The Red Cloud chief., 1892-09-30
BLAINE DECLINES.
Republicans Have Many Good sIen TO
setcct from, EOv ever.

Us
The position of Mr.. Blaine on the
presidency is no longer a matter of UNI
certainty. In letter over his own
addressed to Mr.. { a~Flsson.
he states positively that his name will
not 90 before the national republican
convention. lie does not feel called
upon TO enter into any * ,lanation, but
his ~doclination IL uDequivocal, leaving
no possible room for misunlcrstHn aiding.
It Is not improbabls that Mr.. Elaine
has before him many years of useful.
ness. Ills letter Of dcclinatior is by
no means n farewell TO public life. But
IL In a confirmation Of the general opin-
ior that his strength has been so far
impaired by hard work and advancing
age that he cannot stand the strain and
burden Of a national campaign. The
reasons which impellcd him to 'fing
away ambition" in 1883 apply In 1902,
only with additional force. He has
been q prodigious worker for over
thirty years, and now he must husband
his strength. That he has resched
that stage Of life Is a matter OF pro-
found and poignant regret to an in.
Vulnerable multitude of his fellow
citizens No other public man has SO
large and so ardent a following. For
many years he has been the leading
champion Of r~cpublicanisin, and the
admiration for his genius made hts
name Q torch to kindle popular en-
thusiasm. The animosities which were
inseparable from the aggressive ambi.
ton Of his earlier manhood have grad
uslly died out. lie may be said to have
outlived those animosities. They are
inferred with tho bones OF his presi'
Dental ambition.
So long rs Mr. Blaine's candidacy
was Q matter Of doubt the c%onsidera-
ton Of the presidential question by tho
republican party was seriously embar-
raised. His final aud definite with
drawal from the fight leaves the re.
publisans with no lack OF good ma
tsrial for o ticket, and the various can.
didates car now be canvassed upon
their merits and availability. The
convention ut Minneapolis will have
no occasion TO ask: as Blaine o caudi-
date?" That question has been IN.
swered, once for all. more than three
months in advance Of the convention,
thus giving the people ample time ia
look over the field and for the develop
ment Of public opinion.
l. So long rs Mr.. Blaine's position wa
uncertain little progress could be made
in . popular choice between the severa
aspirants. His great personality and
the devotion with which his friends
and admirers stood by him over
Swallowed everything and made con
centration anywhere impossible. 1t !!
we'll known that President Harrison
would like the Endorsement OF a secont
term, and he has 'host OF friends
who would have preferred him ven l
Blaine became q candidate. Certainl!
fair.minded men will admit that he ha
Rivsn the country nm able and cleaI
administration that has stood for dis
tinctly republican ideaa Even the dem
ocrats must concede this much. II,
has been thoroughly true to the princi
pies Of the republican party, and who
ever the candidate may be repub
licans will necessarily fight upon tn
limo of battle laid down by his admin
istration. But no man has claim upoI
the nomination at Minneapolis, and
the national convention thinks 1
would be politio to nominate some on
else II should not hesitate to do &C
There Ia no lack Of good material
Ohio has in Gov. Mckinley . great an
magnetic statesman. lie Is in fact tn
representative man Of the lesdin
ideas ON which the campaign will b
fought. Secretary Rusk would make
remarkably available candidate. II
would be q great vote -getter. Illinol
has in Senator Cullom. with his atron
resemblance to Abraham Lincoln,
candidate whose qualifications shoul
not DO overlooked, and Gen. Alger hs
. done much To make himself popula
with the old soldiers. But these name
do not exhaust the list. 1T 10 not to
late for men unmentioned, perhaI
unthought of. to spring up and b'
come formidable candidates. Sever,
famous presidential races have bee
won by horses SO dark as to DO quit
indistnguishable ut this distance frol
the convention. Certainly there Is n
lgood reason for republicans who expe'
to he delegates TO the Minneapolis col
vcntion 70 90 into mourning for u
want of candidates. The able an
available statesmen who arc willing I
lead the campaign In 1892 are legiol
II only remains for the convention
choose wisely. Chicago Inter Ocean