in the choice is sug-
gested by the activity shown by his
reciprocity campaign bureau in dis
tributing Blaine literature. But this
is concurrence. 1t cannot be charged
that the party movement in his favor
is due to any ''fine work" on his part.
1t is entirely owing to the impression
in the minds of most republicans that
he condemned and protested against
the wild career of the radicals in con-
troll of the party, with Reed and Har.
rison at their head.
The movement for the denomination
of Harrison is taking shape. It is very
feeble as yet, but there are evidences
that Mr.. Harrison is determined to do
all in his power to force it. 1t is be-
lieved by some-democrats mostly
that he will succeed That accom-
plished journalist and talented letter
writer, Colonel Henry Watterson, ex-
| presses this opinion: He believes that
all Mr.. Blaine's "brilliancy'' in throw
ing out reciprocity" as a life pre-
server for his shipwrecked party will
rebound to the credit of the Harrison
administration as whole, and there
fore help to make Mr.. Harrison's re-
nomination easier. This looks plausible,
but it ignores too many facts to be re-
liable reasoning. 1t was radicalism
that wrecked the party, and the party
knows it. Had the force bill passed, it
would have been obliged to sustain it
and Harrison with it; but many repub-
licans console themselves for the No
vember defeat in the hope that it has
rid them of Harrison and radical con.
troll of the party. In the hope of say.
ing the party thousands OF them either
refrained from voting last November
or else voted the democratic ticket
They are keeping their own counsel az
to what they did then. They are still
in good party standing and they expect
to remain So And that they may re-
main SO they intend to defeat Harri-
sons denomination and put the radical
faction in the rear. They represent
the brains and activity of the party, {
party which has taken Mr.. Harrison''
measure accurately and is heartily
ashamed of him-as ashamed of him a.
it is proud of Mr.. Blaine, in spite Of al
his anchor casting proclivities.
It may be that Mr. Harrison and his
Office holders will develop force enough
to defeat the desire of the rank and tilt
of the party to nominate Mr.. Blaine
This is quite possible outcome, but i
seems impossible that Mr.. Harrison
should be able to thrust himself on {
party which he has come so near dis
rupting altogether. Louis Repub'