Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1892-06-29
Characterization.

publicans are inclined to think that
the failure to nominate Blaine at Min
neapolis will occasion resentment
among his admirers, and that their
disappointment will be carried into
the campaign and operate against
President Harrison. Permit me to say
that, although the Blaine men may be
enthusiasts, they are not fools. Al
though they wanted their man, and
wanted him with that intensity of de-
sire inspired by admiration of his
great abilities and brilliant career, yet
now, when the din has cleared and
the smoke lifted, sensible and logi-
cal recast of all the facts involved in
the struggle, convinces them that
Harrison's nomination was the only
step which could have been taken
with dignity and self-respect. Any
other step would have compromised
us as a party and belittled us in the
estimation of nations abroad by whom
we are looked upon as party strug-
Cling for principle, and not an organ
ization for the promotion of individu-
al glory.
Had Blaine been nominated under
the circumstances, it would have given
the impression that our political insti-
buttons are tickle and unstable, and
that the current of public expression
in this country can be changed from
the direction of it's original impulse
by a touch of the button and at a
moments notice. That this cannot
be done, the Minneapolis convention
testifies. 1t testifies that the Repub-
lican party knows how to subordinate
enthusiasm to sense, and that feelings
of duty based upon expression of
popular will, cannot be swept away
by feelings of zeal in the cause of any
man.
Blaine's act of resignation unques-
tionably put the party upon dilcm-
ma. The position was without pre-
cedent, and affords for the first time
the spectacle of great popular leader
stepping in at the eleventh hour to
displace man for whom the popular
voice had already declared. He failed,
and taught a lesson to after corners.
No man, however great his claims to
recognition, however great his services
to his country, can afford to take the
risk of measuring his own prestige
and popular standing against the le-
ultimate construction of his own words
and actions. No man can create an
impression and safely rely upon his
own ability and reputation to direct
at will the forces which that impress
sion has set in motion. A popular
purpose is thing of slow birth, but
when once declared it will be execu-
ted. A failure to appreciate that pur-
pose, constituted Blaine's mistake. It
was a great mistake-a mistake which
can come but once into the life
of public man. It assumes a greater
magnitude when we reflect that the
Judgment at fault had hitherto meas
ured public sentiment and feeling
with the nicely of mathematical
rule. It's committai at such a time
and by such a man is another illustra-
ton of the maxim, "To err is human"
But although we must admit a mis-
take, we will never admit the exist
ence of any selfish or disloyal pur-
pose. His former letters exclude the
supposition of any eagerness on his
part to be the nominee. His with
drawal from the cabinet was of course
a tacit acknowledgment of his candi-
dacy. The cause of his withdrawal
is unexplained, and perhaps will al
ways remain so; for the present it is
enough for us to believe that it was
accomplished by some overwhelming
influence springiag upon his prudence
ond overcoming it before resistance
could begin. Had the withdrawal
taken place three months earlier we
would have had no mistake to lament
and we would have had our candidate.
We are willing to make the best of
our failure, and to vote for Harrison.
There may be deep regret among
Blaine men, but there are no sulks or
fanatics. When the battle opens next
fall we will line up for Harrison as we
did for Blaine, with hopes that our
efforts may be attended with better
success. A BLAINEITE.
Morris, June %, 1892.