Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-02-17
BLAINE SPEAKS.
He WithdrawS from the List OF
Presidential Candidates.

Mr.. B f. Jones, Chairman of the
Natl onal Republican Committee. has
received letter from Mr.. Blaine de-
clining to allow his name to be pre-
seuted to the National Republican
Convention as candidate for the
Preside n,ial nomination.
The following is MIR. Blaine's let
ter in full
FLORENCE, ITALY, Jan. 25, 1888
B F. Jones. Esq, Chairman of the
Republican National Committee:
Sri wish through you to state
to the members of the Republican
Party that my name will not be pre-
seated 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.
lam constrained to this decision
by considerations entirely personal to
myself, of which you were advised
more than a year ago. But cannos
make the announcement without CIV
ing expression to my deep sense OF
gratitude to the many thousands OF
nv countrymen who have sustained
me so long and so cordially that theiI
feeling has seemed to 60 beyond the
ordinary political adherence of fellow,
partisaus and to parteke somewhat OF
the nature of personal attachment
For this most generous loyalty ol
friendship, | can make no adequate
return, but shall carry the memory
of it While life lasts.
Nor can | refrain from coDgratuia-
ting the Republican Party upon the
cheering prospects which distinguish
The opening of the National contest
| of 1888 as compared with that oi
1884 In 1882 the Republican party
throughout the Union met with a
disastrous defeat Ten States thai
| had supported Garfield and Arthur
10 the election of 1880 were carried
by the Democrats either by majoriries
or pluralities. The Republican loss
in the Northern elections compared
with the preceding National election
exceeded half million votes, and the
electoral votes of the Union, divided
on the basis of the result OF 1882,
gaye to the Democrats over three hun
dred electors out Of total OF four
hundred and one. There was a par
tial reaction in favor of the Republl
cans in the elections of 1888 but the
Democrats still held possession OF
seven Northern States, and Oh the
basis of the years contest could show
more than loo majority in the Eiec-
toral Colleges Of the whole country.
But against the discouragemeni
naturally following the adverse cleo
tions of these two years the spirit ol
the Republican Party in the National
contest of 1884 rose high, and the
Republican masses entered into the
campsign with such energy that the
final result depended on ths vote OF
single State, and that State was car.
ried by the Democratic Party by q
plu rality SO small that it represented
less than one.eleventh Of one per
cent. of the entire vote. The change
| Of single vote in every (2,00O) two
thousand of the total poll would have
given the States to the
Republicans, though only two years
before, the Democratic plurality ex.
ceeded Q92.0C0) one hundred and
ninety.two thousand.
The elections of 1886 and 1887
have demonstrated growing strength
in the Republican ranks. Seldom in
our political history has a party, de,
feated in National election, rallied
Immediately with such vigor,as have
the Republicans since 1884. No com
purison is possible between the spirit
of the party in 1882. SO and It's spirit
10 1861. The periods present sim
ply contrast-the one Of general de-
preston, the other of enthusiastic re.
vival. Should the party gain, III the
results OF 1888 over those Of 1861,
in anything like the proportion OF the
gain OF 1884 over 1882 3, it would
secure one of the most rsmarkable
victories of its entire existence. But
victory does not depend on 80 large
q ratio of increase; the party has oo-
ly TO maintain relatively It's prestige
or 1861 TO give to its National can.
didate evsry Northern State but one,
with q far better prospect OF carrying
that one than it has had for the past
six years.
Another feature of the political sit
uation should inspire Republicans
with irrcsistable strength. The pres.
ent National Administration was
elected with, if not upon, the repeat
ed assertions OF its leading supporters
in every protection State that NJ iss
ne on the tariff was involved. How.
ever earnestly Republicans urged
that question AZ the one OF CONTROL
ing importance in the campaign, they
were met by the Democratic leaders
and journals with persistent evasion,
concealment and denial. Tint re
source the President has fortunately
removed The issue which the Re
publicans maintained and the Demo
Gratis avoided in 1884 has beer prom
inently aud specifically brought for
ward by the Democratic President
and cannot be hidden out OF sight in
1888 The country is now in the en-
joyment OF an industrial system
which in a quarter OF q
century has assured larger
National growth, more rapid
accumulation and a broader distrlbu
tiou Of wealth than were ever before
known to history. The Americaa
people will now be openly and for
mally asked to decide whether this
system shall be recklessly abandoned
and new trial be made Of an old ar
experiment which has uniformly LED
to National em mbarrassment aud wide
spread individual distress. On tho
result OF such an issue, fairly present
ed to the popular judgement, there i.
no room for doubt.
One thing only ia necessary to as
sure success-complete harmony aud
cordial cooperation on the part OF al
Republicans --on the part both d
those who aspire to lead and of those
who are eager to follow. The dutJ
is not one merely Of honorable dego
ton to the party whose record ant