Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-02-08
DOUBTS O|SPELLEO.
Blaine Not a Candidate
for the Presidency.
A LONG LOOKED FOR LETTER


wAsnEGrog. Feb s.-The following let.
ter explains Itself:
WAsuIsGTos, Feb. 8, lSl.
Hon. j. ;. Clarsson, Chairman OF the Repub-
Iran National Comrlitt-o:
MY DEAR Sfg.-l anl not "a candidate for the
presidency, and my name Will not 10 before
the Republican national convention for the
nomination. make this announcement In
due season.
To those who Nave rendered me their sun
port owe sincere thanks, and sm most crate
ful for their confidence. They will, I am sure,
make earnest effort In the coming contest,
which Is rendered specially important by rea-
son OF the Industrial aud financial policy Of
the government being al stake. The popular
decision on these issues Ia of great moment,
and will be OF fsr-reaching consequences.
Very sincerely yours,
JAMES q. BLAINE
How the News Was Received.
The announcement that the secretary
had written the letter withdrawing him
self from the field OF candidates created
much excitement, Notwithstanding that
the probability OF its utteranee had been
discussed for the past forty eight hours
with renewed vigor, and its appearance
thereby discounted to some extent.
Secretary Foster was seen by q United
Press reporter and asked for his opinion
Of the effect Of the letter. He said he had
been anticipating its appearance, but was
surprised that IL had come now. 1T will
result, / think" he said, 'in President
Harrison's denomination. There will be
no serious opposition to Harrison's nomi-
nation, / t'ke IL. Secretary Elkins said 1t
has been known among the Republican
politicians for months and was becoming
generally known among the people that
Secretary Blaine would not be O candi.
date. and they were arranging for that
condition Of things. Some Of them are
for Harrison, and some for others. but the
great mass are for the president, and he
Will be renominated.
Secretary Tracy was not surprised. 1T
points to Harrison's renomination and 10
election said he
Secretary Noble said: with Blaine out
Of the aeld, there Is no man Of sufficient
importance to contest the nomination with
Mr.. Harrison"
Attorney General Miller had nothing to
say.
Secretary Rusk said 1t looked to him as
II President Harrison lad clear field
Bee In Culiom's Bonnet.
Senator Cullom spoke with ,nkness to
the United Press reporter. ~, gave him
the first iDtimation Of the appearance Of
the letter. II am not surprised" said he,
II had intimations Of its coming from
various sources and, indeed. from the sec
retary himself, but nothing definite. II ID
is construed BY his friends to mean nh ab-
solute refusal, AZ have no doubt IL will
be (thc senator had not then seen a copy
Of the letter.. 1t opens the field for the
nomination.
Does that mean that you will enter,
senatorP
"Yes, 1t does have said to my friends
that, having given Illinois thirty years Of
earnest service In the state legislature. six
In the governors chair, eight Ira the lower
house Of congress-, and nine In the senate,
weuld esteem IL great honor TO have
the delegation tc the national Republican
convention from Illinois support me for
the presidential nomination"
Newspaper Comment.
NEW YORK, Feb. S.-The Herald says
Of Mr. Blalne's declaration that he will
not be a candidate for president, So far
a. the republicans are concerned, IL may
be said without fear of contradiction that
they have lost their strongest man BY
oil odds Mr. Blaine was their most avail
able leader As to the Democrats,
their shrewnest opponent has retired from
the field. II they handle their
forces with skill and enter the contest
with u strong western man, IL will be their
own fault II they foil to carry the day.
The Tribune says: This formal an
nouncement will cause sorrow and disap-
pointment to thousands OF Republicans.
and there IL no reason for dissemblinR
that fact. No other living American has
inspired such ardent devotion, and upon
no other have SO many Americans longed
to confer the greatest distinction within
their gift. The certainty that the fore.
most citizen Of the country will not be
next presidsnt OF the United States, and
the presumption that he will never occupy
that high Office, cannot fail to aflict Q
multitude Of his fellow citizens with q
keen sense Of personal grief. . . . Tho
withdrawal ef Mr.. Bleine may not
Immediately settle beyond controversy tho
result Of tho Republican convention, but
undoubtedly 1t does, In q large measure,
| clear the field fer General Harrison.
BOSTON. Feb. 6-Says the Herald, Mr..
| Blaine has written q letter which Is gener-
ally regarded at Washington as taking
him out Of the presidential contest for
good and oil. II aav other person Of Mr.
Blaine's political position had written
such letter, there would ts no doubt Of
his intention to put the presidential nomi-
nation Of his party aside, even though 1t
wero offered him by the practically unani-
mo us voice of the convention. But Mr..
Blaine has not said that ne would do this.
Yet he must know that many Of his
friends will refuse to regard q less COM
prehensive and positive declaration as
definitely closing the doors against his
candidacy. In view Of this omission 10 can
not yet be said that the Maine statesman
has absolutely put himself out Of reach,
though he has certainly made IL plain that
nothing but Q nomination coming un-
sought and unopposed would receive any
consideration at his hands.
The Globe: The unexpected has hap.
pened. and IL Is perhaps too carly yet to
say whether the presidential situation on
the Republican side has been simpliHed
or complicated. As to the reasons that
have moved Mr.. Blaine to this step. The
country Is left to conjecture, for he does
state them In his letter. Prom the Demo
cratic standpoint, the elimination Of Blaine
from the coming national contest Is an