riend of his, who was with him, that if Blaine desired to be
a candidate I would withdraw and advocate his nomination. This
letter was handed to Murat Halstead, who was about to proceed to
Europe. He showed it to Blaine, who insisted that he could not
and would not be a candidate, and wrote a letter to B. F. Jones,
chairman of the Republican national committee, in which he stated,
in terms that could not be mistaken, his position in regard to the
presidency, and settled for good the question of his candidacy.
In neither of his previous epistles did he state positively he
would not accept the nomination if tendered him. In the letter to
Chairman Jones this declaration was most emphatically made. Under
no circumstances, Mr. Blaine said, would he permit the use of his
name in Chicago, nor would he accept a presidential nomination
unanimously tendered him. He further went on to say that Senator
John Sherman was his preference, and advised the convention to
place his name at the head of the Republican national ticket.

Mr. Halstead said to a correspondent of the New York "World," in
regard to Mr. Blaine's position, that he had achieved the greatest
place in our political history--above that of Henry Clay--that the
nomination would have come to him unsought, but he had smothered
any personal ambition he may have had for the good of his party.
Mr. Blaine's name, he declared, would not come before the Chicago
convention as a candidate in any contingency we have a right to
assume. "Mr. Blaine told me," he said, "when I met him in Europe
in August last, that he was not a Tichborne claimant for the
presidency, and he wanted his friends to understand it. Mr. Blaine
will have as distinguished a place in history as he could have
obtained had he been elected to the presidency."

Mr. Blaine was asked: "Do you think Mr. Sherman could be elected?"

He replied: "Mr. Sherman represents the principles of the Republican
party from its beginning. He has never wavered in his allegiance
to the party. If we cannot elect a man on the principles of the
Republican party we will not be able to pull anyone through on
personal popularity. I think Mr. Sherman is as strong as the
Republican party, and that if nominated he can be elected, and also
that he has great personal strength."

In reply to the question, "Will the Ohio delegates remain true to
Sherman?" Mr. Blaine said: "Of that there can be no doubt. They
are riveted and double