The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-09
Won't Relieve 1t.

1t is not strange that the friends OF
Mr.. Blaine are disappointed. They
hoped that he would permit himself to
be nominated, for in him they recog-
nize the first American statesman OF
the day, and this was thought to be a
good time for him. The earnest desire
for his nomination does not, however,
warrant the construction put on his
letter by some OF his supporters. For
example, note this very free interpreta
ton OF the text by the PittsburS Com
mercial Gazette:
Those who have believed that Mr.. Blaine,
while in no sense n candidate rs seeking the
Office, would not refuse to accept Il nomination
II II came us the practically unanimous call OF
the party. will see nothing In this letter to
change their belief. Note the language. He
says he Is not IL candidate md that his name
will not go before the convention. Very true.
He declares in'etGct that he does not seek the
nomination and that no one will be authorized
to present his name to the convention. That is
what his friends have believed all along But
suppose when the name OF California is called in
the national convention her delegates, without
my. formal presentation OF the name, begin
voting for Mr. Blaine, and that other states fall
in !incan the convention nominatcs him with
nhurrah Is there n man who would feel that
he could refuse such n call MS TINT?
E. Unless Mr. BlnnC's health should forbid. that
is Just about what Is likely to happen AT Mime
apols. lIeEh has spoken. and neither President
4 Harrison nor any other candidate can complain
that he has not Ind u mir field and ample time
10 organize his candidacy. No further word Is
/ likely 10 come from Mr.. Blaine, but the general
verdict viii he that, while he Is not seeking the
Office. the Office will seek him, that he will be
nominated with substantial unanlmty and
elected because OF his strength with the people
and because, rs he well snys in his letter, 1.-The
industrial md financial policies OF the govern
ment are NJ stake"
This is direct challenge OF Mr..
Blaine's sincerity. It's point-blank
accusation that he is paltering with his
party. This he has never done. Why
should he do it now? Ii he desired the
nomination he did not have to scheme
for it. The party was thrusting it at
him. Those friends OF his vino now
pay him the compliment to take him at
his word would have been for him to
the last. He did not even have to say
that he would accept the nomination.
The prize so coveted by other men
would have been his. He had only to
do nothing and to say nothing.
In this matter Mr.. Blame appears be-
fore his party in no new and untried
situation. lie stands now where he
did in 1883. Tho party desired above
MI things to nominate him. In his
Florence letter he said no. Then came
MS reality tho very state OF affairs
which the Commercial Gazette. now sets
up rs something that is likely to happen
when tho name OF California is called in
the convention.
Before the convention Of 1855 was
called to order, and after, Mr.. Blaine was
urged by telegraph to permit thcuse OF
his name. He refused. Although he
was not placed in nomination the last.
ditch Californians who had been in
sistinS that he should DO nominated in
spite OF his refusal, began voting for
Blaine in the hope OF stampeding the
convention to him. Better counscls
prevailed among Mr.. Bainc's best
friends. That great convention refused
TO say it did not believe tho man who
was its first choice for the Presidency.
AS it was with the Chicago convention
/. in 1855 so it will be with tho Minneap:
oils convention in 1892.
Mote the language OF his letter." says
the Commercial Gazette, This is precise
" what was done in every newspaper
!. office in the country before tho letter
was put in print. Every line, ever!
word, was weighed. When the returns
are in more fully we think it will be
seen that tho great majority OF the
newspapers OF tho country have read
Z the letter rs the lNrELLlGEScER has and
accepted it rs a final and conclusive
dcclination which does not leave the
convention at liberty to nominate Mr.
Blaine.
Ii those who believed that MIR. Blaine