The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-29
MIR. BLAINE'S LETTER.

MIR. BLAINE'S LETTER.
Withdrawing His Name as Candi
date for Presidential Nomination.
The following letter, written at Florence,
Italy, by the Hon. James G. Blaine, explain:
itself:
FLORENCE, Italy, Jan. ., 1883.
B. F, Jones. Esq, Chairman of the Repub
lican National Committee:
SIR: 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 con-
siderations 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
country1nen who have sustained me so long
and SO cordially that their feeling has seemed
to 60 beyond the ordinary political ad-
herence Of fellow-partisans and to partake
somewhat Of the nature of personal attach
ment. For this most generous loyalty OF
friendship can make no adequate return,
but l 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 1883 as compared with
that of 1884. In 1882 the Republican party
throughout the Union met with disastrous
defect. Ten States that had supported
Garfield and Arthur in the election Of 1880
were carried by the Democrats either by ma
jorities or pluralities. The Republican loss in
the Northern elections compared with ths pre-
ceding national election exceeded half q mil ion
votes, and the electoral votes of the Union,
divided on the basis of the result Of 1882,
gave to the Democrats over three hundred
electors out of q total of 401. There was
partial reaction in favor of the Republicans
in the elections Of 1883, but the Demo-
Gratis still held possession Of seven Northern
States, and on the basis of the years contest
could show more than one hundred majority
in the Electoral COLLEGES Of the whole eountrv.
But against the d::SS;oW. .seinent naturally
following the adverse 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
pended on the vote of single state, and that
state was carried by the Democratic party
by plurality 80 small that it represented
less than one-seventh of one per cent, of the
entire VOTE The change Of single vote in
every C2,0J0 two thousand of the total poll
would have given the State to the Republi-
cans, though only two years before the DEM
ocratic plurality exceeded 1000 one hun
dred and ninety-two thousand.
The elections Of 1885 and 1887 have de-
monstrated growing strength in Republican
ranks. Seldom 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 1928 and its spirit in 1867
The two periods present simply q contrast.
the one Of general depression, the other OF
enthusiastic revival Should the par.
over those of 1867 in anything like the
1898, it would secure one of the most
remarkable victories of its entire existence.
But victory does not depend on so large
ratio Of increase; the party has only to
maintain relatively its prestige OF 1867 to
give to its national candidate 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
strength The present National Ad.
ministration was elected with, if not
upon, the repeated assertions Of its leading
supporters in every protection State that
no issue on the tariff was involved. How
ever earnestly Republicans urged that ques-
tion as the one Of controlling Importance
in the campaign, they were met by the Demo
cratic leaders and journals with per.
sistent evasion. concealment and denial. That
resource the President has fortunately re-
novel The issue which the Rupub'
licans maintained and the Demo
cLats avoided in 1884 has been promi
nently and specifically brought forward by
the Democratic President and cannot be hid
den out of sightin 1885, The country is now
in the enjoyment of an industrial system
which in a quarter OF a century has
assured a larger national growth, q
more rapid accumulation, and broader
distribution Of wealth than were ever before
known to history. The American people will
how be openly and formally asked to decide
whether this system shall be recklessly aban-
doned and a new. trial be made of an old ex-
pertinent which has uniformly led to national
embarrassment and widespread individual
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 sue
ceSS-cOmpleGe narHOuy duu CoEolui Gu
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 records and
whose aims are alike great but it is one de-
manded by the instinct of self-interest and by
the still higher promptings of patriotism.
A closer observation of the conditions Of life
among the older nations gives me more in.
tense desire that the American people shall
make no mistake in choosing the policy
with 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, comfort and culture to every home
TO this end, not less earnestly, and more
directly, as a private citizen than as
a public candidate, l shall devote nay
self, 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 aud progress of the people. l am,
very sincerely, yours,
JAMES G. BLAINE.