The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-05

/ tilis opinion very freely.
1t was the expression OF these opinions which
FIRST gave the cue to the Republicans who are
actively engaged In working to defeat the
nomination OF the President These views OF
| Mrs Blaine were repeated In New York. and II
| is her influence which has kept Mr.. Blaine from
saying anything. and 1t is wholly to be credited
to her assistance that tho opponents to the
Presidents nomination have thus far been
able to mako such successful campaign in
the newspapers behind the great name and
fame OF the Secretary Of State.
There are a number OF very prominent Re-
publicans who are not identified with Mr..
Harrison beyond their belief that he has made
good administration for the country. They
are not ut present very prominent, but they
do not propose to hand over the fortunes Of
tho Republican party to q small band OF what
is known rs the disappointed and defeated: in
other words. the D. and D. combination. This
combination will undoubtedly be treated to
several surprising shocks at Minneapolis.
Mr.. Blaine's nomination cannot be made with
out one OF the most bitter fights ever known
In the history OF tho Republican party. Tho
managers OF the opposition to the President
have reputation for being good politicians.
They have made number OF plumbers. how
ever. in their campaign. Ono Of the most
notable OF tho plumbers is the putting forward
OF Mr.. Clarkson. the nominal Chairman
OF the National Republican Committee.
rs the fly upon tho political wheel which
is to grind out Republican nomination.
The men upon whom the party will have to
rely in the conduct Of the campaign do not
think It in accordance with good business
methods or in accordance with common
sense to have even the temporary manage
ment Of the party in tho hands Of man who
&c {pfa INN ho INV
uttering cheap phrases OF disresp ect. dislike.
and malice directed against the President.
who is the chief Of the Republican party. As
each National Convention elects new COM
mittee and new Chairman to take charge OF
tho campaign. 1t does not require very much
Of political prophet to predict that whatever
may be the result OF the Minneapolis Conven-
ton. the campaign will not be left in the hands
Of the men who are now posing before the
public as managers.
Mr.. Blaine's position concerning the nomi-
nation has never been tho subject Of dispute
or question UP to the time OF the Coppinger
case. The President never asked him to with
draw from the canvass. Mr.. Blaine wrote his
letter Of last February after due elaboration
and for reasons best known to himself He
has repeated that opinion in private CONVERSE
ton many times to the gentlemen of the Ad-
ministration circle.
There is certain code Of etiquette among
politicians which is as binding as any code Of
honor to be found among any set Of men in the
world. 1t runs through canvass after canvass
and contest after contest. II q candidate re-
tires In good faith to leave field FREQ for
others associated with him. then his return to
that field Is considered o breach Of good faith.
Mr.. Blaine's opinions upon this subject, as ex-
pressed when he was in Europe, are very
strong. A few days before the Convention four
years ago the pressure brought to bear upon
him. although he was as for away as Paris
was very great. I saw Mr.. Blaine then upon
one or two occasions. and his mind never
wavered. He said In general then that the
public never forgave man who tritled with o
grave situation. For him to change his mind
after having freely and clearly expressed it
upon such an important subject would lay him |
open to tho charge OF being insincere and Of
being guilty Of playing trick. So strong was
the pressure upon him at Paris that he felt |
called upon to write another letter. In that |
letter to Mr.. Whitelaw Reid. bearing date May |
II. no said:
III should now. by speech or by silence. BY
commission pr omission. permit my name in
any event to como before the Convention. |
should incur the reproach Of being uncandid |
with those who have always been candid with |
me. am not willing to be the cause Of mis- |
leading single man among the millions who |
have given me their suffrage and their conf |
dence. am not willing that even ono Of my |
faithful supporters in the past should think |
me capable OF paltering in double sense with |
my words"
Mr.. Blaine. free from the pressure Of influ- |
ence. is one Of the clearest-minded men In the |
world. There was no direct personal pressure |
brought to bear upon him IN Europe. What |
came to him was the indirect influence Of |
letters and cables. He never changed his posi-. |
ton. although twas clear that his mere silence
would have procured his nomination.
Those who know him well and like him, and |
who are his real friends. think to-day that II |
he had changed his mind and thought it best |
to yield to the apparent desire Of the Republic |
cans to become q candidate of the party. he |
should have said so in all kindness to tho |
President. and then should have retired from |
the Cabinet. This. however. is q question Of |
good taste about which doctors may differ.
1t has been frequently charged Of late that |
the President was not loyal to Mr.. Blaine. and |
was responsible for many OF the unkind |
things said Of him. Upon the other hand. It |
has also been charged that Mr.. Blaine has not |
been loyal to the Administration. This Is part |
Of tho partisan talk Of the day. and has no real |
DdSiSs 4Ho A6Cto uIo odby ~ 10 lOuuu Dy any
one who has access to well-informed political |
circles at Washington. The President has q
respect for Mr.. Blaine's ability. and
has always shown the most marked apprecia-
ton OF his work. Mr.. Blaine upon his part has
been most amiable in all Of his business rela-
lions with tho President
There Is not single member OF the Admin.
Istration circle to-day who has anything but
admiration for Mr.. Blaine's ability. and tho |
only question that any OF them have ever made |
has been concerning his physical strength,
This has so much improved o. late that that
has ceased to be q question. Yet those who
know him best doubt his strength for long
and serious strain.
The subject Of Mr. Blaine's health Ia ono
which is a proper subject for consideration.
The DULY malignant stories OF his not being
equal mentally to what no was last year would
be disproved by any ono who comes In contact
with him for a moment But 1t is an undis-
pnted fact that Mr.. Blaine physically is not
very strong. and that he avoids as much as
possible any undue mental or physical exer.
ion. This Is proper and correct. 1t is on ac-
,ount Of this care that he has been free to call