The Columbus journal., 1888-02-22
Blaine's Letter.

! Blaine's Letter.
Last week, for lack of space, we gave
brief summary of Blaine's letter: we
herewith print it, in full:
"FLoRExcE, Italy, Jan. 25, 1888 8-B. j.
Jones, Esq, Chairman of the Republican
National Committee Sir: l 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 for presi-
dent and vice president of the United
| States. I am constrained to this decis
ion by considerations entirely personal
to myself, of which you were advised
more than year age.
But cannot make the announcement
without giving expression to my deep
sense Of gratitude to the many thousands
of my cOuntrymen who have sustained
me SO long and SO cordially that the
feeling has seemed to go beyond the or
dinary political adherence OF fellow
partisans and to partake somewhat OF
the nature of personal attachment. For
this most generous loyalty OF friendship
I can make no adequate return. but L
shall carry the memory or 1t while LIE
lasts.
Nor can I refrain from congratulatlng
the republican party upon the cheering
prospects which distinguish the opening
of the national contest of 1888 as COM
pared with that of 1884 In 1882 the
republican party throughout the union
met with 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
northern elections compared with the
preceding national elections exceeded
half q million votes, and the electoral
votes of the union divided on the basis
of the result of 1884, gave the democrats
over three hundred electors out OF
total of four hundred and one. There
was partial reaction in favor OF the re-
publicans 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 one hundred majority in the cleo
toral college 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 1854 rose
high, and the republican masses entered
into the campaign with such energy that
the final result depended on the vote OF
a single state, and that state was carried
by the democratic party by plurality
so small that it represented less than
one eleventh OF l per cent OF the entire
vote. The change of a single vote in
every 2.OOO of the total poll would have
given the state to the republicans, though
only two years before the democratic
plurality exceeded one hundred and
ninety-two thousand.
The elections of 1886 and 1887 have
demonstrated the growing strength IN
the republican ranks. Seldom in our
political history has party, defeated in
national election rallied Immediately
with such yigor as has the republican
since 1884. No comparison is possible
between the spirit Of the party in 1898
and its spirit in 1SS6-87. The two pc
riods present simply a cOntrast-One OF
general depression, the other OF enthu-
siastic 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 1882 50, it would
secure one of the most remarkable VIC
tories of it's entire existence. But the
victory does not depend on SO large a
ratio of increase. The party has only to
maintain relatively its prestige OF 1861
to give to its national candidate every
northern state but one, with far better
prospect of carrying that one than 1t has
had for the past six years.
Another feature of the political situa- |
ton should inspire republicans with
irresistible strength. The present ma
tional administration was elected with. |
if not upon, the repeated assertions OF
its leading supporters In every protec-
ton state that no issue on the tariff was
involved. However urgently republic
cans urged that question as the one OF
controlling importance in the campaign, |
they we're met by the democratic leaders
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 in
1884 has been prominently and specific
ally brought forward by the democratic
president and cannot be hidden out OF
sight in 1888: The country is now in the
enJoymsE ss1f 81 "a industrial sysCo.s%" lch
~ quarter of a century has assumed a
larger natural growth, a more rapid ac-
cumulation and broader distribution |
of wealth than were ever before known |
to history. The American people will
now be openly and formally asked to de- |
eide whether this system shall be reck- |
lessly abandoned and a new trial be |
made of an old experiment which has
uniformly led to national embarrassment |
and widespread individual distress. On |
the result of such an issue, fairly pre- |
sented to popular Judgment, there Is no |
room for doubt. One thing only is nee |
essary to assure success-complete mar
mony and cordial cooperation 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 it is one demanded
by the instinct of self-interest and by
the still higher prompting OF PATRIOTISM
A close 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 choos-
ing the policy which inspires labor with
hope and crowns it with dignity; which
gives safety to capital and protects Its
increase; which secures political power
to every citizen. and comfort and culture
to every home. i
To this end, not less earnestly and
more directly as a private citizen than
as a public candidate, shall devote
myself, with the confident belief that
the administration Of the government
will be restored to the party which has
demonstrated the purpose and the power
to WELD it for the unity and the honor OF
the republic, for the prosperity and pro-
eress OF the people. am very sincerely
yours. JAMES u. bLAINE.
The PrOhibitiOnists.
LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. 16.-The state
prohibition convention met this morning
at 9 O'Clock. The Hon. 81. w. Hurdy