The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1888-02-15
Mr.. Blaine's Letter.
HIS NAME Nor To III PRESENTED IL TIE
Chicago CoNNtNtIoN

His NAME Nor To HE PRESENTED IL rHE
Chicago CoNvtNroN
FLORENCE. Italy, Jan. -, lsss.
b. f. Jones. Esd, Chairman of the
Republican National Committee
Sill wish, through You, 10 state Ia the
members Of the Republican party, that
my name will not bc presented to the
National Convention. called 10 assemble
in Chicago in June next, Tor the nomina
ton OF candidates for President and
Vice President Of the United States.
am constrained to this decision by con
siderations entirely personal to myself,
of which you were advised, more than Il
year ago, but cannot make the an
nouneement without giving expression to
my deep SENSE of gratitude to the many
thousands of my countrymcn who have
sustained me so long and SO cordially
that their feeling has seemed to 20 be
yond the ordinary political adherence Of
fellow partisans and To partakc some
what of t1e nature OF personal attach
mcnt. For this most generous loyalty Of
friendship | can make no adequate re-
turn, but shall carry the memory Of it
while life lasts, Nor can | refrain from
cOngratulating the Republican party upon
the cheering prospects which distinguish
i the opening of the National contest of
/ lsso as compared with that of 1854. In
l-o2 the Republican party, throughout
i the Mon met with "A disastcrous defeat.
/ Ten States that had supported q ,rlield
and Arthur, in the election of 1850, were
carried by the Democrats, either by
majoritics or pmrulitic>. The Republican
| loss in the Northern elections compared
with preceding National Elections cX-
/ hal mi md it.f tt.t gt
oral votes of the Union, divided on the
basis of the result of las2, gave to the
Democrats over 300 electors out of a
total of i0l. There was partial reaction
in favor of the Republicans in the cleo
tiOns of 1868, 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 college of the whole country
But against the discouragemcnt natur-
ally following the adverse elections OF
| these two years, the spirit of he Republic
can party in the national contest of 1854
rose high and the Republican masses en-
tered into the campaign with sucl
energy tibet the final result depended on
the vote of Il single State, and that STATE
was carried By the Democratic party. bu
by plurality SO small that it represent
ed less than one-clcventh Of one per cent
| of the entire vote The change of
single vote in every @ 900 two Thousand
of the total poll would have given TIL,
State to the Republicans, though only
two years before, the Democratic plural
ty exceeded (l92 ,O00) one hundred anC
ninety-two thousand.
The elections of 1856 and 1887 have
demonstrated growing strength in the
Republican ranks. Seldom, in our polit
ical history, has party defeated in t
National election rallied Immediately will
such ygor as have the Republicans since
1854. No comparison is possible between
the spirit Of the party in 1923 and it,
spirit in 1867. The two periods present
simply contrast, the one of genera
depression, the other of enthusiast,
revival. Should the party gain in the re
suits of lsSS over those of 1867, IN any
thing like the proportion of the gain OF
lsSi over 1929, it would score one ol
the most remarkable victories of its en-
tire existence But victory does not de
pend on so large a ratio of increase. The
The party has only to maintain, relative
ly, its prestige of lSS6-7 to give to it,
National candidate every Northern STATE
but one, with u far better prospect OF
carrying that one than it has had for tn,
past six years.
Another feature of the political situa
ton should inspire the Republicans will
irresistible strength The present ad
mnistration was elected with, If not, up
on, the repeated assertions of its leading
supporters in every protection State tha
no issue on the tariff was involved How
ever earnestly the Republicans urged thai
question as the one cOntrollin. import
ancc in the campaign, there were met b!
the Democratic leaders and journals will
persistent evasion, conccament an,
denial. That resource the President Ina
fortunately removed. The issue whicl
the Republicans maintained and the Dem
ocrats avoided in 1884 has been promi
nenty and specifically brought forwar,
by the Democratic President and cannu
be hidden out of sight in 1888.
The country is now in the enjoymen
of an industrial system, which in quart
er of centuary has assumed large
national growth, IA more rapid accumula
ton and Il broader distribution of wealt
than were ever before known to history
The American people will not be openl
and formally asked to decide whethe
this system shall be recklessly abandone
and new trial be made of an old cX
pertinent, which has uniformly led T.
national embarrassment and wide spreat
individual distress. On the result of sue
an issue. fairly presented to the popu
lar judgement, there is no room 70
doubt.
One thing only is necessary to assur
) success complete harmony and cordia
cooperation on the part of all Repub
leans, on the part both of those who as
pire to lead and of those who are cage
to follow. The duty is not one merel
of honorable devotion to the party who's
record and whose aims are alike great
but it is one demanded by the instinct o.
self interest and by the still highe
promptings of patriotism
A closer observation of the condition
of life among the older nations gives ON
more intense desire that the America
people shall make no mistakes in choos
ing the policy which inspires labor wit
hope and crowns it with dignity, whicI
gives safety to Capital and protects it
increase, which secures political powe
TO every citizen, comfort and culture T.
every home. To this end, not less earnest
" and more directly as private citize
then as public candidate, shall deyot
, myself with the confident belief that tn
administration of the Government wi
be restored to the party which has dem
onstratcd the purpose and the power t.
WELD it for the unity and the honor o
the Republic, for the prosperity and pro
gress of the people am,
Very sincerely yours,
JAMES q. BLAINE.
Supreme Judicial Court.