The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-28

possible means within the line OF legitl-
mate journalism, have kept a most watch
full eve OF every movement without (aud,
as far as possible, within) the now famous
Red House." where the distinguished
statesman breathed his last Naturally
enough there has been a disposition, both
on the part of he family and the attend
ing physicians, to either conceal or dlstort
in some way the real conditions existing
in the Blaine mansion: but from time 10
time accurate Information as TO M:
BlaiHe's condition has been obtained
and faithfully reported. 1t is quite safe TO
say that there are few IL indeed any, jour
nalistic experiences since General Grants
Illness which could furnish more thor
oueh example of watching and waiting
than has the case of Mr.. Blaine. Every
element of discomfort-rain, snow, sleet
and frost-has been factor in the line OF
duty of the reporters who have uoted the
illness at the Blaine residence Tor weeks
past.
THE MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2z-A prominent
Republican who called on Mir. Blaine about
a year ago said today: 81 asked him if he
was going TO be a candidate for the presi-
dency He answered: No, sir; l cannot
entertain the thought for moment. 1t
would kill me sure, and know it, and
do not believe that have a friend on earth
who would ask me to be candidate if lie
knew the state Of my health Mr.. Blaine
added: 1 am going 10 write letter Oh the
subject
After he had written the letter an
nouncing that he would not be can
didate for the Republican nomination, he
was waited upon by friends and urged TO
reconsider his action. 1t was represented
to Mr. Blaine, who was then i'll, that the
campaign would be so easy for MIN as TO
involve no physical or mental exhaustion,
and that the result would De his TIL
umphant election.
with an air of dependency the sick
man replied that he was satisfied that ne
could not live through a heated political
campaign, and that, if he should, the har-
rassments of the presidential Office would
surely terminate his life within six months
after he took his seat. He intended (and
this statement is significant in view OF
subsequent events) to resign the office OF
secretary of state in the early summer and
retire TO his Maine home and spend his re-
naming days in quiet literary work"
Another gentleman Intimately assoclat-
ed with Mr.. Blaine said: "At u O'Clock
on the day Mr.. Baine's resignation was
given out he had no idea of reSlgnIng from
the cabinet. At that hour be went home
and found that some one had marked
number Of interviews, which had been
telegraphed from Minneapolis and printed
in several papers They accused Mr..
Blaine with betraying the president and
with using his place IN the cabinet AS a
cover for a conspiracy TO defeat the presl-
dent and secure the nomination. The in
terviews wound up by declaring that If
Mr.. Blaine were an honorable man he
would have resigned from the cabinet.
Under the heat Of the indignation over the
interviews, Nh Blaine wrote his reslgna
ton. He has since told friends that there
We're never but two occasions of difference
between himself and the president, and
that they were fully explained and salts
faCtorily settled.