The morning call., 1892-06-04
cAN ELAINE ACCEPT?

OF course it is entirely within Mr.. Blaine's
power 20 accept nomination at the hands
OF the e,ublican National Convention If
one should be offered him. When the Ques-
ton is asked, Can Blaine accept it
means if By accepting he will in any way
compromise his integrity. viii the people
believe in that case that his February letter
was written in absolute good faith2 In
February Mr.. Blaine said, - am not a
candidate for the Presidency, and my name
will not 90 before the National Republican
Convention for the nomination" Ii be had
stopped with the announcement that he
was not candidate for the Presidency he
would nave left himself IN the position OF
man who was not seeking the nomination.
1t would have been equivalent 10 an an
nOuRcement that he was not an as rant,
but might become candidate Of the con-
ventiOn If the convention should nominate
him. But when he added that his name
would not 30 before the Republican Ma
ti0naI Convention for the nomination. there
must have been some purpose 10 the an
nouncement. MT. Blaine knew that his
name lad been in an uncertain way before
the convention which nominated Harrison.
He knew also that he had had power to
keep his name from going before the con-
venton as an avowed a-pirant. He must
have had this experience in his mind when
be wrote the chairman of the RapUb-
lican National Committee that bis name
would not 90 before the Minneapolis eonven-
ton. He assumed that he could prevent its
going before the convention if he desired
to. and assured the people that such was
his desire Nothing has happened since
February 10 Justify a change OF purpose.
The Republican party IS relatively stronger
than it was in February. There IS no
emergency, political or otherwise, that
calls Mr Blaine to the front. II is not
known that his health IS better now
than in February, except as in most
cases Of impaired physical condition a per-
son feels better one day than another. For
thirty years Mr.. Blaine has not been able to
say that lie would not Ike to be President.
That has been the dream Of his life. II is
vastly TO his credit that this ambition has
been held subordinate TO conditions be could
not control. He did not decline in 1888
from any lack of ambition, but from doubt
Of his physical ability TO perform the duties
Of the Cffice. The same or similar reasons
induced him TO write the February letter.
lie knew when he wrote that letter that he
could have the nomination II he should say
that he would accept it. But he said that
he did not want it, and in effect that he
would not accept it. 1t is not compliment
TO Mr.. Blaine that his name is now urged
with so much peTtnacity. His followers
imply doubt either Of his sincerity or Of
his frmness Of purpose. A contemporary
says that in February Blaine stepped aside
for Harrison. In his letter there was not a
word abou. Harrison. MT. Blaine stepped
aside for the simple reason that physically
he did not think himself able to perform the
duties Of the office. The Republicans might
have taken Up Sherman, Mckinley, Reed or
any other prominent Republican. Their
concentration upon Harrison was due to the
belief that with Blaine cut Harrison was
the strongest man in the party. Under
these conditions we doubt much if the
masses Of Republican voters will take kindly
10 the nomination OF Blaine as the especial
candidate Of Quay, Garrison, Plat and
other politicians of that stripe. The Demo-
cratic press, which is now stimulating the
Blaine boom, VIII be the first to prick it.
Blaine viii not be fairly nominated before
he will he declared physical wreck. His
change Of purpose will be construed as an
evidence of failing mental power. Nothing
but a revival Of his old-time vigor made
manifest in the form Of speeches in various
cities would convince tile people that Blaine
is himself again.