Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-11
REGRET FOR BLAINE
The Prevailing Sentiment
Among the Republicans
at Washington.
CAUSES OF HIS DEFEAT.
His Resignation at Such a Time
Blamed as Political Suicide.
HARRIS0N'S VICTORY A BIG ONE
When He Had. Such Unusual Odds to Fight
and Yet Pulled Out.
THE H00D00 ON THE BLAINE MANSION
CAUSES OF HIS DEFEAT.
HARRISON'S VICTORY A BIG ONE
When He had. Such Unusual Odds to Fight
and Yet Pulled Out.
THE HOODOO ON THE BLAINE MANSION
ESPECIAL TELEGRAPHIc LETTER.
BUREAU OF THE DISPATCH,
WASHINGTON, D, O.. June Il

|
tinguished political corpses made with on,
blow of the Ak" was the remark of Re
publican Representative this afternoon as
the bulletin was read In the House an
nouncing the triumphant nomination ol
Harrison at Minneapolis on the first
ballot, with we'll onto 100 votes
to spare. "Look at them" he
continued, ''frst, the Plumed Knight lies
lifeless upon his bier, after an exciting,
ftful political career such as comes to few
| men. Stretched beside him are Platt, Quay,
Clarkson, Dudley, Warner Miller, Alger,
Foraker and host of lesser lights, and even
Mckinley, the young Napoleon of protec-
tlon, makes narrow escape on account OF
permitting the use of his name in the futile
effort to defeat Harrison
1t is agreed:supo all sides that the victory
is a most remarkable one. Notwithstand-
ing the apparent test vote of last night on
the report of the Committee on Credentials,
it could scarcely be believed here to-day
that Harrison could win. As the balloting
began this afternoon sat in the House be-
side that sterling Republican and Harrison
man Hon. j. D. Taylor of Ohio, and even at
so late an hour that gentleman said he did
not see how such experienced and skillful
organizers as Platt and Quay and Clarkson
could be beaten.
What Caused BIaine's Defeat.
Everyone admitted the strength of Har-
rison, and recognized the wonderful steadi-
ness of his lines all through the battle, but
everyone hoped or feared that at the last
moment the great strategists who won the
victory for Harrison in 1888 would come in
with some grand coup, some sort of charge
or flank movement not suspected, and
wrest victory from the almost evident
victora
"what did it?" is the general question,
and the answer is usually in accord with the
sympathies of the person questioned. First
and foremost Harrison's worst enemies con-
TESS that his strong and pure administration
(pure except for the fact that he has
kept some persons in high Office
against whom serious charges have been
madel was tower Of strength to him. With
this also came the force Of the working pol
iticians who hold office by his gilt. These
formed solid nucleus around which to
marshal all the Presidents friends not in
office, those delegations or individual dele
gates instructed for him, and full of sincere
admiration for him, and supporting him be.
cause of his digniied and confident conduct
of his Office. These are the reasons given
ing. The President was their general, and
all they had to do was to follow him.
No Tool Wanted by Anybody.
On the other hand, there was the disorran-
izing fact, well-nigh fatal Of itself, that the
opposition originated among offended lead
ers, and that the great name of Blaine was
simply used to conjure with. Granted all his
popularity, even his most ardent devotees
did not like to think that the beginning of
his candidacy, after he had announced him.
self as out of the field, was arranged in the
councils Of a few brilliant political man.
ayers who fixed upon him to do the work of
slanghtering Harrison. This sent an icy
chill to the marrow of the Blaine movement
in its inception, and the great wonder is that
1t developed SO much heat and retained its
fervency to the last.
Add to this fact Blaine's own sad mistake
of retiring from the Cabinet on the eve OF
the convention, while still protesting that
he was not a candidate, giving the President
a parting slap in the face by his note of res
ignation, absolutely insulting in its curt
ness, and thus indirectly but uneQuivocallv
announcing that he would lend hand and
name in every way possible to the defeat of
the man who had him as chief counsellor
for more than three years, and you have the
last and most-to- -be-regretted. reason why
Blaine the giant and his supporting anti
Harrison giants, have gone down in one
awful wreck together.
Blaine's Resignation a Fatal Blow.
Blaine's resignation, in the circumstances
which surrounded it, has caused him such
u. L
have heard a score or eminent Republicans
say to-day that it did him untold injury, not
only as man, but as a candidate, and that
that alone probably cost him the nomina-
tion. 1t was surprise to his warmest
friends. 1t was defiance that was little
less than disgraceful, under the circum-
stances. 1t was his last dramatic coup, at
which the groundlings laughed, but which
brought tears to the eyes of the serious and
thoughtful who saw in It lack of Judgment
which was sure indication of q weakened
mental grasp.
1 have tho most direct information from
Minneapolis that Quay, Clarkson and Platt,
while they made desperate attempts to turn
the resignation to good account, agreed in
their fnnermost councils that the act was a
reckless one and that it added immeasura-
bly, to the difficulty of their task.
The pity that is felt here for Blaine is be-
yond description. 1t is not mere sympathy:
it is a pity that is absolutely painful. On
all sides and from all sorts of people 1t
but always heartfelt. A few malignant
minds in whose memories the stings OF
Blaine's partisanship or opposition still
rankle give vent to feelings Of qualification
though they spoke ill of til mighty dead.
Crushing Blow to a Proud Man.
How crushing the below must be to Blaine
may be easily conceived when it is remem-
bered that the most humiliating emotion a
proud man can invite from his fellow men is
their pity. I saw in the House this after
noon and in the hotels this evening tears in
The eyes OF many a strong man, not on &C.
count of the defeat of Blaine, but on account |
2f the manner or his taking off from public |
life. No one thinks he will ever be heard |
from again, In an official capacity, in the
of the nation. Had he not given |
way to last ambition to try once more to |
catch that ignus fatuus which has lured so |
many great men to destruction he might |
nave remained peacefully in his high office |
Until he retired with his chief
Such retirement would not have been |
Blaine-like, but it would have finely rounded
'ut his career, and would have lett no cloud
Upon his passing away. As it is the only
lie he has known Is crushed out of him by |
,ity that is more insufferable than scor n.
No one need say that Quay and Patt ana
Ilarkson led Blaine to his destruction,
happen to know from the best authority
hat Blaine was most willing co-partner
With those eminent "conspirators. ~ At the
irst wink ne nodded. Possibly he may have
,een urged on by the snubs that had been
leaped on him by members of the admins
ration, but certainly he cannot pose, and
lis friends cannot pose him, as great
nan who has been made a victim OF
he deceptive Wills Of wicked,
Never to Sec Washington Again.
To do that would be to place Blaine on a
lane of weakness lower than would be
redited by his worst enemy. With such
rental eyes as he now possesses he went
1to the movement for his nomination with
hose eyes wide open. However all this
oes not change the pathos OF his political
1t is safe to say that he will
ever again set his foot in Washington His
,-day's work upon his health of body and
lind, and predict that he will either be. |
ome sort Of recluse in his Maine home, or