, 1888-02-23
Mr. BIaine's Letter.



B. I. Jcncs. Esq, Chairman Of the
National Committee-Sir Iwish,
through you. to state to the mem
bers OF the republican party that any
name will not be presented TO the ma
tional convention called to assemble
il Chicago in June next for the
nomination Of candidates for presi-
dent and yicc-pyesident Of the United
States. l am strained TO this deci-
sion by considerations entirely per-
soHaE 10 myself, Cf which you were
advised more than Il year ago. But
l cannot make this announcement
without giving expression to my deep
sense OF gratitude TO many thous-
ands OF my coUntrymen, who have
sustained me so long and so cordially
that the feeling has seemed 10 go be-
yond ordinary political adherence of
fsllow partisans and to partake some
what of the nature of personal at
ltachment- For this most generous
| loyasty OF friendship can make 10
adequate return; bpt shall carry
| the memory OF il while life lasts.
Nor can 1 refrain from congratula-
ting the republican party upon the
cheering prospects which distinguish
the opening of the national contest
of 1888 as compared with that of
1881 In 1892 the republican party
throughout the United States mot
with disastrous defeat. Ten states
| that had supported Garfield and Ar
thur ia the election # 1880 wcTo
carried i5 taC ! u5arai-- either sy
najorIt!es OF plur;.i.ties. The repub-
iican loss. in the Northern elections,
compared with the preceding nation.
al election, exceeded half million
votes, and the electoral vote OF the
Union divided on the basis of the re-
suit of 1884, gave the democrats over
three. hundred electors ou5 of total
of four hundred and one There was
a partial reaction in favor of the re-
! publicans in the elections Of 1888,
but the democrats still held poses
sion of several 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 discour-
argement naturally following the adj
verse elections of these two years
tho spirit of the republican party in
the national contest of 1884 rose
high, and the republican masses en-
tered into the campaign with such
energy that the final result depended
on the vote of n single state, and that
state was carried by democratic
party by a plurality so small that it
represented less than one-eleventh of
l per cent. of the entire vote The
change of single vote in every 1000
of the total poll would have given
the state to the republicans, though
only two years before the democratic
plurality exceeded 1872 900.
The elections of 1856 and 1887
have demonstrated the growing
strength in republican ranks. Sel-
dom in our political history has a
party defeated in a national election
rallied Immediately with such vigor
as have the republicans since 1884.
No comparison is possible between
the spirit of the party in 1882 and its
spirit in 1856. The two periods
present simply contrast, the one of
enthusiastic revival Should the
party gam in the results of 1883 over
those of 1SS6-T, in anything like the
proportion of the gain of 1884 over
1888, it would secure one of the
mt 1T remarkable victories OF its en-
tire existence. But victory does not
depend on so large ratio of increase.
The party has only to maintain rela-
lively its prestige of 1886 Z to give to
its national candidate every Northern
state but one, with far better proa-
pect of carrying that one than it has
had for at least six years.
Another feature of the political
situation should inspire republicans
| with irresistible strength. The pres,
ent national administration was cleo
ted with, if not upon, the repeated
assertions of its leading supporters
in every protection state that no is
sue on the tariff was involved. How
ever urgently republicans urged that
question as the one of controlling i'm
pcrtance in the campaign, they were
met by the democratic leaders and
| journals with persistent evasion,
coneealment and denial. That re-
source the president has fortunately
removed. The issue which the re-
pubhcans maintained and the demo-
Gratis avoided in 1854 has been promi-
nently and specially brought forward
by the democratic president, and can
not be hidden out of sight in 1888.
The country is now in the enjoyment
of an industrial system which IN a
quarter of a century has secured a
national growth, more rapid accu-
malation and brC ader distribution
of wealth than were ever before
known to history The American
people will now be openly and form
ally asked to decide whether this sys-
tenn shall be recklessly abandoned
and new trial be made of an old ex.
pertinent which has uniformly led to
national embarrassment and wide-
spread individual distress. OF the
result of such an issue fairly presen-
ted to the popular judgement'there
is no room for doubt. One thing only
Is necessary to assure success, COM
plete harmony and cordial eo-opera-
ton on the part both 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 is one de-
manded by the instinct of self-inter-
est and by the still higher prompt
ings of patriotism. A closer obser-
vation of the conditions of life among
the older nations. gives one mprc
intense desire that the American peo-
pie shall make no mistake by over
throwing the policy which inspires
hope and crowns it with dignity
which gives safety to capital and se-
cures It's increase; which secures po-
litical power to every citizen, and
comfort and culture to every home
To this end, not less earnestly and
more directly as private citizen than
as public. candidate, 7 shall devote
myself, with the confident belief that