The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-02-16
BLAINE DECLINES.
A Letter From Mr.. Blaine Forbiddinr
the Csc Of His Name Before the
Republican Convention.

A Letter From Mr.. Blaine Forbiddinr
the Csc Of His Name Before the
Republican Convention.
Considerations Entirely Personal to
Himself Constraln Him to This
Final Decision.
PuTsBuRa, Pa, Feb. 12-Tbe Pittsburg
Commercial Gazette will publish the follow
ing tomorrow: 4.
B. F. Jones, chairman Of the national Re-
publican committee, has received letter
from Mr.: Blaine declining to allow bis name
to be presented to the national Republican
convention Us candidate for the presiden-
tial nomination.
Mr.. Jones, when asked whether Mr. Blatne's
declination would prevent his friends from
nominating him any how, said: As am
chairman Of the national committee I do not
think it would be proper for me to nave
anything to say on that subject"
sDo you think Mr. Blame would accept tho
nomination II rendered to him?"
81 have no authority to speak for Mr.:
Blaine, and have no coniectures to offer on
the subject The letter speaks for itself, and
I must decline to be interviewed on the
question"
The following is Mr.. Blaine's letter In full:
TEXT OF THE LETTER.
FLORENCE. Italy. Jan. rs, 1851. F.
Ghnipv n$ In
National Committees;
Sir-1 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
tor president and vice president of the United
States I am constrained to this decision
by considerations entirely personal to my
self of which you were advised more than q
year ago. But cannot make the announce.
ment without giving expression to my deep
sense of gratitude to the many thousands OF
my countrymen who have sustained mo 80
long and SO cordially that their feeling has
seemed to 60 bevond the ordinary political
adherence OF fellow -partisans and TO partake
somewhat of the nature of personal attach
ment. For this most generous loyalty OF
friendship can make no adequate return,
but shall carry the memory OF it while life
lass Nor can refrain from congratulating
the Republican party upon the cheering
prospects which distinguish the opening Of
the national contest of 1888 "a compared
with that of 1854. In 1882 the Republican
party throughout the Union met with
A DISASTROUS DEFEAr
Ten states that had supported Garfield and
Arthur In the election of 1880 were carried
by the Democrats either by majoritles or
pluralities The Republican loss in the
Northern elections compared with the pre-
ceding national election exceeded half q
million votes. and the electoral votes OF the
Union, divided on the basis of the result Of
1892. gave to the Democrats over three hun-
dred electors out of total vote of four hun
dred and one. There was . partial reaction
In favor of the Republicans in the elections
Of 1885. but the Democrats still held DOS
session Of seven Northern states, and on the
basis of the years contest could show more
than one hundred majority in the electoral
college Of the whole country. But agsinst
the disbursement naturally following
the adverse elections of these two years the
spiriG of the Republican party in the ma
tlonal contest of 1884 rose high. and the Re-
publican masses eutered into the campaign
with such energy that tho final result de-
pended on the vote Of single state. and
that state was carried by a Democratic plu-
rallty so small that it represented less than
one-eleventh of l per cent of the entire
vote. Inc change of single vote in every
two thousand OF the total poll would have
given the state to the Republicans, though
only two years before the Democratic plu-
rality exceeded (192, OOO) one hundred and
ninety-two thousand The elections OF
1885 and 1887 have demonstrated
GROWING STRENGTH
In the Republican ranks. Seldom in our DO
lltlcal history has party, defeated in a ma
tional election, rallied Immediately with
such vigor as have the Republicans since
1884. No comparison is possible between
the spirit of the party in 1928 and It's
spirit In 1867. The two periods present
simply contrast-the one of general de-
preston, the other of enthusiastic revival.
Should the party gain, in the results of 1888
over those of 1857, in anything like the
proportion of the gain of 1884 over 1882 3.
1t would secure one OF the most remarkable
victories of its entire existence But victory
does not depend on so large q ratio of in
crease: the party has only to maintain
relatively its prestige of 1867 to give to
its national candidate every Northern state
but one. with far better prospect of car
rving 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
was elected with, il not
upon, the repeated assertions of its leading
in every protection state that no
issue on the tariff was involved However
Republicans urged that ques-
ton as the one of controlling in
stance in the campaign, they were
met by the Democratic leaders and
journals with persistent evasion, conceal
ment and denial. That resource the presi.
dent has fortunately removed. The issue
which the Republicans maintained and the
Democrats avoided in 1873 i has been promi-
aent.y and specifically brought forward by
the Democratic president, and
CANNOT BE HIDDEN
out of sight in 1855 The country is now in
the enjoyment of an industrial system
which IN quarter of q century has assured
q larger national growth. a more rapid &C.
ami BROADER distribution OF
wealth than were ever before known to his
tory: The American people will now
be openly and formally asked to de-
eide whether this system shall be reck-
lessly abandoned ana new trial be
made of an old experiment which has uni.
formly led to national embarrassment and
individual distress On the re-
suit of such an issue, fairly presented to the
popular Judgment, there is no room for
doubt. One thing only is necessary to assure
harmony and cordial CO.
operation on the part Of all Republicans, on
the part both of those who aspire to lead and
OF those who are eager to follow. The duty
ls not one merely Of honorable devotion to
the party whose record aud whose aims
are alike great. but it is one demanded
by the instinct of self-interest and by
the still higher promptings of patriotism. A
closer observation OF the conditions Of lifc
among the Older nations gives oae more
Intense desire that the American people