The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-02-16
RLAINE,S LETTER.

w hO 10 VI "AANihB oNaNA q -
gentlemen, is not only great man, but
must in the nature of things be one
whose advice is entitled to some cOnsid-
Grafton. In the said letter, he not only
withdIaws his name from the list of
candidates, but makes some remarks
which are commended to the party gen
orally,
The following is Mr.. Blaine's letter in
full:
FLORENCE, Italy, Jan. 20, 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 assem-
BILE in Chicago in June next for the nom
nation of candidates for President and
Vice President of the United States. l
am constrained to this decision by con-
slderatiOns entirely personal to myself,
of which you were advised more than
year ago. But l cannot make the an
nouncement without giving expression
to my deep sense OF gratitude to the
many thousands of my country who
have sustained me so long and so cor
daily that their feeling has seemed to
90 beyond the ordinary political adher'
ence of fellow partisans, and to partake
somewhat of the nature of personal at
tachment. For this most generous 10y
atty of friendship | can make no ade'
Quate return but | shall carry the mem
DRY of 1t while life lasts.
Nor can refrain from congratulate
ing the Republican party upon the
cheering prospects which distinguish
the opening of the national contest OF
1883 AS compared with that OF 1884. In
1882 the Republican party throughout
the Union met with disastrous defeat.
Ten states that had supported the Gar
field and Arthur in the election OF 1851
were carried by the Democrats either
by majUrltles or pluralltles. The he
publican loss in the Northern elections
compared with the preceding national
election exceeded half a million voters,
and the electoral votes of the Union dl-
vided on the basis of the result OF 1852
gave to the Democrats over 300 electors
out of a total of 40l. There was par.
tIaI reaction in favor of the Republicans
in 1883 but the Democrats still held pos
session of seven Northern States, and
on the basis of the years contest could
show more than 100 majority liz The
electoral colleges Of the whole coun-
try.
But against the Encouragement nat
urally following the adverse elections OF
these two years, the spirit of the Repub
lican party in the national contest OF
1884 rose high, and the Republican
masses etnered into the campaign win
such energy that the final result depend
ed on the vote of a single state, and that
state was carried by the Democratic
party, by plurality 80 small that II re-
presented less than one.eleventh OF per
cent. of the entire vote. The change ul
single vote in every 1000 of the total
poll would have given the state to the
Republicans, though only two years be-
fore the Democratic plurality exceeded
1872, 900.
The elections of 1886 and 1887 have
demonstrates growing strength in the
Republican RANKS. Seldom in our po-
lItical history has party defeated IN d
national election rallied Immediately
with such vigOr as has the Republican
since 1884. No comparison IS possible
between the spirit of the party in 1852
and its spirit in 1867. The two per
iods present simply a contrast-the one
of general depression, the other OF en-
thuslastIc revival. Should the party
gain in the results of 1888 over those OF
1867 in anything like the proportion
of the gain of 1884 over 1928, i woulC
secure one of the most remarkable vic
tories of its entire existence. But vic
tory does not depend on so large a ratio
of increase. The party has only to main
tain relatively its prestige of 1867 tC
give to its national candidate every
Northern state but one, with far bet
ter prospect Of carrying that one than 4
has had for the past six years,
another feature of the political stu
alton should inspire Republicans with
irresistible strength. The present ma
tional administration was elected with
if not upon, the repeated assertions o
its leading supporters in every protec
ton state that no issue on the tariff WA
involved. However earnestly Republi
cans urged that question as the one o.
controlling importance in the campaign
they were met by the Democratic lead
ers and journals with persistent evasion
concealment and denial. That resource
the President has fortunately removed
The issue which the Republicans main
tanned and the Democrats avoided IL
1884 has been prominently and speciii'
cally brought forward by the Democrat
ic President and cannot be hidden on
of sight in 1888. Tue country is now II
the enjoyment of an industrial system
which in a quarter of a century ha
| Ia nattnnal fTTntEth a
rapid accumulation and broader dis
tribution of wealth than were ever be
fore known to history,
The American people will now b.
openly and formally asked TO decid
whether this system shall be reckles5lN
abandoned and new trial be made 0
an old experiment which has unlfOrml
led to national embarrassment and wide
spread individual distress. On the re
suit of such an issue, fairly presented L
the popular judgment, there is no room
for doubt.
lone thing only is necessary to assur,
success-complete harmony ami cordia
co operation on the part OF all Republl
cans-on the part both Of those WHIT
aspire to lead and ofthose who are cage
to follow. The duty is not one mere
ly of honorable devotion to the party
whose record and whose aims are alik,
great, but il is one demanded by the in
stinct of self interests and by the stil
higher promptings at patriotism.
"A closer observation OF the condi
tiOns of life among the older nation
gives one a more intense desire that tn
American people shall make no mis-
take in choosing the policy which in
spires labor with hope and crowns
with dignity, which gives safety to cap
ital and protects ITS increase, which sc
cures political power to every citizen
comfort and culture to every home. T
this end not less earnestly and NOR
directly as a private citizen than rs
public candidate, shall devote mysel
with the confident belief that the ad
ministration Of the government will b
restored to the party which has demon
strated the purpose and the power t
WELD it for the unity and the honor @
the Republication the prosperity an
progress of the people.
, Il am very sincerely yours,
JAMES. G.. BLAINE
Editor II. II. Burt, formerly of Bra
tlpbOrO. has sailed for England, and