The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-09
Intimate Friends Say II will Be Useless for
Overzealous Supporters to Present His
Name at the Minneapolis Convention.
IllHealth and Recognition of Harrison's
Claims Given as the Chief Reasons.
Latters denomination and Election Regarded
as Inevitable by Many Politicians-Neither
Allison Nor Sherman Will Make the Race.
HAS NO STRING TO IT.
Mr.. Blaine's DecIination to BE q Candida
Sincere and Final-His Chief Reaaona


Sincere and Final-His Chief Reasons.
Special TO the anapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Feb. S.-There are two DIS
tinct views of the meaning and the effect
of Secretary Blaine's letter to Chairman
Clarkson into which the comments of men,
bers of Congress to-day shape themselves.
1t goes without saying that Mr.. Blaine's
letter was the principal topic Of conversa-
tion at the Capitol. One very large class
of Republicans, including those who have
all along been outspokeu in their belief
that President Harrison's administration
has been of such q character as to give him
distinct claim upon his party for q re-
nomination and upon the country for an
other term. felt no hesitancy in expressing
their opinions. That opinion was, in every
case. to the general effect that Secretary
Blaina's letter. while it would be regretted
by large element, If not by o majority of
the Republican voters of the country,
made the denomination of President Har-
rison inevitable.
Many Republicans of this class were
quite willing to admit that General Har-
rlson, while very strong with the mass of
the party and while possessing the ap-
prOval of the sober thought of the country
at largo for his admirable conduct of public
business had excited more or less antaRon-
ism among the professional party leaders
and among the men who have more OF less
control over the local party organizations
This opposition. however. the friends of
the administration assert, and not without
lack of proof arises merely from scattered
and disorganized discomfort with the
distribution of federal patronage. 1t is not
backed nor strengthened by any pretense
at criticism of the wisdom, uprightness and
patriotism of this administration. There.
fore. these men soy this opposition is of no
weight. and, now that Secretary Blaine
has withdrawn. will speedily disappear.
Such Is the general tone of comment among
Republicans who are distinct adherents of
General Harrison. These men also declare
that Mr.. Blaine's letter must be regarded
as final and absolute; that to question it's
sincerity would betray O lack of respect
for SIR. Blaine himself; that for his friends
to continue to press his name for the nomi-
nation would be not only ~unciYll- to Mr..
Blaine. but openly antagonistic to General
Harrison. and that such course would
only foment dissension within the party
and compiicate the work of ths Minneapo-
lis convention. which Mr.. Blaine's letter
has so greatly simplitied.
UNWILLING. TO READ THE LETTER ARIGHT
On the other hand there Is manifest
among Republica ms who are not opposed to
President Harrison. but who have so long
cherished personal affection and political
allegiance to the great statesman from
Maine as to find it almost impossible to
surrender their dream of seeing him In the
White House, an unwillngness to accept
his letter to Mr.. Clarkson as absolute and
final end to Secretary Blaine as q presl-
dental possibility. 1t is this spirit of un-
among some of Mr.. BlaIne's de-
voted admirers to take him at his word
that gives color to tho sneerIng comments
of mugwumps and Democrats to the effect
that Mr.. Blaine is not sincere, and his let
ter is only o strategic move upon the polit-
ical chess board, designed to mask his real
Friends of Mr.. Blame do not say this.
Even out and ont Democrats are frank
enough and honest enough to accept the
language of his letter for what it stands,
but the half-hearted and dyspeptic element,
whic carries On n guerrilla warfare be-
tween the lines of the great parties. dis.
plays q disposition to question Mr.. Blaine's
sincerity. and to suggest that there is more
between the lines of his letter than appears
in it's words themselves. They compare his
letter to Mr. Clarkson with his letter writ
ten from Florence to Chairman Jones, in
1888, and point out that. even then Mr..
Blaine said that his name would not be
to the national convention.
They predict that 1892 Will be much like
1888. when. despite his Florence letter,
Mr.. Blaine's name was presented to
the Chicago convention. and kept per-
sistently before it for q week, and
only withdrawn after the imperative
cablegram from him had been received aud
read to the convention. They quote Mr..
Blaine's language now-"I am not n candi-
date for the presidency and my name will
not 60 before the Republican national con-
vention for the nominatiOn"-as no moro
decisive than the Florence letter, and as
showing in no sense any change in the at.
tltude which he has maintained for the
past two years-that is. of not being can
didate in the sense of actively seeking the
other friends of Mr..
Blaine. in this class. among whom may be
included most of his intimate and most
solldly influential friends in national pol
itics. wholly discourage this view. They
declare that Mr. Blaine's words must be
literally as finally removing
him from the field of possible entries for
the presidential race. They insist that his
statement is as clear and definite as the
Il Dgllsh language can make it. and that Its
very brevity only adds to its force.
In his Florence letter. Mr.. Blaine went
on, after stating that his name would not
be presented 10 the convention, to discuss
the issues between the two parties at some
length. In this Washington letter 20
Chairman Clarkson. Mr.. Blaine does moth.
ing of the kind. 1t is pointed out by many
as significant that. after his opening IN
cisive and definite statement of withdrawal
Secretary Blaine merely presents with epi-
grammatio clearness the coming issues in
the phrase: The industrial and financial
policies OF the government are Mt staken
and argue that his very brevity and avoid.
ance of detailed discussion only indicate
his earnestness and sincerity.
MIR. BLAISE's REASONS.
Your correspondent learned today from