Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-17
Mr.. BLAlNE's WITHDRAWAL,
FLORENCE, Italy, Jan. %, 1888.
Ii. F. Jones, Esq, Chairman of the Republican
National Committee:

b. F. Jones, Esq, Chairman of the Republican
National Committee:
Sr:-I wish through you to state to the mem.
Ders OF the Republican party that my name
will not be presented to the national conven.
ton called to assemble in Chicago in June
next tor the nomination OF candidates tor
President and Vice-President OF the United
states.
am constrained to this decision by consid
erations entirely personal to myself of which
You were advised more than II year ago. But
] cannot make the announcement without
giving expression TO my deep sense OF graft.
tude to the many thousands OF my country
men who have sustained me so long and so
cordially that their feeling has seemed to go
beyond the ordinary political adherence OF
fellow partizans, and to partake somewhat OF
the nature OF personal attachment. For this
most generous loyalty OF friendship | can
make no adequate return, but shall carry
the memory OF it while lite lasts.
Nor can l refrain from congratulating the
Republican party upon the cheering prospects
which distinguish the opening OF the national
contest OF lsSo as compared with that OF 1884.
In lss2 the Republican party throughout the
Union met with disastrous defeat. Ten
states that had supported Garfield and Ar
thur in the election of lSs0 were carried by
the Democrats, either by majorities or plural
tiles. The Republican loss in the Northern
elections, compared with the preceding ma
tional election, exceeded halt Il million ties,
and the electoral votes OF the Union. divided
on the basis OF the result OF 1882, gave to the
Democrats over 300 electors out OF IA total of
40l. There was II partial reaction in favor of
the Republicans in the elections OF lSS3, 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 colleges 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 Re-
publican masses entered into the campaign
with such energy that the final result depend
ed on the vote OF II single State, and that state
was carried by the Democratic party bya plu-
raltty so small that it represented less than
one-eleyenth of one per cent of the entire
1.hn N N incl in.
two thousand OF the total poll would have
given the state to the Republicans, though on.
ly two years before the Democratic plurality
exceeded one hundred and ninety-two thou.
sand.
The elections of 1886 and 1857 have demon.
strated growing strength in the Republican
ranks Seldom in our political history has a
party, defeated in national election, rallied
immediately with such vigor as have the Re-
BILE between theispirit OF the party in 1928 and
its spirit in 1857. The two periods present
simply contrast-the one of general depres.
sion, the other OF enthusiastic revival. Should
the party gain, in the results OF lSSs over
those OF lSs6-s7 in anything like the proper.
ton of the gain OF 1851 over lSS2-S3, it would
secure one eff the most remarkable victories
OF its entire existence. But victory does not
depend on so large "A ratio of increase; the
party has only to maintain relatively its pres
tige OF lss6;si to give to its national candidate
every Northern State but one, with a tar bet
ter prospect OF carrying that one than it has
had for the past six years.
Another feature of the political situation
should inspire Republicans with irresistible
strength. The present national administra-
ton was elected with, II not upon, the repeat
ell assertions OF its leading supporters in
cry protection State that no issue on the tar
! iii was involved. However earnestly Repub-
| licans urged that question as the one of con-
| trolling Importance in the campaign, they
were met by the Democratic leaders and jour
mails with persistent evasion, concealment
and denial. That resource the President has
| fortunately removed. The issue which the
! Republicans maintained and the Democrats
avoided in 1884 has been prominently and spe-
cihcallv brought forward by the Democratic
President and cannot be hidden out OF sight
! In ISIS. The country is now in the enjoyment
OF an industrial system which In a quarter OF
IA century has assured IA larger national
growth, "A more rapid accumulation and
broader distribution of wealth than were ever
before known to history. The American peo-
pie Will now be openly and formally asked to
decide whether this system shall be recklessly
abandoned and Il new trial be made OF an old
| experiment which has uniformly led to ma
tional embarrassment and widespread indi-
vidual distress. On the result OF such an is
sue. fairly presented to the popular Judgment,
there is no room for doubt.
One thing only is necessary to assure sue
cess-complete harmony and cordial cooper
alton 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 aud whose aims are alike
great, but ii is one demanded by the instinct
of seltinterest and by the still higher prompt
ings OF patriotism.
closer observation of the conditions of
lite among the older nations gives one more
make no mistake in choosing the policy
which inspires labor with hope and crowns II
with dignity, which gives safety to capital
and protects its increase, which secures po-
culture to every home To this end, not less