Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-02-17

PITTSBURG, Pa, Eeb. l2.-lhe Pitts
burg Commercial Gazette publishes thu
following: "Mr. b. f. Jones, chair
man of the national republican commit
tee has received letter from Mr.. Blaine
declining to allow his name to be pre-
scented to the national republican conven
ton as candidate for the presidential
nomination. Mr.. Jones, when asked
whether Mr., Blaine's declination woult
prevent his friends from nominating hin
any how, said
GAS | am chairman of the committee
do not think 1t would be proper for me tt
have anything to say on that subject"
"Do you think Mr. Blaine would accept
the nomination if rendered him ~
81 have no authority to talk for Mr.
Blaine, and Ihave no coniectures to Offer
on the subject, the letter speaks for itself
and | must decline to be interviewed on
this question"
full
FLORENCE, Italy Jan. %, 1855.
b. F. Jones, Esq, Chairman Of the Re
publican National CnnmittcC:
Sir Il 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 a sem bic in Chicago
in June next for the nomination of candi-
dates for president aud vice president of
the United States.
am constrained to this decision by con
siderations entirely personal to myself, of
which you We're advised more than a year
ago But | cannot make the announce
ment without giving expression to my
deep sense of gratitude to the many thou
sands of my countrymen who have sus
tanned me so long and so cordially. that
their feeling has seemed to go beyond the
ordinary political adherence of fellow
partisqns 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 re
publican party upon the cheering pros
poets which distinguish the opening of
the national contest of 1883, as compared
with that of 1854. In 1889 the republican
party throughout the Union met with a
d sastrous defeat. Ten States that had
supported Garfield and Arthur in the
election OF 1850 were carried by the demo
Gratis either by majorities or pluralities.
The republican loss in the northern cleo
tons compared with the preceding ma
tional elections exceeded half a million
votes, and the electoral votes of the
union divided on the basis of the
result of 1852, gave the democrats
over three hundred electors out of
total of 40l. There was partial reac-
ton 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 disbursement natur-
ally following the adverse elections of
these two years the spirit Of the republi-
can party. in the natiCna! contest of 1881
rose high and the republican masses etl-
laa.f l, l.,
that the final result depended on the vote
of a single State, and that State was car
ried by the demo cratic party by a purali-
ty so small that it represented less than
one eleventh OF one per cent of the entire
vote. The change Of single vote il every
2oOO of the total poll would have given the
State to the republicans, though only two
years before the democratic plurality eX-
ceeded $4,000.
The elections of 1856 and 1857 have de-
monstrated growing strength in the re-
publican ranks. Seldom in our political
history las party, defeated in national
election, rallied Immediately with such
vigor as have the republicans since 1884
No comparison is possible between the
spirit of the party in 1923 and its spirit
in 1867. The two periods present simply
a contrast, the one of general depre- sion
the other of enthusiastic revival. Should
the party gain in the results of 1883 over
those of 1856 and 1857 in anything like
the proportion of the gain of 1884 over 1852
and 1888, it would sucure one OF the most
remarkable victories of its entire existence,
But victory does not depend on 50 large
a ratio of increase. The party has only to
retain relatively its prestige of 1856 and
1887 to give its national candidate every
Northern State but one, with a far better
prospect OF carrying that one than there
has been for the past six years.
Another feature of the political situa
ton should inspire Republicans with
irresistible strength. The present national
administration was elected with, II not
upon, the repeated assertions of the lead !
ing supporters in every protection State, |
that no issue on the tariff was involved.
However earnestly republicans urged that
question as one of controlling Importance
in the campaign, they were met by the
democratic leaders and journals with per
slstent evasion. conceaiment and denial.
That resource the president has fortunate
ly removed. The issue which the repub-
licans maintained and the democrats
avoided in 1884 has been prominently and
specially brought forward by the demo !
cratic president, and cannot be hidden
is now in the enjoyment of
an industrial system which in a quarter
of century has assured a larger
national growth, more rapid accumu
lation and broader distribution OF wealth !
than were ever before known to history. !
and formally asked to decide whether this
system shall be recklessly abandoned and
a new trial be made made of an old eX-
pertinent which has uniformly led TO ma
tional embarrassment and widespread in
divdual distress. On the result 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 CO.
operation on the part of all republicans
on the part both of those who aspire to
lead and of 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 il is one
demanded by the instinct of self-intere-t
and by the sull higher prOmptings OF
patriotism.
A closer observation of the conditions of
life among the older nations gives one a
more intense desire that the American
people shall make no mistake in choosing
the policy which inspires labor with hope
and crowns il with dignity, which gives
safety to capital and protects its increase,