The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-28
A Curious Feature Of Blsine's Boom.

/ A Curious Feature Of Blsine's Boom.
About the most remarkable thing in con-
nection with enthusiasm in behalf Of Mr..
| Blaine that has cropped out within the last
few weeks IS the refusal Of either the
! political friends or enemies OF Mr.. Blaine to
give him credit for sincerity. Nobody
seems to believe anything he says, and,
curiously enough. this condition of affairs
! does not excite comment.
| In his letter to Chairman Clarkson Mr..
! Blaine said his name would not be presented
TO the Minneapolis convention. Was Mr.
Blaine sincere when he wrote that letteri
| II so, what's the use of talking
about nominating himl Those who
insist that be will be nominated and
will accept the nomination do not give
him credit for sincerity. They virtually
say he is tricky politician, and that his
letter was so worded that while it led the
country to believe he was out of the presi-
dental contest, it left the way open for him
to accept the nomination without exposing
himself to the charge Of having played
double part.
When be arrived in New York the other
day he received the reporters of all the
leading papers and assured them that his
visit had no connection with politics what
ever; that his purpose was to consult an
oculist and to see his granddaughter. The
next day some of his closest friends told the
reporters that assurances had been received
from him since his arrival in New York
that be would accept the nomination If it
were offered him. II the New York papers
are to be believed he has been consulting
with his New Y ork friends with respect to the
nomination ever since he has been in that
city.
But, as a matter Of fact, do not Mr..
Blaine's friends do him an injustice In say
ing that he is prepared to disregard his let
ter to Chairman Clarkson, and that he will
accept the nomination if the opportunity to
do so upon his own terms is offered him?
A good many severe things
have been said about him, but |
If he were as untruthful as his friends |
try to make out he is, he could not have re-
tanned 50 long the remarkable hold he has |
upon his party.
The probability Is that he has no inten- |
ton of accepting the nomination under any |
circumstances. There was the same sort of |
talk in 1888 with respect to his nomination |
that is now heard. aud yet at the last |
moment he persisted In his refusal to be
candidate and threw his influence to Gen.
Harrison.
1t Is believed now that he Is not friendly |
to Gen. Harrison. Gen. Harrison, however, |
has not said he Is not, and Mr.. Blaine has |
given no one authority to quote him on that |
subject 1t is true he has said nothing in |
Gen. Harrison's behalf, although he is the |
leading member of the cabinet; but may it |
not be the wiser course for him to say moth |
ing about Gen. Harrison as a candidate |
until he can do 80 with helpful effect? |
If he should express himself in |
favor of Gen. Harrison now he |
would make an opening for
number of aspirants for the nomination |
By the course he is pursuing he makes it
impossible for other candidates to get fol- |
lowing AS far as the public knows he is |
much more likely 60 be helping Gen. Harri- |
son than seeking the nomination himself.