St. Paul daily globe., 1892-07-03

Until his final and positive declina-
ton, as published in the telegraphic
columns of the GLOBE. Judge GREsH-
AM occupied the same position with
respect to the Peoples party presi-
dental nomination which Mr.. BLAINE
assumed, or was forced into, with re-
spect TO the nomination to be made at
Minneapolis. Mr.. BLAINE wrote: 81
am not candidate. and my name will
not go before the convention" Almost
word for word Judge GRESHAM re-
peated this utterance in defining his
own position. Mr.. BLAINE persistently
refused to give out any further express
sion of his wishes or preferences, and
until yesterday Judge GRESHAM pre-
served similar significant silence. Mr..
BLAINE never asserted that he would
not accept the Republican nomi-
nation if rendered him, and Judge
GRESHAM until yesterday refused to
make such declaration with regard to
the nomination to be made at Omaha.
In reply to the direct question: ''WiIl
you acceptif nominated?" Judge GREsH-
AM as late as Thursday returned
neither ''yes" nor a no." but re-
ferred his questioner to the previous in
terview in which he had asserted that
his name "would not go before the con-
ventlon." And like the unfortunate
EMNIoNs BLAINE, young OTTO GRLsH-
AM was busily telling newspaper zen
that he "knew of no reason why father
should not accept"
The &c oJ,r;o,, &hot %I,o
Judge was coquetting with the SIMPSON
DoNNELLY aggregation. He was wisely
resolved that the analogy between his
case and Mr.. BLAlNE'S should not be
carried to the extent of having his name
actually uttered under the handicap of
his own published disavowal of his
candidacy. but for some days he was
cOntent to remain the "man of mystery"
over again. In some quarters it was al
legged that he desired the Omaha nomi-
nation only for the privilege of return
ing it with thanks and regrets, while in
other quarters it was asserted that he
intended to accept the nomination in
the event that the st. Louis platform
should be modified so as to conform to
his views. Very probably the judge
was merely taking his time to enjoy the
spectacle of BENJAMIN HARRISON on
tenter hooks. Mr.. HARRISON unQues-
tionably realizes, as we'll as does Judge
GRESHAM and the rest of the country,
that GREsHAM's candidacy on the Peo-
pies party ticket would absolutely
prohibit all possibility of Republican
success next November. The great
jurist undoubtedly held the political
fortunes Of the president in the hollow
of his hand. He could not insure HAIR
RlsoN's election, but he could insure
his defeat. He could accomplish such
revenge as man is rarely priv
ileged to achieve. Would he do it?
Would he definitely renounce his al
legiance to the Republican party for the
privilege of accepting the not inconsid-
cradle honor of the Peoples party NOM
ination, and for the still pleasanter
privilege of contributing to the down.
fall of BENJAMIN HARRISON? That
was the burning question of the hour,
and apparently Judge GRESHAM has
finally. answered 1t with positive mega
tive. He announces unequivocally that
he would not accept on any platform"
From an interested Democratic stand
point, the GLOBE frankly regets mis- de-
cision. The Peoples party managers
also keenly regret it. They realize what
tower of strength his name would be
for their cause, and they are almost in
clined to nominate him in spite of HIM
self. They say he declines it now and
means it, but perhaps he might be in-
duced TO change his mind. Well, per-
haps he might. Nothing is certain now
adayS but rain.