The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-31
A REMARKABLE SUGGESTION.

Mr.. Murat Halstead prints a lengthy
review of the presidential situation,
in which, after expressing the opinion
that Mr.. Blaine can hon0rably accept
the Republican nomination if it is offered
him and that he is under no obligation
to write any more letters. he says:
There are. however. in the circumstances
that confront Republicans at this moment,
considerations that are not to be neglected.
MIR. Blaine is q man of delicate but tena-
cious physical organization, and has been
sorely tried. He has twice within o year
been so seriously i'll that he was unable
once for m 1nths and again for weeks-,tO
discharge public duties. Ii he shouid Do
the nominee of his party the whole enor-
nous energy of the Democratic. mugwump
and alleged independent parties would be
directed to magnlfyiDg and distorting MS
physical condition before the country.
There would he such a clamor and cruelty
of violence and venom in this that there
would be the greatest possible demand 10
make the answer to the lmputatIonso OF the
enemy of putting Mr.. Blaine forward and
pressing him into the canvass tnat MS
actual condition might be demonstrated.
Obviously there would be u risk In over
tasking a man WHO is now in his sixties
and who does not claim to be athletic. The
alternative would be to make the vice-pres-
identlal nomination one of extraordinary
strength-tO associate with Mr.. Blaine some
one of whose vigor and character and thor
Ough competency for the highest duties the
country has the completest assurance. The
first man to be named in such q connection
would be Mr.. Sherman. Such Q ticket as
Blaine and sherman ought to be satisfac-
tory in every respect
Mr.. Halstead is a warm friend Of Mr..
Blaine and had a conference with him
during the Secretary's recent visit to
New York. He is also a warm friend of
President Harrison, and in the letter
from which the foregoing is quoted he
praises the Presidents administration in
the strongest possible terms. 1t is re-
markable that every suggestion for the
Harrison is accompanied by strong and
evidently sincere eulogies of his admin
istration. This is the one thing that
cannot be gotten away from.
Mr.. Halstead's suggestion of Blaine
and Sherman as a suitable ticket, and
the reason he gives therefor, is to be
read in the light of the interview with
Mr.. Blaine from which he had recently
returned. Read between the lines it is
a confession that Mr.. Blaine is not in a
condition of health to justify his nom
nation for President, unless measures
are taken at the same time to protect
him from undue exertiOn and excite
ment, and to protect the public inter-
csts against possible contingencies by
nominating for Vice-president a man of
otroxnl..r ~ oDv a1atn1
with a view to his fitness for first place.
This is not the suggestion of the Jour-
nal. but of a close friend of Mr.. Blaine's
who has recently talked with him.
There has been no more singular
phase of the present Blaine boom than
this suggestion that his personal welfare
and the interests of the Republican
party and of the country require. in the
event of his nomination for President,
that some statesman of presidential size
shall be nominated for Vice-president.
In the contemplation of the Constitu-
ton the office of Vice-president is only
second in dignity to that of President,
and should never be filled by an inferior
man. -Four times in our history the
Vice-president has succeeded, through
the death of the President, to the higher
office. This, however. is the first time
that it has ever been proposed, on be-
half of any presidential aspirant, or any
person urged for the Office. that the
nomination for second place should be
made with direct reference to the pos
sible contingency of a vacancy In the
higher office. obviously" says editor
Halstead, "there would be "a risk in over
tasking a man who isnow in his Sixties"
Mr.. Sherman is in his sixties,
along than Mr.. Blaine. 1t is a
poor compliment to Mr.. Sherman to sug-
gest him for Vice-president with a re-
v~ersionary interest in the presidency.
He is a big enough man for first place,
and should never be mentioned in any
other connection. He never has been
before, and would not be now but for
the memorable requirements of a move
ment that seems to recognize no princi-
pie or ordinary rule of action. Next to
President Harrison the Journal believes
Mr.. Sherman the strongest man in the
country for President, and if Harrison
is to be ''turned down" Sherman should
be the candidate.
But how foolish 1t is to be suggesting
homogeneous combinations and trying to
patch up impossible tickets when the
logic of events has already indicated
the natural candidate. Benjamin Har-
rison is rot yet in the sixties. He does
not need to be protected from exposure
nor shielded from attack. He does not
need to be reinforced nor guarded
against contingencies. All that is neces-
sary is to place him at the head OF the
ticket, and he will do the rest.
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