Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-30
Will This Settle It?
a Letter from Blaine on a
Pressing Question:
ABSOLUTELY OUT OF THE CONTEST.

Those who Construed His First Deciina-
| tIon To he Candid and Unconditional
| Had Il NATURALIZATION on the Tariff
Gov. Gray Uses some Robust United
| states--A Disappointed Reformer-Press
| Seats at Chicago.
NEW YoRK, May 30. The Tribune prints
the following, dated Paris, May IA, 1888, and
| addressed TO "Whitelaw Reid, Esq, editor
New York Tribune
MY DEAN SiR:-Snce my return To Paris from
southern Italy on the Sth inst, have learned
| twhat did not before belieycl that my name may
yet Represented to che national convention ms a
candidate for the pre- sidential nomination Tor the
Republican party, single phrase OF my ietter OF
Jan -. from Forence-which was decisive OF
everything had the personal power 10 decide
has been treated by many of my most valued
friends as not absolutely conclusive In ultimate
and possible contingencies. On the other mana,
friends equally devoted aud disinterested have
construed my letter las it should be construed 10
IN. an unconditional Withholding Of my name
from the national convention They
have, in consequence, given their
support 10 eminent gentlemen who are are candi
dates for the Chicago nomination some OF whom
would not, am sure, have consented To assume
that position, If had desired to represent the
party in the presidential contest Of 1888 "
should now, by speech or by silence, by commits
sion or OMISSION permit my name in any event 10
come lrture the convention, | should incur the
repronch of being uncandid with those who have
always been candid with me.
speak therefore, because am not willing to
remain IN a doubtful attitude ! am not willing
to he the cause of misleading a single man among
the millions who have given me their SURFACES
aud their confidence. / am not willing that even
one OF my faithful supporters in the past should
think me capable Of palterug in a double sense
with my words Assuming that the
presidential nomination could by any
possible chance be offered TO me |
could not accept it without leaving in the minds
of thousands Of these men the impression that
had not been free from ndrectou, and therefore
could not accept it at all TIE misreprcSeuta-
tions of malice have no weight, but the just dis
pleasure Of friends could not patiently endure.
Republican victory, the prospects of which grow
brighter very day, can be Imperfect only by lack
of unity in council or by acrimonious contest over
men. The issue of protection is Incidentally
stronger and greater than any man, for II con
Germs the prosperity Of the present and Of genera
tiohs yet to come We're it possible for every
voter Of the republic To see for himself the
condition and IeCompenSe 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 phianthropists to elevate the Eu-
ropean lahorer but it will be lasting stigma
upon our craftsmanship ii we permit the Amer
lean laburer to be forced down 10 the European
level And in the end the rewards of labor every
where will be advanced if we steadily refuse to
lower the standard at home. Yours very sin
ceIcly JAMES G. BLAINE.