The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-13
A Letter from Him Declining to AL
low His Name Tc Ee Presented.
He Doesn't Care To Be Defeated FOL
the Presidency a Second Time.
The Letter Is Intended to Raiso
the Republican Spirits.
Ne Takes the First and Best Step to
Accomplish This by Relieving
the Party OF Himself as
a Candidate.

| PfrrsDURu, IA, rep, lE.--lhc IllIsourg
Commercial Gazette will publish the follow
ing tomorrow: "Mr. ID. L. Jones, chair
man OF the National Republican commit
tee has received letter from Mr.. Blaine
declining to allow his name to be pre-
sented to the National Republican con-
vention as candidate for the presidential
nomination"
Mr.. Jones, when asked whether Mr..
Blaine's declination would prevent his
friends from nominating him anyhow,
said: "As am chairman Of the national
committee / do not think II would be
proper for me TO have anything to say on
that subject"
"Do you think Mr.. Blaine would accept
the nomination II rendered to him2"
81 have no authority TO speak for Mr..
Blaine and have no conjectures to offer on
the subject The letter speaks for itself,
and must decline TO be interviewed on
the question"
The following is Mr.. Blaine's letter in
full:
FLORENCE. lrALY,Jan. %. 1855.
| u Y. Jones. Esq. Chairman Of the Republican Ma.
iional Committee
Sir-I wish, through you, TO state 10 the
members Of the Republican party that my
name will not be presented 10 the national
convention, called TO assemble in Chicago
in June next for the nomination OF candi.
/ dates for President and Nicc-Presidcnt oi
, the United States.
am constrained 10 this decision by
, considerations entirely personal 10 myself
! OF which YOU were advised more than q
year ago. But | cannot make the an
, nouncemcnt without giving expression TO
[ my deep sense OF gratitude 10 the many
thousands Of my countrymcn who have
, sustained me 10 long and 80 cordially, that
4 their feeling has seemed 10 20 beyond the
/ ordinary political adherence OF fellow par
! iisans aud 10 partake somewhat OF the
o nature of personal attachment. For this
!. most generous loyalty OF friendship, can
4 make no adequate piurn, but l shall
4 carry the memory of Il xhilo life lasts.
4 Nor can refrain from, congralulatinp
n the Republican party upon the cheering
4 prospects which distinpiisa the opening
|, Of the national contest of 1858 M compared
. with that OF 1884. In lSs2ihc Republican
n party throughout the Union met with a
1 disastrous defeat. Ten States that had
4 supported Garfield aud Arthur In the cleo
: ton OF 1880 were carried by Democrats,
4 either by majoritics or pluralitics. The
h Republican loss in tho northern elections
. compared with the preceding national
4 election exceeded 800, 600 votes, and the
4 electoral votes Of the Union, divided on
4 the basis OF the result Of 1852. gave 10 the
q Democrats over 800 electors out Of total
4 of 4Ol. There was partial reaction In
! favor OF the Republicans la the elections
of 1883, but the Democrats still held pos
y session Of seven northern States, and ON the
basis OF the years contest could show more
I, than 100 mdjority in the electoral college
4 OF the whole country.
!, Hut against the encouragement naturally
I, following the adverse elections OF These two
! ycars, the spirit OF the Republican party In
4 The national contest Of 1884 rose high, aud
= the Republican masses entered into the
4 campaign with such encn,y that the final
7 result depended ON the vote Of single
:, State, and that State was carried by the
4 Democratic party by a plurality 10 small
. that il represented less than one-clcycnth
OF | per cent. OF the entire vote. The
!, change Of single vote IN every 1000 oI
= the total poll would have given the Siatg
!. 10 the Republicans, though only two year,
y before the Democratic plurality exceeded
a l02, 900.
:, The elections Of 1884 anil 1857 have dc.
~ monslraled growing strength In the Re
II publican ranks. Seldom IN our political
N history has party, defeated In q naiiona
70 election, rallied Immediately with sucl
~ y yigur ~ hayc the Republicans since 1884
Il No comparison IL possible between th,
spirit OF the party in 1898 and iig spin
Ia 1867. The two periods present simply
w n contrast--the one Of general depression
~ ~ the other Of enthusiastic revival. Should
~ the party gain. In tho results Of 1855 oycI
n ~ those oi 1861, In anything like the pro
~ portion Of the gain Of 1891 over 1898, u
y, would secure one Of The most remarkable
w victories in iis entire existence. But vic
~ tory does not depend on N Large a ratio o
M increase; the party has only TO maintain
=" relatively lis prosage o, 1861 10 give e
lis national candidates every northern
~ State but one, with far better prospect o
sa carrying that one than Il has had for th'
y, past six years.
y. Another feature Of the political situation
~ should inspire Republicans with irrcsist
~ ible strength. Tho prcamt national ad
Ia ministration was elected With, II not upon
~ the repeated assertions OF Us leaders u
~ every protection State that no issue on th'
~ Republicans urged that question M the on
aF | W tpnUohltN ithlolNaNiNif ~ WV ,f"ssl' -
~ ~ they were met by tho Democratic leader
=. and journals with persistent evasion, con
- ~ ccalment and denial. That resource th
~, President has fortunately removed. III
81 issue which the Republicans mainiaine,
~, and the Democrats avoided IN lss
na has been prominently and speciiicall
nr brought forward by the Democratic Pres
II. dent, and cannot be hidden out Of sight !
Oh 1888. The country Is now In The ENJOY
x. mcnt Of an industrial system which IN
IL. quarter of n century has assumed large
o,y national growth, morc mpid accumula
~ tion and broader dislribuiion oi wealt
m than was ever before known 70 hislor,
he The American people will now be opcnnl
and formally asked 10 d0cde whether VI
system shall be rccklcs,ly abandoned an
Iay new trial made OF ar old cxperimei
we which has uniformly led 10 national On
lse barrasmcnt and widespread indiyidu
wy distress. On the result u such an issu
'cy fairly presented 10 the popular judgmen
W, there II no room for doubt
=