The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-13
BLAINE WRITES RIDDLE
vrsAYs HIS NAME WON'T BE PRE-
sENTED AT CHICAGO.

panublican Prospects of Success in
+b,s Years Great Fight Pictured as
pright by the Color-Blind Politician
chairman Jones Won't Say Blaine
is Out of the Race.
prrrsBURG, PA, Feb. 12-The Pittsburg
commercial Gazette will publish the fol-
living tomorrow: Mr. B. F. Jones,
rbairman of the National Republican Com
,5ttee. has received a letter from Mr. Blaine
declining to allow his name to be
rresented to the National Re
ruhlican Convention as a candidate for
| The Presidential nomination. Mr.. Jones,
when asked whether Mr.. Blaine's declination
would prevent his friends from nominating
him ANYHOW, said: LAS am chairman of
tba national committee | do not think it
would be proper for me to have anything to
say on that subject"
nDo YOU think Mr.. Blaine would accept
tbe nomination if rendered to himF
81 have no authority to speak for Mr..
Rlaine and have no conjectures to offer on
tbe subject The letter speaks for itself and
| must decline to be interviewed on the
Following is Mr.. Blaine's letter in
full o'
FLORENCE ITALY, Jan. 25, 1888.
To B. F. Jones' ESQ, Chairman of the Repubt
can National Committee:
SRI wish through you to state to the men,
hers of the Republican party that my name
will not be presented to the national con-
vention called to assemble in Chicago in June
next. for the nomination of candidates for
President and Vice President of the United
States / am constrained to this decision by
considerations entirely personal to myself, of
which YOU were advised more than year
ago. But / cannot make the announcement
without giving expression to my deep sense of
gratitude to the many thousands of my cOun-
tryuen who have sustained me so long and SO
cordially that their feeling has seemed to 20 be-
vond the ordinary political adherence of fellow
partisans and 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
life lasts Nor can refrain from congratul8ting
the Republican party upon the cheering pros
poets which distinguish the opening of the
national contest Of 1888 as compared with that
of 1884 In 1882 the Republican party through
out the Union met with disastrous defeat. Ten
States that had supported Garfield and Arthur
in the election of 1880 were carried by the
Democrats either by maiorities or puralities.
The Republican loss in the Northern elections
compared with the preceding national election
exceeded 500 900 votes and the electoral votes of
the Union divided on the basis of the result Of
iS2 gave to the Democrats over 300 electors out
ot total of 40l. There was a par
tal reaction in favor of the Repub-
Leans in the elections of 1888, but the Demo-
Gratis still held possession of seven Northern
States, and on the basis of the years contest
could show more than 100 majority in the elec-
toral 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 1884 rose high, and the Republican
masses entered into the campaign with such en-
er-y that the final result depended on the vote
a Ul carried
by the Democratic party by plurality so small
that il represented less than one-eleveth of
per cent. of the entire vote. The change of a
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 $4,000. The elections of 1886
and 1887 have demonstrated grow
Ing strength in the Republican ranks.
Seldom in our political history has
the party defeated in q national election rallied
Immediately with such vigor as have the Re
publcans since 1894. No comparison is possible
between The spirit of the party in 1928 and
its spirit in 1857. The two periods present
simply contrast. the one of general depression,
the other of enthusiastic revival Should the
party gain in the results of leSS over those
Of 1861 in anything like the proportion
of gain of 1884 over 1928 it would secure one of
the most remarkable victories of it's entire ex-
lStence, but victory does not depend on so large
ratio of increase. The party has only To
maintain relatively its prestige of 1867 to give
70 It's national candidate every Northern State
hat one than it had for the past
sx years. Another feature OF
he political situation should inspire the Re
pubicans with irresistible strength The
present national administration elected
lth, II not upon, the repeated assertions of its
eading supporters in every protection State
nat no issue on the tariff was involved. How
ever earnestly the Republicans urged that ques
ion as one Of controlling Importance in the
campaign, they were met by the Democratic
@ eaders and journals, with. persistent
Vasion, concealment and denial. That resource
he PRESIDENT has fortunately removed. The
Ssue which the Republicans maintained AND
he Democrats avoided in 1884 has been prom
zen 1nently and specifically brought forward by the
olt oil sight IN 1885 The country is now in the
enJoyInent OF an industrial system which, in q
guarler OF century, has assured larger national
CROWN, more rapid accumulation and broader
MsTihutlon OF wealth than we're ever before
hhoWn to history. The American people viii
% n2w 9e openly and formally asked to decide
%net1er ihle system shall be recklessly aban
u nulleu ana a new trial made of the old expert
n-HO which has uniformly led &c
i maH9oaI 99oa embarrassment and widespread indivd
@ al uIaress On the result of such an issue fairly
ia1sehted TO the popular Judgment there is nc
@ .oon Tor doubt. One thing only is necessary tC
Ie sSuIe success, complete harmony and cordial
w. ..LIoperation on the part of all Republicans or
6e part both OF those who aspire to lead and OF
~ VINO are eager to follow
tle duty is not one merely OF
Iaole devotion to the party, whose
~ ~ ana whose aims are alike great. but it is
on5 5 aenanded by the instinct of self interest
gnl oy the still higher promptings of patriot
is aA closer observation of the conditions ol
ine among the older nations gives one a more
roi7e nsil7e desire that the American people shall
TSns.n '@ae no mistake in choosing policy which
tc ti%livS % iaoor with hope and crowns IL with dgni
K, (WHICH Nllch gives safety to capital and protects its
c-.eaSe, which secures political power to every
gi Ggt@en comfort and culture to every home. Tt
Is enc, not less earnestly and more directly a,
private citizen that as a public candidate,
b. b. pe'ote myself, with the confident belief
~. tne administration of the government viii
~ 5ieslored TO the party which has demonstrated
g purpose and power TO WELD it for the unit,
N.Y. ny donor honor of the republic, and for the prosper
" anu progress Of the people.
am, very sincerely yours,