The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-11
Blaine is Stin Silent.


Mr.. Blaine has said nothing since his re-
turn to Washington that indicates bis pur-
| pose with respect 10 the presidential nomi-
nation Of his party. In our dispatches yes
terday Gen. Alger is given as authority for
the statement that he will accept the nomi-
nation il it is offered t. him, but that be
/ will make no effort 10 get 1t. Gen. Alger,
| it is asserted, had a conveIsat with Mr..
/ Blaine In New York when the latter was
on his way from Maine 10 Washington.
| In that conversation, il Gen Alger
is quoted correctly, Mr.. Blaine at first de-
clared that it was his purpose TO resign from
the cabinet aud announce that he was not a
candidate for the presidential nomination,
but at the solicitation Of Gen. Alger he
! consented 70 remain at the head Of the state
department while longer. and to agree to
accept the nomination of his party for Pres
ident, provided the nomination came 10 him
unsolicited.
There may be something in this
Alger story, or it may be one of the many
reports relative to Mr.. Blaine's intention
that are being circulated all the time. The
fact, however. that Mr.. Blaine is not talk
ing with his friends about his plans for the
future seems to justify the conclusion that
there is something in the story for which
Gen. Alger is made responsible.
One thing seems to be quite certain, and
that is that there does not seem TO be an
understanding between the President and
Mr.. Blaine. The President would like to
know whether or not Mr.. Blaine is a can
| didate for the presidential nomination. 1t
looks, however, as if he would not be salts
fled on that point unless he should ask Mr..
Blaine squarely to define his position with
reference to the nomination, and that he is
not likely to do.
There is no doubt that Mr.. Blaine's
health is greatly improved. Indeed, it is
| probable that it is about as good as it was a
| dozen years ago. If it were as bad as some
of those who are hostile to him say it is, 1t
is not at all probable that he would con-
tinue to perform the arduous duties of the
state department. He would regard his
political career as at an end and would re-
tire to private life. His remaining in Office
and his silence respecting the presidential
nomination must be accepted as strong signs
that mis- ambition is not yet satisfied, and
that he is holding on to his office with the
hope that it will aid him in reaching the
| presidency.
WIN the nomination be offered TO him?
| The prospect is that it will He is very
popular with republicans In about all the
states. There is a widespread belief among
them that he is the only man whom they
can elect That being the case it is pretty
fair to assume that he will be their next
presidential nominee. 1t would not be at
all strange if Cleveland and Blaine should
be the presidential nominees of their res
pective parties Mr.. Cleveland defeated
MIR. Blaine in 1884, and in 1888 Mr.. Cleve-
land was defeated As far as defeats are
concerned, therefore, they stand upon an
equal footing.
MIR. Cleveland, however. has the advan-
| tage of having been President for one term,
and during the time he administered that
great office he gave unbounded satisfaction
to the people.
MIR. Blaine is also a popular man. He
has friends in all classes of people. He
knows that he is popular and he is proud of
his popularity. His popularity. however, is
not Of the kind that gives the greatest
| promise Of success in a political contest.
Those who admire him are willing to make
almost any sacrifice for him. But
he has enemies, and very Bit
ter and powerful ones. There are just
enough of them in the doubtful states to
make his carrying those states uncertain.
His friends, however, will control the
national republican convention. Mckinley,
Cullom, Alger, Harrison and others will
have their friends there, but neither will be
able to draw strength from the other. Mr..
Blaine, however, can draw to himself most
of the followers Of all of them. From pres
emit indications he has only to say he wants
the presidential nomination OF his party to
get it.
i