Morning journal and courier., 1888-02-13

The Republican National Conven.
 tIon-A Bomb In The Political " vorId.
 PITTsBURG, Feb. 12.-The Commercial Gazette of this city will tomorrow publish the following:
 FLORENCE, Italy, Jan. 25, 1888. B. F. Jones, Esq, chairman of the Republi-
 can 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 candidates for president and vice president of the United States. I am constrained to this decision by considerations entirely personal to myself, of which you were advised more than year ago. But I cannot make the announcement without giving expression to my deep sense of gratitude to the many thousands of my countrymen who have sus- tained 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 can make no adequate return, but shall carry the memory of it while life lasts. Nor can refrain from congratulating the Republican party upon the cheering pros poets which distinguish the opening of the national contest of 1888 as compared with that of 1884, In 1882 the Re- publican party throughout the Union met with disastrous defeat. The 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 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 ont of 8 total of 401. There was 8 partial re- action in favor of the Republicans in the elections of 1883, 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 col leges of the whole country. But against the Encouragement naturally following the ad- verse 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 8 single and that State was carried by the Democratic party by plurality so small that it represented less than e-sleventh of one per cent. of the entire vote. The change of single vote in every 2,000 of the total poll would have given the State to the Repub- licans, though only two years before the Democratic plurality exceeded 192, ,000. The elections of 1886 and 1887 have demonstrated growing strength in the Republican ranks. Seldom in our political history has 8 party defeated in a national election rallied imme-
  l1cans since 1884. No comparison is possible between the spirit of the party in 1SS2-3 and it's spirit in 1S86-7. The two periods present simply a contrast-the one of general depression, the other of enthusias- tic revival. Should the party gain of 1S86-7 in anything like the proportion of the gain of 1884 over 1S82-3 it would se- cure one of the most remarkable victories of it's entire existence. But victory does not depend on so large ratio of increase; the party has only to maintain relatively it's prestige of 1SS6-7 to give to its national can- didate every northern State but one with far better prospect of carrying that one than it has had for the past six years. Another feature of the political situation should in spire Republicans with irresistible strength. The present national administration was elected with if not upon the repeated asser- tions of it's leading supporters in every pro- tection State that no issue on the tariff was involved. Howsoever earnestly Republicans urged that question as the one of control ling importance in the campaign they were met by the Democratic journals and leaders with persistent evasien, con cealment and denial. That resource the President has fortunately removed. The is- sue which the Republicans maintained and the Democrats avoided in 1884 has been prominently and specifically brought forward I by the Democratic President and cannot be ' hidden out of sight in 1888. The country is ! now in the enjoyment of an industrial sys- tenn which in quarter of 8 century has as- sured a larger national growth, more rapid | accumulation and a broader distribution of wealth than were ever before known to his- | tory. The American people will new be \ openly and formally asked to decide whether \ this system shall be recklessly abandoned | and new trial be made of an old experiment | which has uniformly led to national embar- E rassment and widespread distress. On the re- | suit of such an issue, fairly presented to the popular judgment, there is no room for ! doubt. One thing only is necessary to assure success-complete harmony and cordial eos operation on the part of all Republication | the part both of those who aspire to lead and | those who are eager to follow. The duty is not one merely of honorable devotion to the | party whose record and whose aims are alike great, but it is one demanded by the instinct of self-interest and by the still higher prompt ings of patriotism. A closer observation of the conditions of life among the old na- tions gives one 8 more intense desire that the American people shall make no mistake in choosing the policy which inspires labol with hope and crowns it with dignity, whict gave safety to capital and protects its in' crease, which secures political power to every citizen, comfort and culture to every home
 To this end, not less earnestly and more | directly as 8 private citizen than as publi,
 candidate, I still devote myself with thu
 confident belief that the administration O
 the government will be restored to the part, | which has demonstrated the purpose and tn ! power to wield for the unity and honor of tn
 republic, for the prosperity and progress o
 the people.
 am, very sincerely yours,
 JAMES G. BLAINE.