Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-06-07
Positively Refuses.


of to-day publishes the following lette
from Mr.. Blaine:
PARIS, May II, 18S8.-WHITELAv
REID, ESQ. EDITOR NEW YoRKjTRIBUNI
Ny Dear Sir: Since my return t
Paris from Southern Italy the 9Th inst
| have learned (what did not befor
belleve) that my name may yet be pre-
sented to the National Convention as
candidate for the Presidency of tn,
Republican party. A single phrase o
my letter of Jan. 25 from Florenc,
(Which was decisive of everything haC
the personal power to decide) has been
treated by many of my most valued
friends as not absolutely conclusive il
ultimate and possible contingencies
On the other hand friends equally de-
voted and disinterested have construed
my letter Gas it should be construed)
to be an unconditional withdrawal o.
nv name from the National Convention
They have in consequence given theil
support to eminent gentlemen who are
candidates for the Chicago nomination
some of whom would not, | am sure,
have consented to assume that position
il had desired to represent the party
in the Presidential contest of 1888.
If should now, by speech or by ST.
lence, by commission or omission, per-
nit my name, in any event, to come
before the convention | should incur
the reproach of being uncandid with
those who have always been candid
with me. | speak, therefore, because ]
am not willing to remain in doubtful
attitude. | am not willing to be. the
cause OF misleading single man among
the millions who have given their suf-
frages and their confidence. | am not
willing that even one of my faithful
supporters in the past should think me
capable of paltering in a double sense
with my words. Assuming that the
Presidential nomination could by any
possible chance be offered to me,
could not accept it without leaving in
the minds of thousands of these men the
impression that | had not been free
from indlrection, and therefore l could
not accept it at all. The misrepresen-
tations of malice have no weight; but
the just displeasure of friends / could
not patiently endure.
Republican victory, the prospects of
which grow brighter every day, can be
imperiled only by lack of unity in
council or by acrimonious contest over
men. The issue of protection is meal
culably stronger and greater than any
man, for it concerns the prosperity OF
the present and of generations yet to
come. Were it possible for every voter
of the Republic to see for himself the
condition and recompense of labor in
Europe the party of free trade in the
United States would not receive the
support of one wageworker between the
two oceans. 1t may not be directly in
our power as philanthropists to elevate
the European laborer, but it will be a
lasting stigma upon our craftsmanship
if we permit the American laborer to be
forced down to the European level
And in the end the reward of labor
everywhere will be advanced if we
steadily refuse to lower the standard at
home. Yours sincerely,
JAMES G. BLAINE.
There!What more do you want Dem
ocratic friendsp Will you keep right or
betting that Blaine will be the nominee
of the Chicago Conventionp VIII thai
arch-mugwump, George William Curtis
keepright on with his powerful editorial
prOclamations that Blaine may, can
must, might could, Mould, and every.
thing but should, be the nomiee of his
party? Isn't it about time for the"foo
friends of Mr.. Blaine to "come off?''
Isn't it about time for weakened Re
publicans to''bracc up, 10 let the dead
past bury its dead" and devote what.
ever attention they give to politics tc
the living issues of the hourp
There are men with whom the party
would stand an excellent chance of re.
gaining control of the most important
branch of the government Among
them none seem more likely to be
selected than Judge Walter @ Gresham.
If delegates to the convention on the
10Th inst. will not allow themselves tc
be too much Influenced by old friend
ships and political followings, by the
favorite-son nonsense, by our-man-and
no-second-choice bull headedness, they
will unite upon Gresham, make his
nomination unanimous, and give us a
head to the ticket that will insure sue
cess at the polls in November.