Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-07
BLAINE MEANS Ii.
He is Absolutely Out of the Raee-He
DispelS all Doubts by Letter to
WhiielaW Reid.
The Impessibility of His Accepting the
Nomination Without Seeming Tn
candid and Insincere Pointed
Out-WOrd for Protection.
MR.BLAINE'S LATEST LETTER.

New YORK, May 29.-The Tribune, of
to-day, publishes the following letter from
Mr.. Blaine:
PARIS, May II, 1888.
Whitelaw Reid. editor New Ysrk Tribune:
Ny DEAR SIR-Since my return to Paris
from southern Italy, on the 8th inst, I
have learned what did nat before be-
| lieve) that my name may yet be
presented TO the national convention
as candidate for the presidency
of the republican party. The single
phrase of my letter of January 25, from
Florence (which was decisive of every
| thing had personal power to decide)
has been treated by many of my most
valued friends as not absolutely conclusive
in ultimate and possible contingencies
On the other hand friends equally de
voted and DISTINGUISHED have construed
| my letters las 1t should be construed) to
mean unconditional Withholding of my
name from the national convention. They
have in consequence given their support
| to eminent gentlemen who are candi-
dates for the Chicago nomination, some
of whom would not, I am sure, have con-
scented to assume that position if I had
desired TO represent the party in the
presidential contest of 1888. If I should
pow, by speech or by silence, by COM
-
any event to come before the convention,
I should inour the reproach of being
uncandid with those who have
always been candid with me-.
I speak therefore, because I am net
/ willing to remain in doubtful attitude.
I am not willing to be the cause of mis-
leading a single man among the
millions who have given me their
suffrages and their confidence
| am not willing that even one of hy
| faithful supporters in the past should
| think me capable of paltering III double
sense with my words. Assuming that
the presidential nomination could By
any possible chance be offered to me,
I could not accept it without leaving
| in the minds of thousands of these men
the impression that I had not been free
from indirection, and therefore could
not accept it at ali. The mis-
presentations of malice have no
weight, but just displeasure of friends
could not patiently endure. The re-
publican victory, the prospects of which
grow brighter every day, can be i'm
periled only by lack of unity
in council or by acrimonious
contest over men. The issue
of protection is intellectually stronger
and greater than any man, for it con
Germs the prosperity of the present and
of generations yet to come. Were
il possible for every voter of the
republic to see for himself the condition
of the recompense of labor in Europe.
the party of fres trade in the United
States wonld not receive the support of
one wage worker between the two oceans.
It may not be directly in our power
as philantrophists, to elevate
the European laborer but it will be last
ing stigma upon our craftsmanship if we
permit the American laborer to be forced
down to the European level and in the
end rewards OF labor everywhere will be
advanced if we steadily refuse to lower
| our SITS lard at home.
Yours very sincerely,
JAMES q. BLAINE.