The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-02-18
MR.. BLAINE DECLINES.
HIS NAME WILL NOT BE PRESENTED IN
TIE CHICAGO CONVENTION.
Letter to the Chairman of the Republican
National Committee.

MT. d. II. Jones, CHAIRMAN OF Cne Ma
tionaI Republican, Committee, has re-
ceived Il letter from MIR. Blaine declining
to allow his name to be presented to the
National Republican Convention as
candidate for the Presidential nomination.
Mr.. Jones, when asked whether MIR.
Blaine'S declination would prevent his
friends from nominating him, auynoW.
said:
LAS | am Chairman of the National
Committee | 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 him?'
Il have no authority to speak tor Mr..
Blaine aud have no conjectures to offer
on the subject. The letter speaks for
itself and must decline TO be interviewed
ON this question:
The following is Mr.. Blaiue's letter in
full:
FLORENCE, lyaly, Jan. %, lSSS.-B.
F. Jones, Esq, chairman of the Repub-
lican National Committee-Sir: | wish
through you to state to the members of
the Republican party that my name will
not be presented to the National Con-
vention called to assemble III Chicago in
June next for the nomination of caudi-
dates tor President and Vice-President
of the United States.
| am constrained to this decision By
considerations entirely personal TO my
SELL of which you were advised more
than year ago. But cannot make the
announcement without giving expression
to my deep sense of gratitude To the
many thousands of my countrymen who
have sustained me so long and SO cor.
Il tl4,,
go beyond the ordinary political adher-
ence of feilow-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 | refrain from congratulating
the Republican party upon the cheering
prospects which distinguish the opening
of the National contest of 1883 as COM
pared with that of 1884 In 1882 the
Republican party throughout the Union
met with a disastrous defeat. Ten States
that had supported Garfield and Arthur
in the election of 1880 were carried by
the Democrats either by maiorities or
plnralities. The Republican loss in the
Northern elections compared with the
| preceding National election exceeded
| hall a million votes, and the electoral
votes of the Union, divided on the basis
of the result OF 1882, gave to the Demo-
| Gratis over 300 electors out of a total of
| 4Ol. There was Il partial reaction in
favor of the Republicans in the elections
of 1888. but the Democrats still held
possession of seven Northern States, and
on the basis of the years contest could
show more than 100 maj0rity III the Elec-
toral Colleges of the whole country.
But against the encouragement natur
| ally following the adverse elections of
these two years the spirit of the Repub-
| lican 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 a single State, and that
State was carried by the Democratic
party by plurality SO small that it rep
resented less than one eleventh of one
| per cent. OF the entire vote. The change
of a single vote in every (2000) two
thousand OF the total poll would have
| given the State to the Republicans,
though only two years before the Demo
cratic plurality exceeded Q92 000) one
hundred and ninety two thousand.
The elections of 1886 and 1887 have de-
I III III Vic ut
publican ranks. Seldom in our political
history has a party defeated IN a Ma
tional election rallied Immediately with
such vigor as have the Republicans since
| 1884. No comparison is possible between
the spirit of the party in 1852 3 and It's
spirit in 1867. The two periods present
simply a contrast-the one of general de.
| preston, the other of enthusiastic re-
vival. Should the party gain in the re-
suits of 1888 over those OF 1856 I in any
| thing like the proportion of the gain of
| 1854 over 1882 ), it would secure one of
| the most remarka Bile victories of its en-
tire existence. But victory does not de-
! pend on so large ratio OF increase; the
| party has only to maintain relatively its
prestige of 1856 TO give to its National
candidate every Northern State but one,
with far better prospect of carrying
! that one than it has had for the past six
years.
Another feature of the political situa-
| ton should inspire Republicans with If
resistible strength. The present National
Administration was elected with, if not
upon. the repeated assertions of its lead
ing supporters in every Protection State
that no issue on the tariff vas involved.
However earnestly Republicans urged
that question as the one of controlling
Importance ia the campaign, they were
met by the Democratic leaders and jour
mails with persistent evasion, concealment
and denial.
That resource the President has fortu-
nately removed. The issue which the
Republicans maintained and the Demo-
Gratis avoided III 1884 has been promi-
nently aud specifically brought forward
by the Democratic President. and can
not be hidden out of sight lei 1888. The
country is now in the enjoyment of an
industrial system which III IL quarter of Il
century has assured larger national
growth, a more rapid accumulation and
broader distribution of wealth than
were even before known to history. The
American people will nov be openly and
formally asked to decide whether this
system shall be recElessly abandoned and
a new trial be made of an old experiment
which has uniformly led to national en-
5arrassmeut and widespread individual
distress. 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
success-c0mpiete harmony and cordial
co operation on the part of all Repubi-
cans--"n the part both of those who as
pire 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 aims are alike great,
but it is one demanded by the instinct OF
se!f-interest and By the still higher
promptings Of patriotism.
4 closer observation of the conditions
of life among the older nations gives one
"A 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, shall devote
myself, with the confident belief that the
Administration of the Government will
be restored to the party which has de-
monstrated 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.
ouTf no Nuvu mn DIT Amt