St. Paul daily globe., 1888-05-30
He REALLY MEANT IT,
Blaine's Declination From
Florence Had No String
Attached.
He ReiterateS His Statement
That He Is a Politi-
cal Corpse,
That Is, He Will Not Accept
the Republican Nom
. inatiOn.
This Leaves the Field Clear
to Scramble for the
Empty Honor.

NEW YORK, May 30.-The Tribune Of
to-day publishes the following letter
from Mr.. Blame:
Paris, May 17.-Whitelaw Reid, ESQ.,,
Editor New York Tribune-My dear
sir: Since my return to Paris from
Southern Italy on the Sth inst, / have
learned (what did not before believe)
that my name may yet be presented to
the National convention as a candidate
for the presidential nomination of the
Republican party. A single phrase of
my letter of Jan. 25 from Florence
(Which was decisive of everything I
mad the personal power to decide) has
been treated by many of my most valued
friends as not absolutely conclusive i'm
ultimate, and possible contingencies.
On the other hand, friends equally de-
voted and disinterested have construed
my letter (aS it should be cOnStrued) to
be an unconditional withholding of my
name from the national convention,
They have, in consequence, given their
support to eminent gentlemen who are
candidates for the Chicago convention.
some of whom would not, | am
sure, have consented to assume
that position if l had desired
to represent the party in the
presidential contest of 1888. If / should
now, by speech or silence, by commits
sion or omission, permit my name, in
any event, to come before the conven-
ton L should incur the reproach of
being uncandid with those who have
always been candid with me. | speak,
therefore, because L am not willing to
remain in a doubtful attitude. l am
not willing to be the cause of mislead-
ing a single man among the millions
who have given me their suffrages and
confidence. l am not willing that
even one of my faithful
supporters in the past should
think me capable of paltering
in double sense with my words. AS
suming that the presidential nomina-
tion could by any possible chance be
offered to me, l could not accept it with
out leaving in the minds of thousands
of these men the impression that had
not been free from indirection, and,
therefore, [ could not accept it 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
imperiled 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 concerns the pros
perity of the present 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 receive the
support of one wage-worker between
the two oceans. 1t may not be directly
in our power as philanthropists to ele-
vate the European laborer, but it will be
a lasting stigma upon our craftsmanship
if we permit the American laborer 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 &. BLAINE.