The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-23
HARRISON AND BLAINE.
Cheir Respective Standings with the
Pennsylvania Platform-aIakers-

agement at Harris burg to name candl-
dates for state officers and to formulate
hints about the national ticket next
year. President Harrison was at Ben
nington talking patriotic common
places at the b,se of shaft reared to
commemorate Stark's victory over
portion of Burgoyne's army Mr.
Blaine, whose vacation has been long
one, was still lettering at Bar Harbor.
Each heard the news before sunset.
The Pennsylvania republicans, who in
1880 were against Blaine and for third
term for Grant, all but formally de-
clared for Blainc's nomination in 1892.
When rich father wishes in his last
testament to disinhcrit particular son
he does not ignore him lest the con-
tention be made that the omission was
an oversight, emitting the youth under
the paternal ban to share with the
other children. He cuts him off with
shilling. The Pennsylvanians do not
forget Harrison. He is remembered.
He has his shilling. The convention is
careful to
Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And without sneering teach the rest to sneer;
Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike,
lust hint fault and hesitate dislike.
There is perfunctory Endorsement
of the Harrison administration, main
ly because Blaine and Wanamaker are
part and parcel of it. But when the
platform-makcrs reach Blaines name
.he praise is no longer faint There is
sffusiye laudation of lone of Pennsyl-
vanias native sons" Eulogistic epi-
thet is on the free list. Blaine's
diplomacy is superb. 1t has electrified
the hearts of all. 1t has made the
American eagle proud bird, one that,
like Marlborough at Blenheim, in the
language of that arch-flatterer, Addison,
rides on the whirlwind and directs the
storm. 1t has opened foreign ports to
our comm cree, gates heretofore
barred 'These magnificent achieve
| ments Justify the confidence and fur
nish new occasions for us now to re-
affirm the loyalty and devotion of the
republicans of Pennsylvania to her
most distinguished son." Not the loyal
ty and devotion of 1880, which were
decidedly lacking, but the loyalty and
devotion of 1884. when Grant was not
looking for third-term nomination.
Just what nation James G.'s superb
diplomacy has caused to tremble in the
presence of the grand old eagle, just
what commercial gates heretofore
barred he has opened to the products
of America the Pennsylvania eulogists
of the favorite son do not stop to
specify; and it is Imaginable that they
do not particularly care. They put
Blaine to the front, Harrison to the
rear, and though they abstained from
formal declaration of preference the
notice to Harrison is unmistakable. He
may cherish hope of denomination,
but he cannot have the delegation from
| the second state in the union, a state
that gave Harrison plurality of eighty
thousand.
Though upon taking thought the
Pennsylvania convention chose to omit
| from it's formal resolutions the direct
statement that 1--WE earnestly express
the hope that the republican national
convention of l. 392 may place in unan-
imous nomination for the presidency
which nomination we feel will be fol-
lowed by triumphant election
Hon. James G. Blaine, of Pennsylvania
and Maine," yet its purpose was made
clear. Mr.. Blaine is entered for the
race. Mr.. Harrison is served notice
that his claim will not be regarded.
When Harrison selected Blaine for the
chief place in his cabinet he may have
fancied that he had shelved formid-
able rival. Whether there was any
understanding, tacit or expressed, be-
tween these men regarding the renom-
ination which one-term presidents usu-
ally seek is not likely to be known save
by themselves Mr.. Blaine himself, a
man of moods, who seems to fear each
ache and shiver OF advancing age as a
veritable death summons, has not de-
clared his purpose as to 1892, nor has
he committed himself to any public
expression favoring the denomination
of Harrison. If Harrison shall find
Blaine utterly selfish, ignoring wholly
the restraint which cabinet officer
puts upon his political ambition when
his chief is in the field he will have
learned one phase of the Blaine char
acter of which he had sufficient warn
ing in the mans public career. He was
exalted to the speakership and abused
that great trust for his personal enrich
ment. The officer who was false to
the nation will experience no qualm OF
conscience, no sting of compunction
in disappointing Harrison's expec3a
tion of his conduct regarding presi-
dental nomination. Whether or not
Blaine will be a candidate will depend
upon the condition of his health or the
outlook as he may see it. The man who
made the canvass of 1884 and lost will
not lightly enter upon another trial
But it is not likely that Harrison's
hopes or fears will give him a mo
ment's uneasiness.- Times.