It produced consternation and caused a panic among the Republican leaders in the Senate.

Hurried and excited conferences were being held while the subject was being debated.
For the seriousness of the situation was recognized.

Mr.Blaine's defection meant the defeat of the Morton motion should it be made, and the adoption of the Blaine motion by the solid vote of the Democrats, to which would be added a small minority of the Republicans.

This division in the ranks of the party at the beginning of the Hayes administration had to be avoided if possible.

That Mr.Blaine should recede from his position was, of course, out of the question.