The morning call., 1892-05-25
THE CALL CALENDAR.
THE BLAINE MOVEMENT.

The purpose Of a political movement may
often be detected by the character Of the
men engaged in it, If we examine the
Blaine movement from this standpoint we
90 not fad it formidable. The Republicans
known 10 be engaged in il are Of about the
same school Of politics as the Democrats
engaged in the Hill movement. In most
cases their desire 10 nominate Blaine may
be traced 10 their failure with Mr.. Harri-
son. To begin We viii count Mr.. Blaine
himself out Of the movement. Not a word
or act can be traced to him that may not
have been written by the hand that wrote
the Blaine letter of decliuatOn. There IS
no evidence that Blaine has TeDented Of the
decision therein announced. Then there is
Patt0f New York. The difference between
p att and Hill is that one commences his
political speeches with the words, q" l am
Republican," while the other says, " l am
Democrat" They belong to the same school
Of politics. that is 10 the spois school, An
other bIatherskite is ClaTks0n OF Iowa. In
these days some queer men get upon pOliti-
cal committees, a fact which accounts for
ClaTks0u on the National Republican Com
mittee. When Senator Quay found that his
resignation as chairman of that committee
was likely to be demanded be cast about for
an equally good man 10 succeed himself.
CiaTkson is the result Of that search. Plat
and Quay and ClaTksOn have the grievances
against Harrison that machine politicians
often have against meu who act from higher
motives. Il is said now that Foraker Of
Ohio has Joined the Blaine forces. Foraker
viii be remembered as the Republican can
ddRte for Governor whom Campbell beat so
badly These four men may be called the
e." Big -Four" OF the B aine movement.
They are smart politicians, but they will
drive the better class of voters out Of any
party with which they may act. The Dem
ocratic party has Tebeled against Hill; it
remains TO see If the Republican party will
accept Hillism.
For James G. Blaine himself every Amer
lean has a profound admiration. If Mr..
Blaine bad said three months ago that he
was willing 10 be q candidate if the party
wanted him to be. there would have been
little opposition TO his nomination. But
about that time he said he would not be a
candidate under any circumstances. He
has more recently said that If nominated he
would refuse to run, and if elected lie
would refuse to take the cath Of Office.
The men who are putting Mr.. Blaine before
the convention under these circumstances
are not bis friends; they are his enemies.
They are placing him before the people in
a light which no public man can stand.
The Democrats regard this so-called Blaine
boom with profound satisfaction. II Blaine
should be nominated they would declare
that he had dishonored himself in accept
ing tile nomination. They would assure
the public that the machine had got control
Of him, and would handle him if he should
be elected. While Blaine might have made
a strong candidate if he had made manly
bid for the nomination. he would be a weak
one if nominated against his Will. Ii Blaine
yields TO the cajoleries OF the big -Four"
people will think there is some truth in the
report that his mental faculties are i'm
paired.