St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-06
4 DARK HORSE.

The GLOBE does not acquiesce COM
pletely in the Interpretation which
seems by common consent TO have
been put on Mr.. BLAINE's withdrawal
from the HARRISON cabinet. 1t de-
clInes to admit, without further evil
dence, that his action is equivalent to an
open avOwal of his own candidacy for
the presidential nomination, and be-
lIeveS that this view should he taken
only in case no other one is possible. 1t
prefers to give his extraordinary move
a significance at least approximately
consistent with a reasonable degree OF
personal honor on his part, and some
respect for the good opinion OF
his fellow citizens. 1t confesses
that it is not altogether easy to
find such a meaning in it, nor
even with the friendliest and most
charitable eyes to escape the conviction
that he has beeu guilty of unfair deal
ing. and the violation of the SacredeSt
considerations which should guide hu-
man conduct. But all moral obliquity
is not OF the same measure, and, until
driven from its position by the force of
future developments, this paper VIII
not include a man who has received the
highest honorS at the hands of the
American people among the worlds
traitors and aSSasSins.
1t may be that Mr.. BLAINE has not
wavered in his resolution to refuse the
nomination, and that his letter of resig-
oaTIn1 Inv nthinn
Immediately connected with the Min
neapoliS convention. His prominence
before the country, even without his
consent must have been a source
of more or less irritation to Mr..
HARRISON, full of ambition for
a second term, and it is not
incOnceivable that cessation of official
relations at this time may have seemed
desirable to both parties under the cir
cumstaneeS. The GLOBE, however,
only hints at this because it lacks the
qualities of likelihood. If the disSOlu-
tion were an amicable one, and not a
clash of opposing interests, it would
surely have been postponed for week
or two. Coming as it did, on the eve Of
a great crisis, and being of necessity
charged with tremendous power to in
t1uenee the result, there must be some
thing back of it. The question is what
is this something. If Mr.. BLAINE does
not desire to head the Republican ticket
himself, why should he have startled
the country at this particular hour by
this unprecedented exhibition?
If there is any answer to this inquiry,
the GLOBE gave it III its analysis of the
situation yesterday morning. Mr..
BLAINE has never been a HARRISON
advocate, and did not by accepting the
portfolio Of state divest himself of his
right to freedom of thought or action,
even though this should run counter to
the presidents personal programme.
HARRISON did not honor BLAINE by ad-
mlttlng him to the cabinet, but BLAINE
honored HARRISON in consenting to
give the administration the benefit of
his reputation and ability. He did not
by so doing identify himself with HAIR
RISON'S cause except in as far as it CO.
incided with the cause of the Repub-
lican party, and if be sees fit TO advance
its welfare by cooperating in the
scheme for the presidents rout, there
are arguments which may with some
plausibility be employed to justify his
course.
To have remained a part of the presi-
dents official family, to nave lulled him
into false sense of security by public
announcement that he had no reason to
fear his formidable competition for the
nomination, and then at the last moment
to have stepped into the arena as can
didate, with his antagonist off his guard
and all unprepared, is plan of deceit
and treachery too outrageous to be pos
sible. On the other hand, to have entered
the cabinet as a Republican, to have
impaired what luSter he could to the ad-
ministration by his method of handling
the public business. to have made no
pretense of sympathy with Mr..
HARRISON'S personal aspirations. and
finally to boldly throw what assistance
is in his power to the support Of an
other man for the chief magistracy, is
quite different matter. There will be
dishonOrabIe in the extreme, and the
GLOBE does not hold it up to public ad-
mIration. But, compared with the
treason of which there is a general dis
position to think that Mr.. BLAINE has
been capable. it is as daylight to dark
ness. To resort to low craft for anoth-
er's sake is breach of deeeney. To
use the stilettO for ones own gain is a
crime. The GLOBE. therefore, because
now, as ever, it incIines to take the
happieSt and most elevated view of
passing events which it can. adheres to
the opinion that the beneficiary of this
latest coup is not Mr.. BLAINE himself,
but some dark horse acceptable alike to
his great creator at Washington and to
the other conspirators who are laboring
with him. Who he is remains yet to be
disclosed, but that he is in existence,
ready to be put to the front when the
proper opportunity arises, there is every
reason to believe.