Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1888 — MR. BLAINE’S LETTER. [ARTICLE]

MR. BLAINE’S LETTER.

Developments Tending to Prove That it Was Written bast Autumn. Albany letter to Indianapolis Journal. . Several weeks before Mr. Blaine’s letter declining to allow hia name to be presented to the Republican national convention was published in the newspapers, the fact of its existence was known to the leading Republican politicians of this State, lhe date of the letter as printed is January 25, and the place of writing is given as Florence, The letter was written some time before January 25. It was known by many leading Republicans and discussed in January, which would not hwe been possible if the letter had not been written earlier than January 25, as the distance by mail from Florenca is more than six days, and even if the etter had been cabled over the knowledge of it could not have bfcime as widespread within six days as it was. It is doubtful whether the letter was written at .Florence at all, and there isno lack of certain proof that the letter was seen by ma n y Republican leaders before it was printed, and that it would not have been printed if the wishes of many of Mr. Blaine's friends had been heeded by him.

The story of the letter has come to me from various soutcss,which coincide on various points, though varying in detail. Mr. Blaine decided last year not to be a candidate before the convention unless the fall elections should give promise of a decided Republican victory Notwithstanding all the encouraging bulletins that have been sent out about him his health is not good, and he and his wife are worried about it. On Mrs. Blaine more than on her husband has fallen the pain of the assaults against his character and political methods. She does not want him to be candidate again and she has earnestly entreated him to that effect. After the elections were held Mr. Blaine came to the conclusion that the presidential battle would be hard fought and that the strain would be more than he could bear. He yielded to his wife’s desires, and wrote the letter of declination and withdrawal that was published a week ago. This letter was put in charge of his friends, to be published, and, one story goefi, as soon as the results of the election were madeTtndwh ancTbefdre-Congresß assembled. A large part of his friends, when the fact of the letter became known to them, protested against its publication as being injurious to the party and unwarranted. They wanted Mr. Blaine to etay in the field and to accept the nomination, which they believed was sure to come to him. By thejr request (he letter was withheld for the time being; then Congress convened and the President sent in his annua! message and drew the issue of revenue reform and a lower tariff in opposition to the protective tariff doctrines. Mr. Blaine at once met the President on this issue in his cabled interview, and his friends hoped that the letter would be withdrawn. Its withdrawal was urged by leading Republicans in Congress in New York city. Sr strong were these efforts that at one time it was reported that the letter had been withdrawn. The news of it was becoming more and more spread. It had either to be withdrawn or given to the public in an unauthorised way. Mr. Blaine decided by cabling to have the letter published. There are many interesting facts in connection with this letter, and they are just beginning to be made known, and one of these facts is that the letter is much oldtr than its date. —,