The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-11
BLAINE IN EARNEST.
Tho Roasons Which Moved Him to
Withdraw His Namo,
HIS PATRIOTISM AND MANHOOD.

His PATRIOTISM and MANHOOD.
IIe Believes Observation-Disclosures al.
mlnlstration Deserves Approval by
Observation-Disclosures, iIc Fears Ills
Health Would Not Stand tho Strain
Of tho Campaign..Gcncrnl Regret
Among Ills Friends.
WAsuISGToS, Feb. lO.--Tho CORES,
pondcnt OF tho New York Press tclc.
graphs his paper as follows;
There arc two distinct views OF the
meaning and the effect OF Secretary
Blaino's letter to Chairman Clarkson
into which tho comments Of members
OF Congress shape themselves. 1t goes
without saying that Mr.. Blaine's letter
is the principal topic Of conversation at
tho capitol. One very large class Of
Republicans, including those who have
all along been outspokcn in their belief
that President Harrison's administra-
ton had been OF such character as 10
give him n distinct claim upon his
party for denomination and upon the
country for another term, iclt no hes
itancy in expressing their opinion.
That opinion WAS in every case in tho
general effect that Secretary Bla'no's
letter, while it would be regretted by
very largo element, il not by q majority
fthc Republicans OF tho country, madO
the nomination OF President Harrison
inevitable.
sat THE LETTER IS FINAL
On tho other hand, there is manifest
among. Republicans who arc not op.
posed to President Harrison, but WHO
have SO long chorishcda personal aifec-,
ton and political allegiance to tho
great statesman from Name rs 10 find
italmost impossible TO surrender their
dream OF seeing him in the White
House, an unwil!ngncss 10 accept his
letter 10 General Clarl;son as. an abso-
Lutte and final ond 10 Secretary Blaine as,
Presidential possibility. 1t is this
spirit oiunwilIingncs3 among some OF
Mr.. Blainc's devoted admirers to take
him athis word that gives color to the
snecring comments OF lugwumps and
Democrats 10 the effect that Mr.. Blaine
is.fot sincere, and that his letter is only
strategic move upon the political
chess board, designed to mask his
real Intentions.
p TRIED ny rift FLORENCE LETTER.
Friends OF Mr.. Blaine 10 not say this.
Even out and out Democrats are frank
enough and Honest enough to accept
the language OF his letter for what it
stands, But the half hearted AMI dys-
peptic clement, which carries OH gucr-
rilla warfare between the lines OF the
two great parties, displays 4 disposition
TO question Dir. Blaine's sincerity and
to-sug2cst that there is moro between
the lines, OF lbs letter than appears in
the words themselves. They compare
his letter to General Clarkson with his
letter written from Florence to Chair
man Jones in 1855, and point out that
even then Mr.. Blaine said, that his
name would not be presented to the ma
tivnal convention.
They predict that 1892 will be much
like 1883, when. despite his Florence
letter, Mr., B|nine's name was presented
to the convention and kept Professionally
beforelt ior week. and only with
drawn after the imperative cablegram
from himrhad been received and read
to the convention. They quote Mr.
Blainc's language: ~ am not candi
date for the:PresiGency, and my name
wilt not 50 before the Republican Ma
tional Convention for the nomination."
and say the words are no more decisive
than the Florence letter and show in no
sense any change in the attitude which
he has maintained for the past two
years OF not, being "a candidate" in thc
sense OF actively seeking the nomina,
ton.
Mr.. BLA1NE's REASON.
4 learned from friends OF Mr.. Blaine
who have known for some time, in
general way,of his determination to au-
nouncp in some fitting form that he
would.not be candidate for the Presi-
dcnCy, the reasons which compelled
him to this conclusion. Two processes
OF reasoning led him, despite the per-
suasion, and even entreaties OF some OF
his friends, to his decision. The first
and most potent was the state OF his
health.
It is safe to say that ever since he re-
turned from Bar Harbor to Washington
Secretary Blaine has been convinced in
his own mind that it would be literally
suicidal for. him to undertake the labors
Of campaign which would require tho
candidate to devote all his personal
energies to the fight in ut least the two
states OF New York and Indiana, not to
speak OF the laborious duties OF the
Presidential Office itself ii the campaign
should be successful. In this conviction
Mr.. Blainc;was sustained by the men,
bers OF his own family.
lIARRIsoN's SPLENDID ADMINISTRATION.
The second process OF reasoning
whichlcd Mr.. Blaine 10 withdraw was
his own honest and cordial recognition,
which only reflects honor, his friends
say, upon his own mind and heart, that
the administration OF President Harri-
son has been OF character which July
entitled the President to denomination
and reelection. EIe has guided tue
affairs OF tho country with firm and
conservative hand through threat
cncd financial crisis, at time when
the least faltering OF tho hand at the
helm might have prccipitated disaster;
he had entered cordially and master
fully upon the administration OF the
reciprocity clause OF tho Mckinley law