Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-06-01
BLAINE'S DECLINATl0N.
His Name not to be Presented at
Chicago.

HE FNfPHATICALLY REAS SE r T 8
THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED IN
HIS FLORENCE LETTER--PROs-
Poets OF REPUBLICAN SUCCESS
GROW BRIGHTER DAILY.
NEW YORK, May 20.-The Irib
une tomorrow will publish the fol-
lowing:
PARIS, May II, 1SSS.-WHITE-
LAW REED, ESQ, Editor New York
Tribune-Dear Sir: Since my re-
turn to Paris from southern Italy
on the Sth instant, l have learned
what | did not before believe) that
my name may yet be presented TO
the National Convention as a can
didate for the presidential nOmina'
ton of the Republican party. a
single phrase Of my letter of JAM
% from Florence (which was decis'
i've of everything 1 had the person
al power to decide) has been treat
ed by many of my most valued
friends as not absolutely conclu-
sive in ultimate and possible con-
tingencies. On the other hand
friends equally devoted and disin-
terested have construed my letter
tas it should be cOnstruedl TO he an
unconditional Withholding of my
name from the national convention.
They have in consequence given
their support to eminent gentle
men who are candidates for the
Chicago nOmination-.some of whom
would not, | am sure, have consent
ed to assume that position, If | had
desired to represent the party in
the presidential contest Of 1888.
If should now, by speech or by
silence, by commission or omission,
permit my name in any event to
come before the convention should
incur the reprOach of being mean
did with those who have always
been candid with me. | speak,
therefore, because | am not will
ing to remain in a doubtful at
titude. l am not willing to be the
cause of misleading single man
among the millions who have gwen
me their suffrages and their conf
demo. 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 1t without
leaving in the minds of thousands
of these men the impression that |
had not been free from indirectloD,
and therefore | could not accept 1t
at all. The misrepresentation 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 lmperilled 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 1t
concerns the prosperity Of the pres
emit 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 re-
ceiYe 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 1t will be a
lasting stigma upon our statesman
ship if we permit the American Ia
borer to be forced down to the
European level, and in the end the
rewards of labor everywhere will
be advanced if we steadily refuse
TO lower the standard at home.
Yours, very sincerely,
JAMES G.. BLAINE.