, 1888-02-16
An Interesting Letter From
James q. Blaine.
His Name Not to be Used as o
Candidate.
He Predicts a Great Republican
Victory.

Tomorrow Mr.. B. Jones, chairman
Of the National Republican Com
mittec, has received letter from Mr..
Blaine declining to allow his name to
be presented to the National Kepubli-
can Convention as u candidate for the
presidency. Mr.. Jones when asked
whether Mr.. Blaine's declinatiOn
would prevent his friends from nOmi-
mating him anyhow, said "As am
chairman of the NatiO.al Committee
] do not think it would be proper for
me to have anything to say ON that
subject"
"Do you think Mr.. Blaine would ac-
cent the nomination II tei,,lered"
II have no authority to speak for
Mr.. Blaine and have no conjectures to
offer on the subject. The letter speaks
for itself and must decl ne to be in
terviewed on the question
Following is Mr.. Blaine's letter in
full:
FLORENCE, Italy. Jan. 25. 'SS.
TO B. +. Jones, Esq, Chairman of the
Republican National committee:
Sir 81 wish through you to- state
10 the members OF the Republican
party that my name will not be- pre-
sented TO tho National convention,
called to assemble in Chicago in June
next, for the nomination OF n candi-
Nate Cor President and ce-President
bf the United States. am cOnstrain-
ed TO this decision by considerations
entirely personal to myself, of which
you were advised more than ii year
ago, but cannot make the announce
ment without giving expression to my
deep sense Of gratitude to the many
thousands OF my countrymen who
have sustained me 30 long and so
cordially that their feeling has seemed
20 go beyond the ordinary political ad-
herence Of fellow partisans, and to par.
take somewhat of the nature of per-
bonal attachment. For this most gem
erous loyalty Of friendship, can make
no adequate return, but l shall curry
the memory of it while life lnsts. Nor
can refrain from congratulating the
Republican party upon the cheering
prospects which distinguishes the open
ing Of the National contest of 1883, as
compared with that Of 1884.
In 1884 the Republican party
throughout the union met with dis
ssterOus defeat. Ten states that
had supported Garfield and
Arthur in the election Of
1880, were carried by the Democrats,
either 10y majorities or pluraiities. The
Republican loss in the Northern cleo
tions. compared with preceding elec-
tions exceeded a. hall million votes,
and the electoral votes Of the Union,
divided on the bnsis of the results OF
1884, gave the Democrats ever 300
electors out of a total Of 4O1. There
was u parti u reaction in favor OF the
Republicans in the elections of 1883,
but the Democrats still held the votes
of seven Northern states, and on the
basis Of the years contest could show
more than 100 majority in the elect
oral college 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 campaign with such
energy that the final result depended
on the vote of II single state, and that
state was carried by the Democratic
party by plurality SO small that il re-
one per cent of the entire vote. The
change Of single vote in every 1000
OF the total poll would have given the
state TO the Republicans, though only
two years before the Democratic plu-
rality exceeded one hundred and
ninety-two thc cusands. The elections
of 1886 and 1887 have demonstrated
the growing strength in the Republic
can ranks. Seldom in our political his
tory has party defeated in
national election. rallied Immediately |
with such vigor las have the Republi-
cans since 1884. No comparison is
possible between the split OF the party |
in 1867. The two periods present a
singular contrast, the one was of gem
eral depression the other of cnthusias-
tic revival. Should the party gain in
the result OF 1888, over those of 1867
in anything like the proportion OF tae
gain Of 1884, over 1898, it would Sc
cure one of the most remarkable victo-
ries OF its entire existence. But VIC
tory does not depend on so large n ra-
ito of increase: The party has only to
maintain relatively its prestage OF
lSS6-87 to give to its national candi-
date every northern state but one with
a far better prospect Of carrying that
one than he had for the past six
years.
Another feature Of the political stu
alton should inspire Republicans with
Irresistable strength. The pres.
ent national administration was
vlected with, il not upon
The repeated assertions its leading
in every protection state
hat has no issue on the tariff WAS in
'olved. However urgently the Re-
,ublicnns urged that question as the