Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-02-09
THE BLAINE LETTER.
" It is Unsatisfactory to
the Administration.
HE DEFINES HIS POSITION.
His Motives Purely Patriotic-News-
paper Theories Knocked Out.


ter to Clarkson Is still the theme Of much
comment aihong politicians and officials
In Washington. The fact that it makes
ne allusion to President Harrison and the
administration with which he Is so closely
identified, and simply treats the subject
with the utinsst generality, In looked
uDou as significant. IL IL not believed to
b hnal He says he is not q candidate
He dees not say that under no circum-
stances will he accept the nomination II
offered The letter which he wrote In
1858, which was more effective than this,
did not settle the matter. and at one time
hs was almost persuaded TO accept tho
nomination after IL was written. A curl
Gus feature Of the letter to his friends is
that does not give the reason for his ac-
ton.
It's contents are not altogether satisfac-
tory to the administration, and Is regarded
~ capable Of construction to suit circum-
stances. The announcement at this time,
Of his withdrawal, IL is charged, Is to ena-
ble the opponents Of Harrison to concen-
trats their forces upon a new candidate.
How that the field Is open there are sew
eral that will come to the front. IL IL ex-
pected that from this time forward there
will be desperate struggle by the friends
of the different candidates in behalf of
their preferences. Among the names al
ready mentioned In connection with the
presidency are Senator Cullom, Minister
lincoln and Judge Gresham, all from
Illinois; ex-Speaker Reed, Senator Alli-
son, John Sherman and General Alger.
The friends of President Harrison, how
ever, are said to feel no concern whatever,
~ they look upon his denomination, now
that Blaine Is out, as inevitable.
Light on tho Subject.
Fragmentary and incorrect reports OF a
conversation had some time ago between
Secretary Aaine and Colonel Vincent A.
Taylor, member of congress from the
Cleveland district, which throws much
light upon the reasons for the secretary's
letter Of withdrawal having been cir.
lated. Colonel Taylor last night gave to O
United Press reporter the following ac-
count OF the conversation. In answer to q
direct question whether such conversa-
tion actually took place, Colonel Taylor
said:
"Yes. did have a talk with Mr.. Blaine
some two months ago ON the situation re-
garding the coming campaign, and as he has
now arrived at decision there can be
nothing wrong in my giving yos AN nc
count Of what was said by him at that
time, aud as our interview occurred some
two months ago, it will be of more inter
est as tending to show that some 6f the
theories held by some persons had no
foundation In fact refer to one, that
Mr.. Blaine was holding on, so as to pre-
vent others from coming into the field;
and to another, that there was an unfriendly
feeling between himself and the president,
I had said to him at the beginning Of the
talk; L have few things that want to
say to you, and then / wish to add few
words on my own account l added that
had not come TO ask any question, and
that il he did not say anything, certainly
would not be able to tell it,
"He listened until was done, asked me
few questions, and then said: You said
i was not to talk. but there Is no reason
why shouldn't; no reason of secrecy, and
no reason WHY everybody should not know
The Situation as II Is Today.
"'First,' said he, 4 do not want the
nomination. There was time when
did. but that time has passed; next, the
unwritten law OF parties accords to .
faithful servant n denomination, and so,
unless IL be clearly shown that the party
il In danger OF defeat In the coming cam
paign, and that l as candidate would
he the stronger man. 1 would have no right
to be a candidate. no matter IL / wanted
the nomination. rather than not wanting
st.
"Then in few minutes he gave a sum-
mary of tho present situation, referring to
himself only as one of the elements
thereto, and through all ran the thread of
m argument that he should not be a can
didate, and he wound up the interview by
saying; and In addition to all keep In
mind this, that II it be clearly shown me,
or as clearly as anything present can be,
that ought to be a candidate, / have In
myself certain elements regarding my
candidacy which must consider As I
left him, he said: It's great question;
am doing the best can to study IL out,
and when have II settled, l will make
known my decision
II have not met Mr.. Blaine, since nor
have since sought to get from his init
mate friends any pointers as to what his
decision would be. l have simply watched
the course Of events In the light OF what
he said TO me. Therefore have no means
Of knowing what were the governing
factors that brought him to his solution
of this problem; but, because of the fact
that on all hands the question In the time
since our talk has been
what win Blaine Dor
that interview has been many times
brought to my mind, and each time
have heard or read some cruel thrust at
him, or criticism OF his course
II have turned back to what he said and
ran IL over to see IL could find In IL any
thing which could be construed in any
such way. or discover a motive such as as
cribed to him. But as the days have gone
by. the words he said have grown on me,
and am now, and shall be in the future,
ono Of those who believe that Mr.. Blaine
has. In his action, been aetuatcd by mo-
tives Of the highest patriotism, only desir-
ing. so far as his health would permit. to
do the best thing for his people and party,
regardless OF himself"
County Ennda Included.