The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-12
II Finally Came and Afforded Presi-
dent HARRISON and Friends
Much Pleasure
But 1t Is Not Regarded as Taking
Blaine Out of the
Race.
The Document Not at All In Biaine's style,
being Very Weak and Clumsy
Not Unexpected. ~

VASHlNtlON. TeDs lL.-lub DlHIue lbbbSI
has been the general subject of discussion
ever since it was printed. II is 40 poorly
written that ut first it was be-
lieved to be forgery. When Mr..
Blaine refers to his friends and ex-
presses a belief that they will work for
something, he fails to mention what ths
thing will be. Never was there go doubt
full, hating, feeble q piece of letter writ
ing as the Blaine letter ia. 1t iustifies the
stories that his mind is not quite clear.
Among politicians there are three fac
tions and three sets of opinion. The
Blaine faction. which includes about all
the really able men in the republican
party. declare that this letter means moth
ing. Robinson, member Of congress from
Pennsylvania, and president:of the state as
sociation clubs, ably stated the attitude of
this faction to-day when he said ''Mr.
Blaine is as much the strongest man in
great party as he was in 1888. There ia
nothing in the letter he has Just written to
prevent his friends from nominating him
next June. It will need stronger letter
than this to prevent Blaine's nomination at
Minneapolis.'
Even the friends of Harrison admitted
that this letter will not prevent of itself
the nomination Of Mr.. Blaine. He is ac-
knowledged to be the most popular man in
the party, and many republican leaders say
in confidence that they believe he will be
nominated in spite Of himself. Such talk
as this does not make the Clarkson letter
appear very strong to those who favor the
denomination of Harrison. These are the
surrounding circumstances which make the
rivals of Mr.. Blaine and members of the
opposing faction rather bitterly declare he
ought not to have rendered it possible for
him to be obliged to write another letter to
the convention itself.
The incident which really caused this let
ter to be written is Mr.. Blaine's health.
While he is much better than in the recent
past he is not in good health, and from the
nature of his disease there is not much ex-
pectation of rand recovery.
Those who do not believe Mr.. Blaine's
sickness will keep MIN from running think
his political astuteness will. Those who
have talked with him recently say he is not
sanguine Of political success in the next
| election. He feels that the only hope for
| the republican party is some big blunder or
t a series of small mistakes by the demo
attic house. Mr. Blaine is particularly
doubtful of any republican candidate being
l.
Flowers big plurality possibly has been
more potent in bringing out tho letter than
the condition of Mr.. Blaine's health.
The Clarkson letter did not astonish any
body here who was we'll informed. 1t has
been more or less expected for several
months. The one person of all others who
waited and lonRed for it is Mr.. Harrison,
to whom Mr.. Blaine's letter has seemed like
one that would never come. Naturally the
chances of the president for denomination
are much better than the chances for the
nomination of any other man at y esent.
The political machinery of he admins
! tration will at once be set in motion to Sc
cure for the president solid delegations
| from the southern states, where the federal
| Office holders practically control every
thing. In the northwest. where Mr..
| Ilaiue's popularity would have swept away
all opposition to him. the president hopes
now to get nearly unanimous support out
side of Illinois votes which may be given
to Senator Cullom. If the president only
had few friends this would seem to be his
opportunity. But he does not seem to have
| them anywhere.
| This recalls an interesting political pre-
diction made by Senator Hill the day be-
fore he started for New York. Several per-
sons were talking with him when some one
asked Mr.. Hill if Mr.. Blaine would run.
"Mr. blaine will not be candidate" said
the senator. "His health will not permit
him to make the canvass. This whole mat
ter was settled years ago. 1t will be the old
ticket-Harrison aud Morton. Mr.. Blaine
will write Il letter shortly, I hear. declining
to run, and that will make Harrison's
nomination inevitable"
Away back in November Blaine wrote Il
letter withdrawing his name from the list
of candidates and intimating that the re-
publican party ought to renominate Harri-
son. 1t was the week before the meeting
of the national republican committee.
which was Nov. 20. 1t WAS intended to be
made public then, but it came to the knowl-
edge of two or three mastertul minds like
permit suoh an action and treated it MS the
act of man feeble in mind as we'll as in
body. The letter was burned instead OF
bieng sent to the national committee,