Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-28


a. many soses hal been cas-
for each Presidential ciecsoi
Tor member Of Congress elected in the South
- for each elected in the. North. This
spsech hail startling effect, and attracted
un,sersai attention. though Mr.. Blaine had
yset forth essentially the same thing in his
fspcech in cengrcss as long before as the
Huh Of December, 1873, when he said :
X.sThe issue raised before the country is not
ke.se of mere sentiment for the rights Of the
saegro, though far distant be the day when
1.-The rights Of any American citisen, however
thsars OF however poor, shall form
the mere dust o. the hailets IN any eonsro-
kversy. This sssre has taken far
wider range, one of porsefi;oas n-ssu',asle.
and that Is, whether the white yotet o. she
North shall BE- equal 10 the white voter "
,hc South in shaping the policy anil fixing
fthe destiny of this country; or, whether,
Ito put ii still more boldly, the white man
who fought la the ranks Of the union army
shail have as weigi,y AMI influential a vote
in the government Of the republic as the
white man who fought in the ranks
qf the rebel army. In
sossa and Wisconsin Il takes
1852 900 white population to send repre-
sentative TO Congress bat tn South Caro-
lima, Mississippi and foa;sisns every co.
1000 white people send Representative,
Mr.. Blaine took an active part IN the
Maine canvass of isS6, opening ii the ssth
of August, in n speech at Sehase Lake de-
voted chiefly to the questions of the fish
eries. the tariff. AMI the 'rhini Party pro-
hibition movement. The fishery con-
troversy had acquired renewed in-
terest aud importance from re-
cent seizures of American fishing
vessels on the Canadian coast and MIR.
Elaine reviewed its history at length and
SHARPLY criticised the attitude AMI action Of
1 the administration. lie PRESCRIBED the issue
yof protection agsins, free trade ~ the fore
most one between the two parties aal with
regard TO prohibition, insisted that there
was no warrant or reason for third party
lin Maine, because the Republican party had
enacted and enforced prolihiIorN law
His succeeding speeches continued through
out the canvass followed the same line.
During iss1 Mr.. Blaine went abroad
with meinsers .f his family to enjoy the
rest and recreation of Neropcan travel. Ills
khold upon the hearts of his eot.r.ry men was
! in nowise weakened. but rather strength
4ened by his absence. II became eyide-'
early in iSss that he would he the practi-
kcaiiy unanimous choice Of his party when
1.-THE national convention assembled. II was
Therefore severe and unexpected disap-,
6pointment to his adhcrents when on the
: 18th day of February, Hon. Is. +. Jones,
Echsirman of the national committee, made,
krqblic letter written by Mr.,
Si;ia,Hs a, Florence, Italy, under
Sdate of Jan. 3D. positively stating that his
Sname would mot be prcsc ell TO the national
convention called to assemble II. Chicago,
This decision evoked storm of protests
firom Republicans all over the length and
tbreadth of the land. Every possible effort
was made to induce Mr.. Blaine to recon
slider it, but in vain. Finding that his
Friends were determined TO disregard his
Expressed wishes and give him the nomina-
Elton. he wrote second letter from Paris,
under date of MAY II, To Hon. Whitelaw
I Reid, editor of the New York Tribune. in
" hich he said "Sinee my return TO Paris
Sfrom Southern Italy, oil the sth inst, !
3have learned, what | did not before be-
i lievc, that my name may yet
i he presented to the national c0nvcn-
Ztion as candidate for the
Presidential nomination of the Republican
party The single phrase of my letter of
January 25th from Florence, which was as
decisive as anything | hal the personal
power to decide, has been treated by many
= of nv most valued friends us not absolute
= " conclusive in ultimate and possible con
tingrncies. On the other hand my friends,
equally devoted AMI disintcrcsted. have
construed my letter as it should be con-
strued, to be an unconditional Withholding
of my name from the national convention
They have, in consequence, given their
support to eminent gentlemen who are can
dilates for the Chicago nomination. some
xof whom | am sure, would not have con
scented 10 have assumed TINT position If j
had desired to represent the party in the
Presideniial contest of 1883. If should
now by speech or by sileiicr, by commits
sion or omission. permit my name
lin any event 10 come before
the con,entionI should incur the reproach
of being uucandiI with those who have nj.
ways been candid with me, speak there
fore, because | am not willing to remain in
"a doubtful attitude" Notwithstanding the
explicitness of this letter the friends OF
Mr. Blaine would not relingnish the hope
E,haf. il the nomination came TO him ny ac'
y Exclamation, and it were made apparent 10
him that party success was dependent upon
his acceptance of a nomination thus prof
fered, he would consent To again
be the Republican standard bearer.
They went to the convention
with this purpose and would npdoubtcdl,
have been successful in eiIeciiug then
wishes bu, for the receipt from Mr.. Blaine
of the following cablcgrams which wer'
read to the convention by Congressman
Ia ,t,., Main. i.
II earnestly request my friends TO re
spcct my Paris letter
Ii Signed JAWS G.. BLAl>E.
II think | have . right to ask my fri, nd
to respect my wishes aud refrain from voi
ing for me-
Signed JAMrs G. BL,IsI.
This removed Mr.. Blainc's name entircI,
from the consideration of the convention
mi resulted on the third succeeding ballot
n the nominate on Of Benjamin Harrison
by a decisive majority.
Mr.. Blaine returned from Europe on tn,
l0,h of August and was given such an oya
ion As has never been accorded any otte
private citizen of our Republic since tn
Foundation of our government His jo0ree,
o his house in Augusta was one CONTINUED
trinmph, the people giving him continue
ovalions all along the way. His popular
tY was never greater or more appar
mt than when, after a years absence
he returned again to- old familiar scene
imi the l,laudiss Of his counirymen. III
home coming at Augusta WAS the orcasio
If the greatest civic demonstration eve
seen in Maine The brilIiauey of the Ion
procession tina, escorted him ami the wei
coming cheers ot lis fellow citizens, to th
family residence On State street, will no
soon he forgotten by those who witnessed II
Mr.. Bitne's arrival home infused mes
-trt Myth apI hope into the Republican car
suss. " hieh had previously languislted, an
FRO n ,bst day forth all doubts vanished and
sill' uui,ed ranks. the party moved forwar
o the decisive victory which crowned tn
Nov, ,Bber election.
&r. Elaine immediately entered, vii
.l1arseseristic energy, upon the work of III
campaign. On the 18th of August he ~
,rsssei a mammoth mass meeting ut Por
'&isnl. in which he sharply arrsigneJ ibe
Sl,iop of The Democratic party 10 %
regulation of the fisheries treat
GFsiI..winz this. b. delivered = seFie
# able and convincing speeches a, Water
vile, Lewiston. Bangor, Calais, and Eii
softh. The e;lesrness AMI irresistible log
of these addresses had grra, effe'
tps,n ilse thinking yoter- Of the stat
md the whole country. When II
news vent flashing over the wires tn
daine lmd rolled up Republican, msjefii
~ 1000 u pnbiiesns everywhere rcgars
I'd ii powerful pointer to nstion'
.ietory in November. The feeling 81 coi
idence thus engendere,I diI very m0sb I
ging ahont the final result. As the can
. aGxn ativaurs1 the cali for Mr. Blaif