Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-06-06
AL DOUBT DlsslPATEu.

= { e Il + 5 &
Mr.. Blaine Sets ut Rest all Speculation
Concerning His Candidacy In Another
Letter, In Which He Absolutely Refuses
to Enter tho Race.
New YORK, May W.-The Tribune Of to-
day publishes the following letter from Mr.
Blaine: IL = e~..~5s
"PAR1s, May II, 1885, Wh0e!aw Reid, Esq.,.
Editor Neso York 1ribune-My Dear Sir: Since
my return to Paris from Southern Italy on tho
9Th inst. have learned (what did not before
belteve) that my name may vet DO presented
to tho National convention as candidate for
the Presidency by the Republican party. A
single phrase Of my letter Of January Is from
Florence (Which was decisive Of evory thing I
had the personal power to decide) has been
treated by many Of my most valued friends
rs not absolutely conclusive in ultimate and
friends equally devoted and distnterested
have construed my letter (as It should
be construed) to be an unconditional
Withholding OF my name from the Nation.
al convention. They have in conso-
Quence given their support to eminent gentle.
men who are candidates for the Chicago nomi.
nation, some OF whom would not, I am sure,
have consented to assume that position II had
desired to represent the party in tho Presiden-
tial contest of 1883.
1T should now, by spaoch or by silence, by
commission or omission, permit my name, In
any event, to come before the convention I
should incur the reproach of being uncandid
with those who have always been candid
with me. I speak, therefore, because I am
not willing to remain In q doubtful atti.
tude. am not willing to be tho cause OF
misleading 9 single man among the millions
who have given me their suffrages and their
confidence. I am not willing that even one
of my faithful supporters in the past should
think mo capable of paltering in
. double sense with my words. As.
Stunning that the Presidential NOM
ination could, by any possible chance, be
offered to me, 1cGuld not accept it without leav-
ing In the minds OF thousands of these men the
impression that had not been free from indi-
rectiou, and, therefore, could not accept it at
all. The misrepresentation of malice have no
weight, but the just displcasure OF friends !
could not patiently endure.
"RepuO:can 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 In.
calculably stronger and greater than any man,
for it concerns the prosperity Of the present and
OF generations yet to come. We're 1t possible
for every voter Of tho Republic to see for him.
self the condition and the recompense of labor
in Europe, the party OF free trade In the United
States would not receive the support Of one
wage-worker between the two oceans. 1t may
not be directly IN our power as philanthropists to
elevate the European laborer, but it will be q
lasting stigma upon our states manship II we
permit the American laborer to be forced down
to the European level. And, in the end, the re-
wards Of labor everywhere will be advanced II
we steadily refuse to lower the standard q,
home. Yours, very sincerely,
"JAMEs G. BLAINE"