The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-31

Secretary Foster to-day expressed him
self as follows, regarding the political
situation and the attitude of the Presi-
dent Oh the silver question
The present movement favoring
Blaine for the Republican nomination
for President has its inception mainly
with the people whom the President has
disappointed. do not underrate
Blaine's popularity with the masses.
Because the opponents of the President
are unable to unite upon candidate
they now tako advantage Of Blaine's
popularity and are undertaking to force
him to ignore his solemn asseveration
that his name will not go before the
convention. do not believe that
Blaine has given any encouragement to
this proposed use of his name.
ITO nominate Blaine now is 10 run
the risk OF his deolination, which, if it
comes, utterly ruins all hope of party
success. 1t seems to me that an ac-
ceptance by him, after the struggle that
Will have to be made to obtain the nom
ination, will surely make him weak
candidate. The time has been when
Blaine could have had the nomination
by substantial unanimity. The Pres
ldent has not been so DESTROYS for the
nomination as most people think He
has permitted his name to be used be-
cause since Blaine's declination it
seemed to him that he was largely the
choice OF his party friends.
"Can any sane man doubt for a
moment that he can refuse further con-
nf hi 7 IL.
he has majority of the convention.
and hope that Notwithstanding all the
noisy Representation against him to see
him nominated by reclamation. The
only argument used against the Presi-
dent is that he cannot BIO elected, vet
all admit that his administration has
been complete success. He has sue
ceeded in securing the confidence of
hrs countrymen OF all shades Of opinion
to greater extent during his admins
tration than nine-tenths of the Presi-
dents before him.
Every interest, great and small,
feels perfectly safe in his hands. The
public knows that he is honest and
possesses ability OF very high order. He
passed the ordeal OF one campaign,
which began without much enthusiasm,
but which grew day by day. His utter
anceS are always remarkable for good
sense and admirable statement. He
knows that he will strengthen himself,
If that be possible, by every utterance
he makes. We know no will emerge
from the struggle without blunder.
Tell me, If you can, that such q candi-
date is weak in any sense. He has dis
appointed people; and who has not? He
has made mistakes in appointments and
he admits IL; and he hopes to be able to
correct some OF them.
I'm what | have said I have not al
luded tn what appears to he the real
opposition to him by the people Of the
silver States. For some reason that I
can't understand, he is classed by them
as gold bug Unless all men are to be
classed as gold bugs who do not believe
that it is safe policy for this country,
single handed and alone, to adopt the
policy OF free and unlimited coinage of
silver. President Harrison is as far from
favoring the single gold standard as is
Senator Teller. 1t has been part of my
business, under his direction, for more
than one year, to do the preliminary
work of arranging for the international
conference on the sui ject of silver. be-
lleving that through 1t the troublesome
question will be settled to the Satisfac-
ton of all concerned.
81 quote the following from an utter
ance OF his in the correspondence relat-
ing to this subject. 1t is the opinion
OF the President, and as he believes OF
the people OF the United States with
singular unanimity, that the full use Of
silver, as coin metal upon ratio to
gold to be fixed by an agreement be-
tween the great commercial nations Of
the world would very highly promote
the prosperity of all nations and OF all
classes of people,
This is but a sample of the many
utterance of his of like import. How
can the charge that he is gold bug
be made in the face OF his oft declared
position in accord with the one just
quoted?"
Firebug Lynched.