The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-12
or ITS FACE a cASAKD.

The New York Suns Washington City
dispatch, representing Secretary Blaine as
authorizing or consenting to boom" in
his behalf a. . presidential candidate in
1892, il characteristic of the concern from
which it emanates, and As whole and IN
all of its details is grotesquely absurd,
palpably sensational, and without possible
foundation in fact
This ridiculous story--in some respects
insulting to the secretary-represents that
fwo of his friends, residents Of . distant
state having called upon him to urge his
consent to the announcement of his
can iidacy, that they might Ego to work
liking up their delegations for him" and
being reminded that he was in the cabinet.
could not be candidate against his chief,
and was in favor Of the iatter's renomina-
ton. they responded by profane objurga-
ton of the president, an expression of
hostility to his candidacy, and followed
these up by arguments and appeals which
orercame Blaine's objections, to the extent
that he promised not to withdraw his
name or write letters of declination If they
should proceed with their scheme of
working up" and fixing things.
Secretary Blaine is gentleman Not
even the bitterest Of his political oppo-
nents viii deny his right to that title.
icing gentleman and holding place in
President Harrison's cabinet. which at
spect between the two. he could not have
held further intercourse With parties who
could be guilty Of so little Judgment or
discretion as 10 open their interview with
coarse and disrespectful ailusion to his
chief. While there may be differences Of
cpinion as to his position in the cabinet
debarring him, or acting as any necessary
hindrance to his acceptance of ncmina-
ton or aspiring to it, there can be no such
difierence-among gentlemen-as to the
Improperly of his participating in con-
versation coarsely disrespectful,to the Pres
ident
But apart from this, which alone would
be conclusive, the report has other features
that are grossly nonsensicaL Of all pos
ssble candidates Blaine is one whose NOM
nation, if made at all, must and win come
spontaneously, without solicitation, and
in respect to which working up" and
'.iixing delegations" would be uncalled
for and out of place. If those mythical
friends from . distant state" had
been actualities, and men Of any informa-
ton or influence in politics, they must
have known that Blaine required no intro
duction TO any Republican in their state
o. any other; that he is known and fully
appreciated BY every Republican from
Maine to Texas and from Washington to
Florida.
Ever since he first came to be talked
about in connection with the presidency,
E.aine's support in national conventions,
more conspicuously than that of any con-
temporary candidate, has most distinctly
not been Of the worked up kind. Not
10 60 further back than 1855, it is familiar
n the whole country that three words
from him-sr viii accept'-wouid not
only have secured his nomination by ac-
ciamation, but would have been hailed
with tumultuous applause, not only
within the convention, but from every
city and hamlet, every hilltop and valley
in the land.
Then how absurd-how worse than alb
surd-this report that he assented to q
movement so unnecessary and so foreign
TO his disposition and his custom, adyo-
Gated in connection with ruffianiy insult
ing reference 10 the President of whose
cfhcial family be is the most distinguished
member. OF the many unkind assaults
that the opposition press have made upon
Blaine, this is by far the most cruel.