Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-02-17

to offer on the subject. Inc letter
speaks for itself and | must decline
to be interviewed on this question"
The following is Mr.. Blaine's let
ter in full:
FLORENCE, ITALY,
January, %, 1855.
b. F. JONES, Esq, Chairman Ofthe
Republican National Committee
SIR wish through YOU to state
to the members of the Republican
party that my name will not be
presented to the National COnven-
ton called to assemble IN Chicago
IN June next for the nomination of
candidates for President and Vice
President of the United States.
| am constrained to this decision
by cOnsi leratiOns entirely personal
to myself of which You advised
more than a year ago. But can
not make the announcement with.
out giving expression to nv deep
sense of gratitude to the many thou
sands of my cOuntrymen who have
sustained me 50 long and so cor
daily that their feeling has seemed
to be beyond the ordinary political
adherence of fellow partlsans and
TO ...rtake somewhat of the nature
of personal attachment. For this
most generous loyalty Of Friendship,
| eau make no adequate return, but
l shall carry the memory Of it while
lite lasts.
Nor Can [ refrain from cOngratu-
lating the Republican party upon
the cheering prospects which dis
tinguish the opening Of the nation
al contest of 1888 as compared with
that of 1884. la 1882 the Repubh-
can 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 north.
ern elections compared with the
preceding national election exceed
ed halt a million votes, and the
electoral votes of the Union, divid-
ed on the basis of the result of 1882,
gave TO the Democrats over 800
electors out of a 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 con-
test could show more than 100 ma
jOrity in the electoral colleges of
the whole country.
But against the encouragement
naturally following the adverse
elections 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 single
state, and that state was carried
by the Democratic party by plu-
rality so small that it represented
less than One-eleventh Of one per
cent. of the entire vote. The
change of a single vote ~ every
2,0O0) two thousand OF the total
poll would have given the state to
the Republicans, though only two
years before, the Democratic plu-
rality exceeded O92,OOO) one hun
dred and niuety-twO thousand.
The elections of 1856 and 1887
have demonstrated wing
strength in the Republican ranks.
Seldom in our political history has
a party, defeated in a national cleo
ton, rallied Immediately with snch
vigOr as have the Republicans since
1884. No comparison is possible
between the spirit Of the party in
1928 and its spirit in lSSG-7.-
The two periods present simply
one of general de-
preston, the other of enthusiastic
revival. Should the party gain, in
the results of 1888 over those of
1861, in anything like the proper.
tiOu Of the gain of 1884 over 1928,
it would secure one of the most re-
markable victories OF its entire eX-
istence. But victory does not de-
pend on so large a ratio OF increase;
the party has only to maintain rel
atively it's prestige of 1867 to
give it's national candidate every
northern state but one. with a far
better prospect of carrying that
one than it has had for the past six
years.
Another feature Of the political
situation should inspire Republi-
cans with irresistible strength
The present national administra.
ton was elected with, if not upon,
the repeated assertions Of it's lead
ing supporters in every protection
state that no issue on the tariff was
involved. However earnestly Re.
publicans uged that question as
the one of controlling Importance
in the campaign, they were met by
the Democratic leaders and jOurn.
ais with persistent evasion, con.
cealment, and denial. That re.
source the President has fortunate
ly removed. ThelsSue which the Re.
publicans maintained and the Demo
Gratis avoided IN 1884 has been prom.
inently aud specifically brought
forward by the Democratic Presl.
dent, and cannot be hidden ont OF
sight in 1888. The country is now
in the enjoyment of an industrial
system which in a quarter of a cen.
tnry has assured a larger national
growth, a more rapid accumula.
ton, and a broader distribution o.
wealth than there we're ever before
known to history. The American
people will now be openly and
formally asked to decide whether
this system shall be recklessly
abandoned and a new trial be made
Of an old experiment which has uni
fOrmly led to national embarrass-
ment and widespread individual
distress. On the result Of such an
issue, fairly presented to the pOpu-
lar Judgment, there is no room for
doubt.
One thing only is necessary to
assure success-cOmplete harmony
and cordial cooperation on the part