Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1888 — MR. BLAINE DECLINES. [ARTICLE]

MR. BLAINE DECLINES.

He Refuses to Become a Candidate lor the Republican Nomination. Chairman Joao, ot the National Committee, Mak«« Hia hatter of Kefoaal Public—The Plumed Knight’d Beasooa. Mr. B. F. Jones, Chairman of the National Republican Committee, has received a letter from Mr. Blaine declining to allow his name to be presented to the National Republican convention as a candidate for the Presidential homination. The following is Mr. Blaine’s letter in full: f Florence, Italy, January 25, 1888. B. F. Jones, E<q., Chairman of the National Republican Committee: Sir—l wish through yon to state to the members of the Republican party that my name will not be presented to the National Convention, called to assemble in Chicago in Jane next for the nomination of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States. I am constrained to this decision by considerations entirely personal to myself, of which ;. on were advised more thanayear ago. Bat I can rot make the announcement without giving ex pression to my deep sense of gratitude to the many thousands of my countrymen who have sustained me so long and so cordially, that their 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 I can make no adequate return, but I shall carry the memory of it while life lasts. Nor can I refrain from congratulating the Republican party upon the cheering prospects which distinguish the opening of the National codtest of 1838 as compared witn that of 1884. In 1882 the Republican party throughout the Union met with a disastrous defeat. Ten, States that had supported Garfield and Arthur in the election of 1880 were carried by the Democrats either by ma'orities or pluralities. The Republican loss in the Northern elections, cotnpar ed with the preceding National election, exceeded half a million votes and the electoral votes of the Union divided on the basis of the result of 1882 gave to the Democrats over three hundred electors out of a total of four hundred and one. There was a partial reaction in favor of the Republicans in the elections of 1883 but the Democrats still held possession of seven Northern States and on the basis of the year’s contest could show more than one hundred majority in the electoral college of the whole country. But against the dircouragement 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 energy that the finaL result depended on the vote of a 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 a single vote in every 2,000 ot the total poll would have given the Stateto the Rspublicans, though only tw o years before, the Democratic plurality exceeded 192,000. The elections of 1886 and 1887 have demonstrated growing strength in the Republican ranks. Seldom in our political history has a party defeated in a National election rallied immediately with such vigor as have the Republicans since 1884. No comparison is possible between the spirit of the party in 1882-3 and its spirit in 1886- 7. The two periods present simply a contrast—the one of general depression, the other of enthusiastic revival. Should the party gain in the results of 1888, over those of 1886 7, in anything like the proportion of the gain of 1884 over 1882-3, it would secure one of the most remarkable victories of its entire existence. But victory does not depend on so large a ratio of increase; the party has only to maintain relatively its gain of 1886-7 or give to its national candidates every northern State but one, with a far better prospect of carrying that one than it has had for the past six years. Another feature of the political situation should inspire Republicans with irresistible strength. The present Na tional administration was elected with, if not upon, the repeated assertions of its leading supporters in ezery protection State that no issue on the tariff was involved. However earnestly Republi cans urged that question as the one of controlling importance in the campaign, they were met by the Democratic leaders and journals with persistent evasion, concealment and denial. That resource the President has fortunately removed. The issue which the Republicans maintained and tbe Democrats avoided ’in 1884, has been prominently and specifically brought forward by the Democratic President, and cannot be hidden ont of sight in 1888. The country is now in the enjoy merit of an industrial system which in a quarter of century has assured a larger national growth, a more rapid accumulation and a broader distribution of wealth than were ever before known to history. - The American people will now openly and formally ask to decide whether this system shall be recklessly abandoned and a new trial be made of an old experiment which has unnormallyledtoNMlonatembArrafflfmentand widespread individual distrees. On (the result of such an issue,

fairly presented to the popular j ndgmeat there is no room to doub\ One thing is necessary to assure suc-cess-com plete harmony and cordial cooperation on the part of all Republicans —on the part both of those who aspire to lead and of those who are eager to follow. The duty is not one merely of honorable devotion to the party, whose record and whose aims are alike great, but it is one demanded by the instinct of self-interest and by the still higher promptings of patriotism. A closer observation of the conditions of life among tbe older nations gives one a more intense desire that the American people shall make no mistake in choosing the policy which inspires labor with nope and cro'wna it with dignity, which gives safety to capital and protects its increase, which seen res political power to every citizen, comfort, and culture to every home. To this end not less earnestly and more directly as a private citizen than as a public candidate, I shall devote myself with the confident belief that the administration of the government will be restored to tbe party which has demonstrated ths purpose and the power to wield it for the unity and tbe honor of the Republic,for the prosperity and progess of the people I am, very sincerely yours,

JAMAS G. BLAINE.