Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-30
WHY THEY WANT BLAINE.
| Tho Chicago Clubs Rejoinder to Recent
Comments by The Dispatch.

Tho Chicago Clubs Retoinder to Hecen'
Comments by The Dispatch.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
From q late issue of your paper clip the
following:
The attempt to force Mr.. Blaine into a Presi-
dental candidacy against his will after the fashion
proposed by the Chicago Blaine Club Is offensive
fooishness. 1t is too late to revive the Blaine
movement. Even If the Secretary of State could
be induced to reconsider his declination his change
of attitude would seriously damage his strength.
Beyond all that, the reasons he has given are sucn
as the nation must respect. There Is no natonai
exigency requiring man to take an ONCE WHICH
he feels would seriously imperil his life.
For over eight years this club has been
termed "Blainiac," "Blaine Cranks," and
"Blaine Fools" hence your charge of "offen-'
sive foolishness" does not annoy US, ana is
a mere matter of opinion anyway. We are
confident from letters constantly received
from all parts of the country that our
position is not offensive" to seven-cighths
of the Republican party, and is not regarded
by them as "fool1shness." We nre quite
willing the other eighth shall think rs you
do in regard to our attitude. But we do pro-
test against some of the assertions contained
in the above extract. How do you know 1t
is too late to review the Blaine movement?
The Blaine sentiment is as much
an actual reality to-day as ever. To
make it effective Mt the Minneapolis
convention will take no longer than
to fire powder. We do not wish to induce
the Secretary of State to reconsider any
thing he has said. He said. 81 am not
candidate" What is candidate? Webster
says one seeking o position. Hence, there
need be no change on his part, and there
fore nothing to damage hfs strength. But,
in any case, to question Blaine's strength
with the people is too absurd to merit
answer.
Again, you say the reasons he has gwen
are such the nation must respect He gave
no reason in his letter which he could have
done in n few words, and world have done
If his health had been the reason. 1 posi-
lively deny that he has stated to anyone
that his health was the cause of his writing
that statement, viz: that he was not seek
ing the position of President. Does the
editor of THE DISPATCH know what the real
reason was, and, if so, will he give it to tho
public? / think know the influence which
caused the letter to be written, but do not
care to make it public out of regard for
harmony in the party.
But If Mr.. Blaine was elected and found
himself unable to fulfill the duties of his
Office, he could resign and the Vice Presi-
dent could take his place. and in such an
event the party and the country would be
no worse Off than they would be IL some
other person is nominated and elected.
You say there is 'no national exigency."
This is also matter on which there is a diff
ference of opinion. A prominent Republi-
can of Pennsylvania, an astuto politician of
national reputation, recently said: "We in
Pennsylvania are interested I'm nominating
some one who can be elected. Pennsylvania
is protection State. ALI her interests c-s
more or less bound up with the policy OF
protection, and we are interested in the auc-
cess of the Republican party because VIC
believe in protection. We fear that If
Democratic President is elected in Novcm-
Der the party will ut the same time carry
enough State Legislatures to get majority
in the National Senate, and will elect DEM
ocratic House. That would give all branches
of the lawmaking power to the Democrats
and enable them to pass any legislation they
wanted" We think there is both a national
and a party exigency which demands What
Mr.. Blaine should be nominated in order
that Republican success may be certain.
You at the East may be resting in the con-
fdent assurance that any good Republican
can be elected. But 1 wish to say to you
that eff you base your hopes upon our doing
so by carrying States in the West usually
Republican You are reckoning without your
host The situation now is decidedly diff
ferent from what it was in 1888. The Farm
ers' Alliance has grown up under the pres
ent Republican administration, and the only
candidate who can bring them back with
any degree of certainty is james G.. Blaine.
This is not the wild assertion of any crank,
but have in my possession evidence to sat
isfy any reasonable man that the statement
Is true. Therefore, with the evidence which
we have, and which 1 will give you credit
for honesty enough to believe you do not
have, the position OF the Chicago Blaine
Club is not offensive foolishness," but
loyal patriotic and wise. Fl. G. TEED,
CHICAGO, April q. Secretary c. 3. c.