Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-02-18
Mr.. BLAINE's WITHDRAWAL.
Personal Ambition subjugated by q Desire
to Live While Longer.

Washington correspondent Chicago
Inter Ocean: Mr.. Blaine has written
a letter to Chairman Clarkson, of the
Republican National Committee, an
announcing that he is not a candidate
for the Presidency, and that his name
will not go before the Republican Ma.
tional Convention.
The expected has happened.
1t was stated few days since in this
correspondence that Mr.. Blaine had
intimated to a friend who had con-
versed with him on the subject that
he would not be a candidate. This
was probably the first announcement
that he made to any one that his
friends would not be permitted to
present his name to the convention.
In the same conversation Mr.. Blaine
said to the friend:
81 would rather live than be Presi-
dent"
That statement is q very compre-
hensive one. 1t had but one meaning
to the gentleman to whom it was
addressed. That meaning was Secre-
tary Blaine did not think mis- physical
condition is such as to warrant him
in taking the great risk of the strain
OF q presidential campaign, and that
if he should undertake it his life might
be the forfeit.
| That is the impression which has
been gained by a great many who are
his friends who have made very differ
ent statements, however, as to his
physical condition. 1t has been very
evident to those who have closely
watched Mr.. Blame for the last two
years that his strength has been failing,
and that it would be hazardous for
him to accept the nomination.
1t has, of course, been a terrible
trial for Mr.. Blaine when he was as
sured on every hand that the nomina-
tion was in his grasp if he would ac-
cept it, to be confronted with his
physical condition.
The temptation has been tremen-
dous to induce him to take the risk
He has felt and leading Democrats
have assured him that he could be
elected president.
| That would crown his ambition.
1t has been the aspiration of his life.
1t has been the goal toward which his
energies have been directed and for
which the labor of his life has been
largely given.
Mr.. Blaine has been undoubtedly
warned by his physical condition not
to take the risk, to renounce ambition
in that direction, and to endeavor to
close his political career in a station
where the tremendous responsibility
and the racking labor of the presi-
dency would not be imposed upon
him.
| This statement is a very simple one,
and it is quite enough to explain the
appearance of the letter of Mr.. Blaine
to Chairman Clarkson.
| The letter Of Mr.. Blame will call up
a great many of those who have been
his friends TO explain their statements
to Republicans and TO their own con-
sciences in many cases, that Mr.. Blaine
was never better in his life and that
he could accept the burden of a presi-
Dental campaign with as great hope
and buoyancy and vigOr as he might
have done twenty years ago. The
statement must have been false by
very many of those who have made
them. No one who was sincere and
candid could have made them without
some very powerful mental reserva-
tions.
| The excuse for these statements has
been that Mr.. Blaine has very buoyant
days and very respondent days, and
that on the respondent days he is not
vizible to the public. Those who see
him see him only on the buoyant days.
and the statements they bring are
born largely OF the hope that Mr..
Blaine is in them.
Mr.. Blaine himself participates in
that hope and it is on those occasions
when he has felt more certain OF his
strength than at any other time that
he has been almost persuaded that he
might undertake the great burden oi
the presidential campaign.
The spirit OF the letter to MIR. Clark
son would seem to Indicate that it was
written on one OF the days when he
was Respondent. 1t has not the tone
or temper of any public letter which
Mr.. Blaine has ever written.
There may be some who will claim
that the letter still leaves the way
open for Mr. Blaine to accept the prssl
Dental nomination if it should bt
rendered to him by the national con
vention. Mr.. Blaine does not say he
would not accept the nomination
when rendered under such circum
stances. But it would be trifling with
the English language and it would bs
trifiing with Mr.. Blaine's sincerity tC
impute to the letter any statement
other than that Mr.. Blaine's name will
not go before the Republican nominal
ing convention as q candidate Tor th'
presidency.
The sentence, 81 make this an
, nouncement in due season." can only
be fairly interpreted as meaning thai
he makes it in ample time for the Re
publicans OF the country to select
their candidate for the presidency
, without any embarrassment iron
: himself.
cans of the country to express them
selves freely in the selection OF dele
r gates. By an announcement OF thu
kind he stops anyone from chargln,
D that he remained in the field to tn
D last moment in the interest OF an!
: one, and that he thought to use dele
=: gates who might have been chosen 10
e himself to promote the candidacy o
S another.
q The evident purpose of Mr.. Blaine
0 letter, as it is understood here, is t,
v leave the field open in the Republican
Il national convention for any candi
q date. This fact clears the atmos
e phere of a great many rumors whicl
n have been current in the last fe'
is months, notably the one that it wa
IS Mr. Blaine's purpose to remain in tn
l. field till the last moment i'm order t.
n keep other candidatesfrom competin
d for the nomination, and then to exer
,e his influence for the denomination G
It President Harrison in theexpectatio
that if Mr. Harrison should be rs
elected Mr.. Blaine would remain sex
retary of state.