The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-16
Sherrnan'S The Man.
James G.. Blaine Declares Him
self Out OF The Race.

James g. Blaine Declares Him
self Out OF The Race.
The following letter from Mr..
Blaine to the Chairman Of the Re-
publican National Committee settles
one important feature of the
Campaign of 1888. There is no
doubt but that Mr.. Blaine would be
nominated, If his name were presented
to the Convention. As the case now
stands, the great Ohio Senator will
have no serious opposition. And no man
in this country could make grander
race or a better President. Read
Blaine's letter-it is good reading:
FLORENCE, ITALY, Jan. 25, 1888.
B. F. Jones, Esq, Chairman of the
Republican National Committee:
SIR-I 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 candi-
dates for President and Vice President
Of the United States.
am constrained to this decision
by considerations entirely personal to
myself, of which you were advised
more than a year ago. But | cannot
make the announcement without
giving expression to my deep sense
of gratitude to the many thousands
of my countrymen who have sustained
me so long and so cordially that their
feeling has seemed to go beyond the
ordinary political adherence of fellow
partisans and to partake somewhat OF
the nature Of personal attachment.
For this most generous loyalty of
friendship I can make no adequate
return, but 1 shall carry the memory
of it while life lasts.
Nor can [ refrain from congratu-
lating the Republican party upon the
cheering prospects which distinguish
the opening of the National contest
of 1888 as compared with that of
1884. In 1882 the Republican party
throughout the Union met with a
disastrous defeat. Ten States that
had supported Garfield and Arthur in
the election Of 1880 were carried by
the Democrats, either by majorities
or pluralities. The Republican loss
In the Northern elections, compared
with the preceding National election,
exceeded half a million votes, and the
electoral votes of the Union, divided
on the basis of the result of 1882,
gave to the Democrats over 300
electors out of total Of 401. There
was a partial reaction in favor Of the
Republicans in the elections Of 1888,
but the Democrats still held possession
of seven Northern States, and on the
basis Of the years contest could show
more than 100 majority in the
Electoral Colleges Of the whole
country.
But against the Encouragement
naturally following the adverse elect
ions of these two years the spirit of
the Republican party In the national
contest of 1884 rose high, and the
Republican masses entered into the
campaign with such energy that the
final result depended on the vote Of a
single State, and that State was
carried by the Democratic party by
plurality so small that it represented
less than one-eleventh Of one per
cent. of the entire vote. The change
of a single vote in every $1,000 two
thousand of the total poll would have
given the State to the Republicans,
though only two years before the
Democratic plurality exceeded 1192,
OOO) one hundred and ninety-two
thousand.
The elections of 1886 and 1887 have
demonstrated growing strength in the
Republican ranks. Seldom in our
political history has party defeated
in National election, rallied imme-
diately with such vigor as have the
Republicans since 1884. No COM
parison is possible between the spirit
Of the party in 1928 and its spirit
in 1867. The two periods present
simply a contrast-the one of general
depression, the other Of enthusiastic
revival. Should the party gain, in
the results Of 1888 over those of
1857, in anything like the proper
tion Of the gain of 1884 over 1928,
it would secure one Of the most re-
markable victories of its entire exist
ence. But victory does not depend
on so large a ratio of increase; 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 pros
pect of carrying 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 Administration was
elected with, if not upon, the repeated
assertions Of its leading supporters in
every protection State that no issue
on the tariff was involved. However
earnestly Republicans urged that
question as the one Of controlling i'm
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