Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-02-16
THE FIELD CLEAR.

A letter appeared in the Monday
morning papers from james &. Blaine
stating that his name would not be pre-
scented to therepublican convention as
candidate for the nomination. The
letter was addressed to Chairman
Jones, and is accepted by friends and
enemies of the foremost statesman in
America as final and candid. Some
Of the wiseacres profess to have been
on the tip-toe of expectation looking
for the message. Some who have in
the light of the letter, thus divulged
the state of their expectancy, have
heretofore been as confidently stating
that Mr. Blaine was managcr-in-chief
of the republican hosts, and would at
the proper time bring about his own
nomination.
Mr.. Baine's withdrawal, however, is
in candid tone, and should be accepted
in the same spirit. 1t places the gen
tlsman in the same attitude OF all
others who have been named as proba-
bic candidates, with the exception that
it gives the assurance of an honorable
man that he will make no effort to Sc
cure his own nomination. Ii is Il vol
nntary REIMBURSEMENT of the prestige
of his own power. and gives other can
didates opportunity to employ their
advantages and develope their strength
And IL any candidate proves strong
enough to secure party convention en-
dorsement he will DE given no stronger
or more able personal support than
that of James G. Blaine. But the let.
Ter contains nothing to warrant the
conclusion that Mr. Blaine would not
accept a domination rendered by Il
unanimous vote of the convention, as
lie is a statesman who would not sacrl-
fee party good for personal comfort or
satisfaction. The wears of his life have
been busy with public service and de
yotion to country: his has been emf
nentiy public career and tE: ScciuSlon
and comforts of private life mold on
inviting inducements to him.
r,If it were conceded that tic letter
Was dictated with political motive, it
could be regarded only as a patriotic,
unselfsh admission TO contemporary
candidates and concession 10 orpOs-
ing factions of the party, giving them
equal advantage, and the opportunity
to nominate any man upon whom the
party can unite. But if the convention
shall request the service of Alr. Blaine
as the party candidate, he viii not Ot
obliged 10 rctract any utterance u
gracefully comply. and would bear the
standard through campaign whoSt
brilliancy could not be equated undel
the leadership of any other man i'll put
lie or private life.
In his letter the Maine Statesman
sends words of good cheer to all repub
licans, and expresses confidence tina
is reassuring, from which we make th'
following extract:
The elections of 1855 and 1887 haVt
demonstrated growing strength III th
Republican ranks. seldom in our pc
litical history has party, defeated i'll
national election, rallied immediatcl.
with such yigor as have the republican
since 1854. No comparison is pOSSibl
between the spirit of the party il
1898 and its spirit in 1886 81. Th
two periods present simply a contrast
The one of general depression, the othe
OF enthusiastic revival. Should tn
party gain. in the results of 1893 owe
those Of 1861. in anything like tn
gain of 1854 over lSs2-'83, it would st
cure one of the most remarkable vic
tories Of its entire existence. But vic
tory does not depend on so large "A fatl
of increase; the party has only to main
tain relatively its prestige of 1855 t
uye to its national candidate ever
northern state but one; with fan bet
ter prospect of carrying that one tina
it has had for the last six years.
One thing only * necessary to aSSur
success complete harmony and cordia
cooperation on the part of the rcpubl
cans--on the part of both those VIII
aspire to lead and of those VIII
are eager to follow. The duty isnot on
merely of honorable devotion to tn
party whose record and whose aims ar
alike great. but it is one demanded b
the instinct Of sclfinterest and by tn
still higher prUinptings of patriotism.