Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1888-02-17
Mr.. Blaine Declines.

Mr.. James G. Blaine, about whom SO
much has been said of late in connection
with the Republican nomination for the
Presidency, and who is now in Italy with
his family travelling for his health osten-
sibly, has written a letter to b. F. Jones,
OF Plt'sburg, Pc, chairman of the repub-
lican national committee, which has been
published, positively declining to allow
his Hame to be presented to the Republi-
Can convention as candidate for the
presidential nomination. No reason is
given for the dscision. There is a reason,
Whatevcfa-SayS, but it is personal one
in confidence to his poiit(eslzssnuaNRfdedl
than year ago" Under the crcumstan-T
ces, says the Baltimore Sun, there will be
disposition among the Plumed Knights
admirers, as well as his opponets. to treat
the letter as a tactical manoeuver, designed
to relieve his candidacy of the character
of burden upon his party character
it has Tor some time borne-and to invest
it, when it reappears, with an air of spon-
taneity and freshness. Now that most of
the political arrangements of the parry
have been completed with view to his
denomination, and State executive com
mittees have all been organized in his in
Iterest, it is cheap modesty, it is said, to
decline, as be knows very we'll that his
lieutenants will thrust the nomination on
him when the time comes. There may be
show of consulting the popular wish,
but af,er the weakness of other candidates
has been demonstrated in the vote in con-
vention there will follow, it is held, pre-
concerted nomination by acc'amstion.
In word, the letter. according to this
theory, is for effect. 1t it had been in-
spired by purpose formed "more than
year ago." it would have been written, 1t
is held, months earlier, before his friends
had taken the trouble to capture the par
ty organizations ot all kind. ltcomes too
late to inspire confidence, and has no
smack of finality 1t will be difficult also
) for many persons to believe that a polltl-
clan SO long a candidate will wlthdra"
now, when, according to his own argu
meHt. his party is sure of success Mr.
Blaine is a. pains to prove that his party
is bound to win in 1888. ln 1884 its pros
poets were bad, the elections in 1889 hav
inc resulted in its disastrous defea
throuphout the Union. In 1888 the demo
, Gratis still held possession or seven North
ern States. But the elections OF 1886 sno
l1SS7, in Mr.. B aine's opinion. have dem
onstrated the growing strength OF the re
publican party, aud should that part
gain in the results of 1888 over those
:: 1867. in anything like the pr"por'io
of the gain 1884 over 1898, 1t woul'
j.. secure one of the most remarkable veto
iries OF its entire existence" This Is tn
. chief fargument-that recent elections sho'
turn of the tide. Another is draws froi
the circumstance that the Presidents me:
sage has made the reduction Ct tariff take
the issue of the next camPaign-an Issu
m upon which the republican party In NJ
laine's opinion, is sure to win. Demo
!: lcrats will not, of course take Mr.. Blaine
view of the results of the recent election
.I-particularly of the election in the piv'
tai State of New Yolk--aor IL" ihs--'''''
low taxes, as an issue, will prove distas'
ful to the voters. Ga the contrary, the
draw encouragement from the facts
which Mr.. Blaine sees the tokens oil tue
defeat. Whether Mr.. 3laine's letter ID
be taken seriously or not, one thins
clear that for a time, at least, II clears I
- field for new aspirauts for PRESIDENT
honors