Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1892 — Secretary Blaine’s Resignation. [ARTICLE]

Secretary Blaine’s Resignation.

It is rather difficult to conceive of any explanation of Mr. Blaine’s abrupt retirement from the Cabinet, that is notc^lculatedto detract from the luster of his great fame, and to work to the disadvantage of the Republican party. If he desires the nomination he ought to have said so three months ago, and resighed then, instead of writing a letter, saying he would not and should not be a candidate. The excuse that is made for him, that he could not have foreseen, when he wrote the letter how strong the popular demand for his nominatibn would be, is not satisfactory. That demand is no greater nor more general than he or any other sagacious politician might have foreseen. If he does not desire the nomination himself, but resigned only to defeat Harrison, the case is still worse. For surely if he holds that desire now, he has held it for some time, and if he has been nursing and concealing such intention, and con tinning to hold the most exalted and honorable position in the president’s, gift until the last moment in order to abandon it just at the time to do the latter the greater injury, then the act savors greatly of unfairness to say the least Surely, if Mr. Blaine had a reasonable excuse for his abrupt re* tirement, he made a great mistake in not stating it in his letter of resignation, er in some ot her public manner Mr. Blaine is a very great man, and would make a grtnd president, but as an available candidate, he has certainly done himself great injury by his course in this matter.