New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-13
URGENT FOR HARMONY IN THE
PARTY.
PRESAGES OF REPUBLICAN VICTORY.
A LETTER TO o. r. JONES FROM FLORENCE, ITALY
REVIEWING THE GROWTH OF REPUBLICAN
SENTIMENT IN TnE LAST FOUR YEARS
THE WITHDRAWAL DUE TO PER-
sONAL CONSIDERATIONS.

didate for the Presidential nomination. When
asked whether Mr.. Blaine's declination would pre-
vent his friends from nominating him anyhow,
Mr.. Jones said:
"'As I am chairman of the National Commit
tee, do not think it would be proper for me to
have anything to say OH that subject
80 Do you think Mr. Blaine would accept the
nomination if rendered to himp'
~ have no authority to speak for Mr.. Blaine,
and have no conectures to offer on the subject
The letter speaks for itself, and must decline to
be interviewed On this question:
The following is Mr.. Blaincs letter in full:
FLORENCE. Italy, Jan. %. 1883.
B. +. JONES, esq. chairman Of the Republican Na-
tional Committee:
SIR: l wish, through you, to state to the
members Of the Republican party that my name
will not be presented to the National Convention
called to assemble in Chicago, in June next, for
the nomination of candidates for President and
Vicc-Presdcnt of the United States
am constrained to ths decision by conSdera-
tions entirely personal TO myself Of which you
were advised more than year ago. But L can
not make the announcement without giving eX-
preston to my deep SENSE of gratitude to the
many thousands of my countrymen who have suS-
tanned me SO long and cordially that their ieel-
ing has seemed to 60 beyond the ordinary political
adherence of felowpartisans and to partaKe some
what 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 IA-
publican party upon the cheering prospects whlcn
distinguish the opening of the national contest
of 1888. as compared with that Of 1884 In
ss2 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 py
| maiorities or pluralities. The Republican loss III
! tho Northern elections compared with the preced-
mo National election exceeded half million
votes, and the electoral votes of the Union, d.
yided on the basis Of the result of SS2, gave 10
the Democrats over 300 electors out of q total OF
| 4Ol. There was partial reaction In favor OF
the Republicans in the elections of 1885, but
the Democrats still held possession of seven North
ern States, and on the basis of the years contest
could show more than 100 majority in the Eiec-
toral Colleges of the whole country.
But against the Encouragement naturally loi-
lowinq the adverse elections Of these two years
the spirit of the Republican party in the
National contest of Ss4 rose high, and
the Rcpublcan 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 il represented less than one-eleventh
| of l per cent of the entire vote. lhe chahSe Vi
a single vote in every two thousand OF the total
Doll would have given the State to the Repuphcafs'
though, only two years before the Democratic
| plurality exceeded 1902, 600.
The elections Of 1886 and 1887 have demon
str,ted growing strength In the Republican ranks
Seldom in our political history has party de-
| featod in n National election, rallied Immediately
| with such yisor as have the Republicans since
1884. No comparison is possible between 'he
spirt of the party In 1928 and its spirit IN
1857. The two periods present simply con-
trast-the one Of general DEPRESSION the other Oh
enthusiastic revival Should the party gain IN
the results of 1883 over those of 1867 in any
thing like the proportion Of the gain of the year
1884 over 1928, it would secure one OF the most
remarkable victories of its entire existence. But
victory does not depend on SO large ratio OF III
crease the party has only to maintain relatively
it's prestige of 1867 to give to its National candi-
date 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 situation should
inspire Republicans with irresistible strength
The present National Administration was elected
with, if not upon the repeated assertions OF lt
leading supporters in every protection State tha'
no issue on the tariff was involved However
earnestly Republicans urged that question as ''i'
one Of controlling Importance in the cafnPaisn
they were met by the Democratic leaders ano
iournals with nersistcnt evasion, concealment and
denial That resource the President has ior'u
| nately removed. The issue whch 'no i'P
cans maintained and the Democrats a'oiu'u -
1884 has been prominently and speclncaiS oiOue"
forward by the Democratic President, ana cailho
ho bidden mt Of sight in 1883. The country Ii
now in the enjoyment of an Industrial System
which in q quarter Of century mas aS'oie'
larger national growth, more r"p'u "0''
mutation and broader distribution OIL "c"i'" 'n'''
vcrc over before known to history The American
people will now be openly anu ioiH'""'
to decide whether this system shall be recKiesSi'
abandoned and new trial be made oil an old eA
nerimcnt which has uniformly led to National EN-