Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-13
Mr.. BLAINE,s DECISION.
His Name Not Ia Go Before the Repub.
1ican Convention.

His Name Not Ia Go Before the Repub.
1ican Convention.
REASONS PERSONAL TO HIxszLr-Hrs VIEWS OF THE
NEXT cASPAiGs-rHE PARTY's VICTORY PREDI-
GATED Uf'lN tbs PRESENT sITUATIoS-YRorgc-
Ton TO AyERIcAS INDUSTRY THE IssUx-Hs WILL
LABOR FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE TICKET
The Associated Press furnishes the following
letter from Hon. Jas. G.. Blaine declaring that his
name VIII not be presented for the republican
Presidential nomination:
FLORENCE, ITALY, January %, 1885,
D. n. Jones, Esq, Chairman of the RsDublic1n
National Committee:
sIR:-I wish through you to state TO the mem
Oers OF the republican party that my name will
not be presented to the national convention called
70 assemble In Chicago In June next for the nomi-
an Oh candidates for President and vicePresi
Gent OF the United states.
am constrained TO this decision by considera-
tionS ehtireiy personal to myself OF which you
make the announcement without giving express
SION 10 IN deep sense OF gratitude to the many
t inc OF my countrymen who have sustained
me 50 long and So cordially that their feeling has
seemed 10 80 beyond the ordinary political adj
herence OF fellow pirtisans and to partake some
what OF the nature OF personal attachment. For
this most generous loyalty OF friendship 1 can
make no adequate return, but shall carry the
memory Of IL while life lasts.
Nor can refrain from concentrating the repub-
.,can party upon the cheering prospects which dis
,ingulsh the opening 1 the national contest OF
republican party throughout the Union met with
disastrous defeat Ten states that had sup
ported Garfield and Arthur In the election OF 1850
were carried by the democrats either by majOrities
or pluralltleS. The republican loss in the North
ern elections compared with the preceding
1onai election exceeded half IA million votes and
the electoral votes OF the Union, divided on the
basis OF the result OF 1882, gave TO the democrats
over 3oo electors out OF total OF 4Ol. There was
a 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
has n ennFa
100 majority In the electoral colleges OF the whole
country.
But against the disbursement naturally fol-
lowing the adverse elections OF these ye trs the
spirit OF the republican party In the national con-
test OF 1854 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 demo-
cratic party by plurality so small that It repre-
senteq less than one-eleventh OF per cent OF the
entlrevote. Tine change OF a single vote In every
1000 Of the total poll would have given the state
the democratic plurality exceeded 1872 600
Inc elections OF 1886 and 1887 have demon
strated growing strength In the republican ranks.
seldom In our political history has a party, de-
leated In national election. rallied Immediately
with such vigor as have the republicans since
1854. No comparison is possible between the
spirit OF the party in Iss2 3 ana its spirit in
1SS6-I. The two periods present simply a con-
trast-the one Of general depression, the other OF
the results OF 1883 over those of 1857, In any
Thing IKE the proportion OF the gain or 1884 over
bic Victories OF its entire existence. Bat yictOry
doe, not depend on so large ratio OF Increase the
party has only to maintain relatively It's prestige
OF 1867 TO give To its national candidate every
Northern state but one, with far better prospect
OF CARVING That one than 1t has had for the past
Another feature Of the political situation should
inspire republicans with Irresistible strength The
prtA u national q minlstration was elected WITH
Il - upon, the repeated assertions OF its leading
supporters IN every protection state that no issue
on The tariff was involved. However earnestly re-
puoiicans urged that question as the one OF con-
roung Importance In the campaign, they were
met oy the democratic leaders and Journals with
persistent evasion, concealment, and denial. That
resource the President has fortunately removed
The issue which the republicans maintained and
the democrats avoided In 1884 has been promi-
aentiy anu Specifically brought forward by the
democratic PRESIDENT, and cannot be hidden out
OF sight In 1855 The country Is now In the en-
Joyment OF an Industrial system which In a quar-
growth, a more rapid accumulation. and broader
distribution OF wealth than were ever before
IN TO history. The American people will now
be openly and formally asked to decide whether
this system shall be recklessy abandoned and
new trial be made OF an old experiment which has
uniformly ied 70 national embarrassment and
Widespread individual distress. ON the result OF
sueh an issue, fairly presented TO the popular
Judgment, There Is no room for doubt.
One thing only Is necessary to assure success
complete harmony and cordial cooperation on the
part OF all republicans-On the part both OF those
who aspire to lead and OF those who are eager to
loEow The duty Is not one merely OF honorable
devotion 10 the party whose record and whose
aims are alike great, but It Is one demanded by
the Instinct OF selfnterest and by the still higher
proInptings OF patriotism.
A closer observation Of the conditions OF life
among the Older nations gives one more intense
desire that the American people shall make no
mistake In choosing the policy which inspires
LABOR with nope and crowns IL with dignity which
give safety TO capital and projects It's increase
wnlch secures political power to every citizen
comfort and culture TO every home. To this end
not less earnestly and more directly as private
citizen than as public candidate, shall devote
myself, with the confident belief that the admin
istrat1on Of the Government will be restored to the
party which has demonstrated the purpose and
the power 10 WELD it for the unity and tue honor
OF the republic, for the prosperity and progress OF
the people. am, very sincerely yours
JAMES q. BLAINE.
CHAIRMAN JONES RETICENr.
Mr.. Jones, when asked whether Mr.. Blaine's de-
clination would prevent his friends from nomi-
mating him anyhow, said: "As l am chairman OF
the national committee do not think it would
De proper for Inc TO have anything to say on that
subject"
''Do you think Mr.. Blaine would accent the
nomination II rendered htnR,
II nave no authority to speak for Mr.. Blaine and
nave no conJectures TO offer on the subject. The
letter speaks for itself, and must decline to be
interviewed on this question:
REPtj BLICAN OPlNlONS