Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-13
Blaine Not Anxious tC
Take Cleveland's Place.
REASONS FOR SUCH AvOWAL
He Reviews the Political Situa.
tiOn and Talks of His
Party's Prospects.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD


Committee, has received letter from
Mr.. Blaine declining to allow his
name to be presented to the National
Republican Convention as candidate
for the Presidency. Mr.. Jones, when
asked whether Mr.. Blaine's declina-
rtion would prevent his friends from
nominating him anyhow, said:
Gas am Chairman of the National
Committee, l do not think it would
be proper for me to have anything to
say on that subject"
''Do you think Mr.. Blaine would
accept the nomination ii tendered?"
81 have no authority to speak for
Mr.. Blaine, and have no conjectures
to offer on that subject. The letter
speaks for itself, and / must decline
r to be interviewed on the question.
TEXT OF THE LETTER.
The following is Mr.. Blaine's letter
in full
FLORENCE, Italy, Jan. 25, 1888.
To B. F. Jones, Esq, Chairman of the
Republican National Committee.
SIR-I wish through you to state to
the members of the Republican party
that my name will not be presented
o. to the National convention called to
assemble in Chicago in June next for
nomination of candidates for Presi-
dent and President of the United
States. / am constrained to this de-
cision by considerations entirely per-
sonal to myself, of which you were
advised more than year ago, but l
cannot make this announcement with
out giving expression to my deep
sense Of gratitude to the many thou
sands OF my countrymen who have
sustained me SO long and so
cordially. That feeling has seemed
to go beyond the ordinary
political adherence of fellow
partisans, and to partake somewhat
Of the nature Of personal attachment.
For this most generous loyalty of
friendship, can make 10 adequate
return, but shall carry the memory
of it while life lasts. Nor can l refrain
from congratulating the Republican
party upon the cheering prospects
which distinguish the opening of the
national contest of 1888, as compared
with that OF 1884. In 1882 the Re-
publican party throughout the
United States met with disastrous
defeat. Ten States that had sup
ported Garfield and Arthur. in the
election of 1880 were carried by the
Democrats.
Either by majorities or pluralitie 9
THE REPUBLICAN LOSS
In the northern sections, compared
with the preceding national election,
exceeded half million of votes and
the electoral vote of the Union di-
vided on the basis of the result of
1884, gave the Democrats over 800
electors out OF o total of 400. There
was partial reaction in favor of the
Republicans in the elections of 1888,
but the Democrats still held posses.
sion OF several Northern States, and
on the basis of the years contest
could show more than 100 majority in
the electoral college of the whole
country. But against the discour-
agement naturally following the ad-
verse 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 energy
that the final result depended ON the
vote of a single State and that State
was carried by the Democratic party
by q plurality 30 small that it repre-
sented less than one-eleventh OF one
per cent of the entire vote. A change
OF single vote in every 1000 of total
pole would have gwen the State to
the Republicans, though only two
years before, the Democratic plurality
exceeded 10000. The elections OF
1885 and 1887 have demonstrated
THE GROWING STRENGTH
In the Republican ranks and sell
dom in our political history has a
party defeated in 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 a contrast, one Of
general depression and the other OF
enthusiastic revival. Should the
party gain in the results of 1888 over
those of 1867 in anything like a
proportion of the gain over 1928, it
would secure one of the most remaLk-
able victories of it's entire existence.
But victory does not depend on SO
large ratio of increase. The party
has only to maintain relatively it,
prestige of 1867 to give to its ma
tional candidate every Northern State
but one, with far better prospect of
carrying that one than it had for at
least six years.
ANOTHER FEATURE
OF the political situation should in.
spire. the Republicans with irresistible
strength. Tue present National Ad-
ministration was elected with the re-
peated assertions Of its leading sup
porters in every projection State, that
no issue on the tariff was involved,
and however urgently the Repub-
licans urged that the question was
one OF controlling importance in the
campaign, they were met by the
Democratic leaders and journals with
persistent evasion, concealment and
denials. That resource the President
has fortunately removed. The issue
W ,ich the Republicans mentioned
and the Democrats avoided in 1884
has been promptly and specifically
brought forward by the Democrats
President and cannot be hidden out
of sight in 1888. The country is now
in enjoyment OF an industrial system
which III quarter Of century has
assured larger national growth,
more rapid accumulation, and broad r
distribution of wealth than was ever
before known to history. The Ameri-
can people will now be openly and
formally asked to decide whether this
system shall be racklesaly ahan.