Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-13

ings in New York, Boston and Washing
| ton City-EHtracts from the Speeches
DeIIvered-Iienry George Disguised.
| PIrTsBURG, Pa, Feb. 10 The Commercial
Gazette, Of this city, publishes the following:
FLORENCE, Italy, Jan %, 1883.
| Is. F. Jones, Esq, Chairman of the Repub-
lican National Committee:
SIR: l wish through you to state to the
members of the Republican party that my
name will not be presented to the national
| convention called to assemble in Chicago in
June next for the nomination of candidates
for president and vice president of the United
| States.
am constrained to this decision by con.
sideratons entirely personal to myself Of
which you were advised more than a year
ago. But | can not make the announcement
without giving expression to my deep sense
of gratitude to the many thousands of my
country men who have sustained me so long
and so cordially that their feeling has seemed
to go beyond the ordinary political adherence
of fellow partisans, and TO partake somewhat
Of the nature Of personal attachment For
this most generous loyalty of friendship
can make no adequate return, but ! shall
carry the memory of it while life lasts.
Nor can l refrain from congratulatng the
Republican party upon the cheering pros
poets which distinguish the opening of the
national contest of 1883 as compared with
that of 1851 In 1859 the Republicans
throughout the union mt with disastrous
defeat Ten states that had supported Gar
field and Arthur in the election of 1880 were
carried by the Democrats either by ma juri-
ties or pluralities. The Republican loss in
the northern elections compared with the
preceding national elt elton exceeded half
million votes and the electoral votes of tine
union, divided on the basis of 1851 gave to
the Democrats over 300 electors out of to-
tai of 41l. There was partial reaction in
favor of the Republicans in the elections of
1883, but the Democrats still held possession
Of seven northern states, and on the basis of
the years contest could show more than 100
majority in the electoral colleges of the
whole country.
But against the encouragement naturally
following the adverse elections of these two
years, the spirit of the Republican party in
the national contest of 1884 rose high, and
the Republican masses entered into the cam
paign with such energy that the final result
depended ON the vote of single state, and
that state was carried by the Democratic
party by a plurality so small that it re-
presented less than one eleventh of per
cent of the entire vote The change of a
single vote in every 1000 of the total poll
would have given the state to the Republic
ans, though only two years before the Dem
ocratic plurality exceeded l02 900.
The elections of 1856 and .sS7 have demon
strated growing strength in the r publican
ranks Seldom in our political history has a
party defeated in a national election. rallied
with such vigor as have the Republicans
since 1874. No comparison is possible be-
tween the spirit of the party in 1923 and its
spirit in 1857. The two periods present
simply cOntrast--the one of general depres-
son the other OF enthusiastic revival. Should
the party gain, in the results of 1883 over
those of 1857 in anything like the proper
ton of the gain of 1854 over lSS2-3, it would
secure one of the most remarkable victories
OF its entire ex stence But victory does not
depend on so large ratio of increase; the
party has only to maintain relatively its
prestige of 1867 to give to the national can
ddate every northern state but one with n
far better prospect of carrying that one than
it has had for the past six years.
Another feature of the political situation |
should inspire Republicans with irresistible |
strength. The present national administra- |
ton was elected with, if not upon, the re- |
peated assertions of its leading supporters in |
every protection state that no issue on the
tariff was involved. However earnestly
Republicans urged that question as one of
controlling Importance in the campaign, |
they were met by the Democratic leaders
and journals with persistent evasion, con-
caalnant and 6anial That resOurra fha
president has fortunately removed. The is
sue which the Republicans maintained and |
the Democrats avoided in 1854 has |
been prominently and specifically brought |
forward by the Democratic pres |
ident and can not be hidden out Of sight
in 1855. The country is now in the enjoy |
ment of an industrial system which in a
quarter of a century has secured a larger ma
tional growth, a more rapid accumulation |
and a broader distribution Of wealth than |
were ever before known to history. The |
American people will he openly and |
formally asked to decide whether this |
system shall DO recklessly abandoned and a
new trial be made of an old experiment |
which has uniformly led to national en-
barrassment and widespread individual dis
tress. On the result of such an issue, fairly |
presented to the popular judgment, there is
no room for doubt.
One thing only is necessary to assure sue
cess-compete harmony and cordial coop
Grafton on the part of all Repu blicans-on
the part both of those who aspire to lead and
of those who are eager to follow. The duty
is not one merely of honorable devotion to
the party whose record and whose aim are
alike great, but it is one demanded by the
instinct of self.interest and by the still higher
promptings of patriotism. A closer observa-
ton of the conditions of life among tho older
nations gives me more intense desire that
the American people shall make no mistake
in choosing the policy which inspires labor
with hope and crowns it with dignity,
which gives safety to capital and protects
its increase, which secures political power
to every citizen, comfort and culture to every
home. To this end not less earnestly, and
more directly as a private citizen than as a
public candidate, l shall devote myself, with
the confident belief that the administration
of the government will be restored to the
party which has demonstrated the purpose
and the power to WELD it for the unity and
the honor of the republic, for the prosperity
and progress of the people.
am, very sincerely yours
JAMES G. BLAINE
Mr.. Jones, when asked whether Mr..
Blaiue's decination would prevent his
friends from nominating him anyhow, said:
AS en- chairman of the national commit
tee, do not think it would be proper for me
to have anything to say on that subject"
"Do you think Mr.. Blaine would accept
the nomination If rendered to hmi'
Il have no authority to speak for Mr..
Blaine, and have no con lectures to offer on
the subject The letter speaks for itself, and
| must decline to be interviewed on the ques-
tion."
TIE GOTHAM CELEBRATION.
Prominent Republicans Dine and Talk of