The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-02-17
Mr.. Blaine's Letter.
FLORENCE ITALY, Jan. Is, 1885

FLORENCE ITALY, Jan. Is, 1883.
B. F. Jones, Esq, Chairman Of lie Republi-
can National Committee:
''SIR-I wish through you TO state TO the
members Of the Republican party that my
name will not be presented to the national
convention called 10 assemble in Chicago in
June next for the nomination of candidates
for President and Vice President of the
United States. am constrained to this de.
cision by considerations entirely personal
to myself, Of which you were advised more
than year ago.
But cannot make the announcement
without giving expression to roy deep sense
Of gratitude to the many thousands of my
countrymen who have sustained me so long
and SO cordially that their feeling has SEEM
ed to be beyond the ordinary political ad-
herence of fellow .partisans, and to partake
somewhat of the nature Of personal attach
ment. For this most generous loyalty of
friendship ! can make no adequate retarn
but l shall carry the memory Of it while
life lasts.
"Nor can refrain from congratulaiing
the Republican party upon the cheering
prospects which distinguish the opening Of
the national contest of 1888 as compared
with that of 1884. 10 1882 the Republican
party throughout the Union met with a
disastrous defeat. Ten states that had sup
ported Garfield and Arthur in the
election Of 1880 were carried by the Demo-
Gratis either by majorities or pluralties. The
Republican loss in the Northern election,
compared with the preceding national cleo
tion, exceeded halls million votes, and the
electoral votes of the Union, divided on the
basis of the result of 1882, gave the Demo-
Gratis over 800 electors out of total of 40l.
"There was partial reaction in favor Of
the Republicans in the elections of 1888,
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 discourage
ment naturally following the adverse cleo
tons of these two years the spirit OF the Re-
publican 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
ola single state, and that state was carried
by the Democratic party by a plurality SO
small that it represented less than
one eleventh Of one per cent Of
the entire vote. The change Of q single
vote in every 1000 of the total poll would
haye given the state to the Republicans,
though only two years before the Democratic
plurality exceeded $4,000.
"The elections of 1886 and 1887 have
demonstr rated growing strength in the Re-
publican ranks. Seldom in our political
history has psrty, defeated iu national
election. rallied Immediately with such Wig
or rs have the Republicans since 1884. No
comparison is possible between the spirit of
the party in 1928 aud its spirit in 1867.
The two perioos present simply contrast
the one of general depression the other of
enthusiastic revival. Should the party gain
in the results of 1888 over those Of 1867
in anything like the proportion of the gain
Of 1884 over 1928, it would secure one Of