Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-31
BLAIR HAS THE BEE.
The Ex-senator of Chinese Mission
Fame Is Looking After
HIS OWN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
Tariff Will Be the Main Issue in the
Next National Contest.
THE SOUTH rs NOT FOR FREE SILVER

Ex-senator Henry w. Blair, of New
Hampshire, was at the Monongahela House
yesterday afternoon. He went to Washing
ton in the evening" Mr. Blair said he was
here on private business, and had stopped
over on his return from trip through
Louisiana and Texas. The ex-Sen-
ator is candidate for the
Presidency, and though he would not admit
it, it is evident that his mission in the South
was purely political The old man has been
ioked good deal about his educational bill,
but he is very popular with the Southern
negroes, and he may bob up at Minneapolis
with good following He preferred not to
talk about his Presidential aspirations. He
wouldn't say whether he thought he would
have the support of his State delegation
or not.
When asked what he was doing for him.
self, he laughed, and intimated that he was
rot asleep. He declared that politics had
nothing to do with his visit to Pittsburg,
and he didn't know that Senator Quay was
in town until informed. He asked great
many questions about politics in Pennsyl-
vania and principally in Pittsburg
'tIt is time that am candidate for the
Presidency" he said. ''The question for
Republicans to consider is how they can
best carry the country. The choice of
candidate is as important as the formation
of a platform. My impression is that when
the delegates get to Minneapolis the
man who is most likely to lead
the party to success will be nom-
-nI Id NJ
to much when this question is considered.
If the party is handicapped in its candidate
from the start, we are sure to be defeated
next November. / have great faith in the
Republican party, and feel sure if no seri-
Gus blunders are made that we Will win.
The main issue will be the tariff,
and free silver will cut some
figure. Are any of the Eastern
States shaky? Well, l don't know; The
chusetts While in the South 1 discovered
that the Democrats are all for Cleveland:
sne Tbe neope down South are
not so rabld for free silver as we have been
led to think. take it that Mills, who was
recently elected to the Senate represents
the feeling in Texas. He is q free trader and
favored the postponement of the silver
question.
Republicans Might Carry Louisiana
"In Louisiana the Democrats are badly
cut up. / believe the Republicans would
carry the State if the vote was counted. As
it is we have en- ough voters down there, but
they are not given a fair show in politics.
As for the Federal election bill, would have
favored it if the educational measure had
been placed side by side with it. Where the
people are intelligent no legal restraints are
needed at the polls, and the law would soon
become a dead letter."
"What do you think of the ratification of
the Bering Sea treaty." was asked.
'It would be out of place for me to criti-
else the action OF the Senate now that am
out of it. have always favored protecting
the seals, and was opposed to giving tho
English anv ground for claim. The indus
try is ours, and it is our business to defend
it against the interference OF outsiders.
The Government has a right; all that
remains to be done is to defend
it by fighting: if necessary. All this diplo-
matic correspondence only gives the English
ground for putting in claims to which they
are not entitled, and every concession made
TO them is so much in their favor. The fact
is l Uncle Sam owns the seal fisheries and
they should be protected at any cost. This
is the simplest way out of such difficulties
Mr.. Blair declined to say anything about
President Harrison, or what he thought of
his chances for denomination. He referred
TO the Chinese affair, and for that reason
preferred to remain silent.