The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-06-07
Blaine's Positive Letter,

For the benefit OF many readers
of The CITIZEN who probably read
no other paper, and to record the
remarkable and unexpected declina
ton of Mr.. Blaine to become can
didate, we publish his letter in full:
PARIS, May II, 1888.
Whitelaw Reid, Editor of the New
York Tribune:
My Dear Sir:-Since my return
to Paris from southern Italy on the
8th inst, 1 have learned (what l
did not before believe) that my
name may yet be presented to the
national convention as candidate
for the presidential nomination of
of the republican party. A
single phrase of my letter
of January %, from. Florence
(which was decisive of everything
1 had the personal power to decided
has been treated by many of my
most::valued frieds as not absolutely
conclusive in ultimate and possible
contingencies. On the other hand
friends not equally devoted and
disinterested have construed my
letter { as it should be construed
to be an unconditional Withholding
of my name from the convention.
They have in consequence given
their support TO eminent gentle
men who are candidates fol
the Chicago nomip ation-some Of
whom would not, I am sure, have
con sented to assume that position
if had desired to represent the
party in the presidential contest Of
1888.
If l should now, by speech or by
silence, by commission OF omission
permit my name, in any event, t.
come before the convention,
should incur the reproach of bein:
uncandid with those who have al.
ways been candid with me.
speak, therefore, because / am no
willing to remain in a doubtful at
titude. am not willing to be tn
cause OF misleading a single MAJ
among the millions who have give
me their suffra ges and their conf
dence. am not willing that eve
one of my faithful supporters in tn
past should think me capable O
paltering in double sense with M
words. Assuming that the presi
Dental nomination could by an
possible chance be offered to me,
could not accept it without leavin
in the. minds Of thousands Of thes
men the impression that 1 had nc
been free from indirection, an
, therefore l could not accept it a
all. The misrepresen tations c
, malice have no weight, but the jus
, displeasuIe of friends / could nc
pate ntly endure.
r Republican victory, the prospes
, of which grows brighter every day
can be imperilled only by lack {
,, unity in council, or by an acrimon
Gus contest over men. The issue {
q protection is incalculably stronge
> and greater than any man, for
' concerns the prosperity of the pres
ent and of generations yet to COM
Were it possible for every voter {
the republic to see for himself I'll
condition and recompense of labe
> in Europe, the party of free trad
8 in the United States would not re
ceive the support of one was
a worker between the two oceans.
e may not be directly in our powt
r as philanthropists to elevate I'll
e European laborer, but it will be
e lasting stigma upon our statesma
8 ahIp if we permit the American la
:, borer to be forced down to tt
d European level. And in the er
the rewards of labor everywhel
q will be advanced if we steadily r,
e fuse to lower the standard at HON
r Yours very sincerely,
|, JAMES G.. BLAINE.