Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-01-01

Beaten In 1876 by convention acci-
dent, discussion At once arose MS TO
whether he would be a candidate again
in 1880. And beaten again In 1850 by
the Grant forces, which stood like a
stone wall till the convention ran away
10 a man who had not been talked
of at all, a genuine Blaine mystery ma
terialized ia the question OF what be
WAS TO do In 1884. Could no win this
time? And after he had been nomina-
ted, could he be elected?
The bitterness OF that campaign will
never be forgotten. There never was
ANYTHING like IL before nor since, and
we all hope never will be, In the history
of American politics. The campaign
warfare Of that year brought ont most
serious personal charge against MIR.
Blaine and his family. II was paraded
ln the newspapers. The country was
divided as TO his guilt or Innocence.
Was ne the worst abused or the most In
sincere OF men? That campaign
brought home to every observer In the
country the saying which had already
become al axiom that wherever
James G.. Blaine was concerned
there was sure to DO a mystery which
all felt they must solve and none
was able to solve. Fate seemed TO con-
spre to emphasize the mystiicstion al
WAYS attendant upon Mr.. Blalne's
public career, for after the election was
over it was several days before the
country knew for certainty whether
Blaine or Cleveland had been elected.
Before this there had been the mys-
terry as to whether he would or would
not be q member OF President Garfeld's
Cabinet, and during his short service In
the Garfield administration the country
was asking itself what Mr.. Blaine was
irving to do with the South American
republics--a question which was not
satisfactorily answered for eight years,
or till after Blaine had again become
Secretary OF State.
Mystery was piled on mystery. The
convention OF 1853 approached, and as
usual there was a burning desire to
know whether or rot Mr.. Blaine would
| take the nomination. This time 1t was
not question whether he could get IT.,
| but II he would take II were 10 offered.
In due time the mystery became almost
painful, when Mr. Blaine endeavored to
set it at rest with positive declinatlon
| over bis signature. But such was the
/ fate OF this most remarkable mana
large part Of the press and public In
sisted that he did not mean what he had
| said. and that he must 90 nominated,
declination or no declination. He did
come within an ace of having the prize
! thrn,t upon him, and was himself the
only man who could have defeated him
| self.
Would Mr.. Blaine 90 into the Harri-
son cabinet? For months this was the
particular form OF Blaine mystery
| which had the country stirred from top
10 bottom. And when this had been de-
clded the form was varied a little. and
II hecame, was 1t true that Dir. Blaine
was about to resign? A hundred times
within three years and 8 half Washing
ton newspaper correspondents were
seut Iying the capital over TO run down
one or another Of these mystifyiDg and
! harassing rumors.
What was Mr.. Blaine trying TO do In
the Pan-American business? Was Dir.
Blaine opposed TO the Mckinley bill,
and did be smash his hat In Senate
committee room? Did be and the Pres
ident nearly quarrel about the Gillian
case? What was Mr.. Blalne's attitude
| in that international episode? Was II
| Blaine or Harrison who carried on the
correspondence with Italy over the
New Orlsans affair? And after time
the old, old mystery showed its grizzly
head again. Public men and newspaper
men were set wild with curiosity and
disturbing uncertainty rs 70 whether
Blaine would accept Presidentia
nominetlon.
For months and months this mystery
stalked up and down, refusing TO be
satisfied. At length came the letter Of
last February declining, and following
| IL, of course, endless discussion OF IT.
sincerity aud effect; then the conyen
| ton, the effort to nominate Blaine, the
| discussion Of bis willingness and cogni
rance, the resignation from she Cabinet
| and defeat AZ the roll CALI
Added to al these pm 70 and 20 iii
Zeal mysteries has been = years Ihs
MASTERY Of Mr. BIalno IL VA