Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-03-26
BLAINE AND HARRISON.
T. c. CRAWFORD TELLS WHY THE
SECRETARY LEFT THE CABINET.
Some Curious Inside HISTORIAN Inter-
esting story-Nfrs. Blaine's Remark
able Interview with the President
Open Declaration of War
to His Face.

At the time Mr.. Blaine retired from the
Harrison administration reports were cir
cula ted that family affairs were a deter
mining factor in the severance of his rela-
tons with the president. Now, II. G.
Crawford comes forward with an elaborate
story in Leslie's Weekly, in which the
declaration Is made that Mrs. Blaine
forced Mr.. Blaine to leave the state de-
partment because President Harrison re-
fused to jump her son-h-law, Col Cop
pinser, over the heads of 80 other Of
ficers and make him q brigadier-g general
in the regular army.
= There have been hints more or less OBJ
scure, pointing to this condition of affairs,
but Mr.. Crawford now, for the first time,
comes forward and tolls what purports to
be the story in all It's details The domin-
ating influence of the Blaine household,
he tolls u.s. was feminine. Mr.. Blaine's
life was spent mainly in the society and
companionship of women. lie was never
a member of any club, and when not oc-
cupied with some public or private engage
ment. was always to be found at home,
where women predominant and rule.
AS is well known Mrs. Blaine is a re-
markable woman both in character and in
tellectual attainments. She has great
strength of will and when opposed a fiery,
resolute temper. 1t was always said that
her undaunted spirit and ambition pushed
Mr.. Blaine forward when he might have
life.
Mrs. Blaine was very anxious to have
Col Coppinger promoted. The matter was
discussed between the president and the
secretary of state, but the president could
not see his ~ay toward taking such action,
without violating presidents quite as
strong as the laws. This difficulty was
conceded by Mr. Blaine, but Mrs. Blaine
was not so considerate The day follow
ing the presidents final decision, Mrs.
Blaine called at the White House. Mr..
Crawford continues:
This interview between Mrs. Blaine and
the president was the beginning of the
Blaine campaign. The interview was re-
markable in many ways. No president
was ever so openly defied to his face. All
courtesy due to the presidents high Of
flee was omitted. First, Mrs. Blaine en-
tered one of the lower reception rooms
of the White House and asked that the
president should come down from his Of
flee to see her. This request, remarkable
from the standpoint of etiquette, was ac-
coded to by the president. When he
descended and entered the room, Mrs
Blaine at once opened the conversation
by demanding imperousy that the presi-
dent should recede from his decision in the
Coppinger case,
1.-THE president betrayed no impatience
or temper at this request notwithstand.
ing the manner in which the request was
plain his attitude. He had repeatedly
gone over the case with Mr.. Blaine. II
was not necessary to repeat his reasons
to Mrs. Blaine. Her fiery mood was not
one appreciative of the cold logic of the
situation. The presidents frmness ant
calmness did not have a quieting effect
upon Mrs. Blaine. She now turned upor
him and charged him directly with un'
kindness to her family, cruelty in his
former lack of consideration for the am
biton of her dead son, Walker and Will
general ingrattude to Mr.. Blaine, whose
influence had placed him where he was
THE president did not vince under this
fierce attack. At the close of the fiery adj
dress of Mrs. Blaine, she announced tc
the president that she should defeat him
for his denomination and that she would
force Mr.. Blaine to run. This dramatic
announcement was followed by Mrs
Blaine herself closing the interview, agar
In defiance of White House etiquette, ant
then abruptly leaving the room"
From that moment Mr.. Blaine was II
the field, although he himself did not
apparently understand that he was &c
be forced to run. ut was one OF Mr.
Blaine's peculiarities," says Mr. Craw.
ford, Ito be Influenced to an extraordinary
degree by his surroundings. This was
owing to his sensitive temperament. lie
could be depressed or made buoyant by thu
mere influence or will of those about him
1t need not be supposed that Mr.. Blaine
was dominated by his wife in any way
that would be apparent to the careless
observer. Mrs Blaine was very diplomat.
ic in her management. Her influence was
so great, however that Mr.. Blaine never
in his whole history took an important
step without her approval and support
when she declared war on the presi
dent to his face, it was only question OF
short time when Mr.. Blaine would have
to part company with Mr.. Harrison Mr.
Blaine was probably not aware of this
when he went to New York to meet GER
tain friends. There the strong, resolutC
mind of Mrs. Blaine asserted itself Sh,
told all of the anti-IIarrison leaders who
called to go ahead and use Mr. Blaine's
name. She gave every assurance thai
there would be no more letters of declina
ton from him. 1t was what she said thai
gave Mr. Platt and his associates conf
dence that Mr., Blaine would stand. TIL,
latitude was indirectly coerced into
negative attitude. The attitude was on,
that was sure to come later.
1t Is due to Mr., Blaine to say that he
was thoroughly embarrassed from the
first by this new situation. He was sin,
cere In his Withdrawal. He was too good
politician not to know the bad impress
sion that would be made by any elev.
enth-hour candidacy He even rebellet
and refused to become a candidate. Then
the domestic diplomats of the Blaine
family said to him that he need do moth
ing; the demand for him throughout tn,
country was so great that the convention
woud unanimously come to him unless
he directly forbade it. He owed it TO his
family and to himself not to refuse.
He had withdrawn in good faith ant
had so informed Mr.. Depew The agi
tators, who called at the Fifth Avenu,
Hotel did not succeed in getting Mr. Blain,
TO say that he would be a candidate AL
that they did succeed in was to obtai,
from Mrs. Blaine assurances that sh,
would see that no more letters should BIZ
written, and she also gave the leadin.
opponents of Mr.. Harrison to UNDERSTAND
that If Mr. Blaine was nominated he
would accept.
MIR. Blaine himself never affirmed tC
any one who has appeared upon the sur
face what he would do or would not do
He was Kept In negative attitude -
II he had been nominated undoubtedN
the same influences which kept him fl
that position would have made him &C
cept the nomination
The situation which followed was n,
unfortunate as anything that could hav,
been devised by Mr.. Blaine's most Wig
orous enemies. The campaign from tn,
start was foreordained to fall Its sol,
reason was a personal quarrel, and III
sole strength was in union with or
tain opposing elements In the party.
II MT. Blaine had given the real rec
sons to the public or to the president ~
would probably have said in his lettoS