Blaine Declines

Pittsburqh, Feb. 13.- The Commer cial Gazette prints an interview to-da; with Chairman B. F. Jones, of the na tional republican commlttee, ia whicli h announces the receipt of a letter frotn James Q. Blaine, declining to have his name jro before the republican conven tion at Chicago. The letter Is as follows Flokence, Italy, Jan. 25, 1888. B. F. Jones, Esq., chairman of the republican natioual conimittee: Sm:-I wish through you to state to the members of the republican party that my name will not be presented to the national convention culled to assemble in Chicago in June next tor the nomination of candldates fot president and Tice president of the Uuited States. 1 aui constrained to this decisión by considerations entirely personal to myself, of wiiirii you were advised more than a year ago. Bilt I cunnot make the announceineut without giving expression to niy deep sense ot gratitude to the many thousauds of my couutrymen who have sustained me so long and so cordially thiit their feeling has seemed to go be yond the ordinary political adherence of fellow-partisans and to partake somewhat of the nature of personal attaehment. For this most generous loyalty of friendship I can make no adequate return, but I shall carry the meinory of lt trhlle lite lasts. Nor can I refrain from congratulating the republican party upon the cheering prospects which distinguish the opening of the natiooal coutest iu 1888 as compared with that of 1884. In 18S2 the republican party turoughout the Union met with a disastrous defeat. Ten States tliat had supported Garüeld and Arthur in the electlon of 18S0 were carried by the democrats either by majorities or pluialities. The republican loss In the northern elections compared with the preceding national electiou exceeded 500,000 votes, and the electoral votes of the Union, divided on the basis of the result of 18S2, gave to the demócrata over 300 electora out of a total of' 401. There was a partial reactiou in favor of the republicans in the elections of 1883, but the demócrata still held possession of eeven northeru states, and on the basis of the year's contest could show more than 100 majority iu the electoral College of the whole country. But against the discouragenient naturally following the adverse elections of these two yeais the spirit of the republican party iu the national contest of 1884 rose lilgh, and the republicau masses euturcd iuto;thecampaign with such energy that the ünal result depended on the result of a single state, and the state was canied by the democratie party bya plurality so small that it represented less thau oiie-elevenlh of one percent, of the entire vote. The change of a vote in every 2,000 of the total poll would have given the state to the republicans, though on ly two years before the democratie plurality exceeded 192,000. The eleutions of 18SG and 1887 have demonstrated growing strength iu the remblican ranks. Seldom in our politieal listory hus a party, defeated In a national election, rallied iiumediately with such vigor as have the republicana since 1881. No comparison is uossible between the ppirit of the party in 1882-3 and its spirit n 1886-7. The two perlods present siinjly a contrast - the one of general den-ession, theotlier of enthusiastic revivul. jliould the party sain, in the results of .883 over those of 1886-7, in anythlng ike the propoitlou of the gain of 1884 over 1882-3, it would secure one of the most retnarkable victories of its entire existence. But victory does not depend on so large a ratio of nerease; the jarty has only to maintaln relatively its restlge of 1886-7 to give to its natioual candidate every northern state but one with a far better prospect of carrying hat one than it has liad for the past six ears. Another feature of the republican situation shoulil inspire republicaus with rresistible strength. The present naional administraron was elected with, if not upon, the repealed assertions of its eadlng supporters in every proteetion state that no issue on the tariff was involved. However earnegtly republicans ¦ rged that question as the one of controlngimportancein thecampaign,tliey were net by the democratie leaders and jourlals with persistent evasión, concealment and dfiiial. This resource the president las fortuuately removed. The issue vliieli the republicana maintained and tbe demócrata avoided in 1884 lias been prominently and specitlcally brouglit forward by the democratie president, and cfinnot be liidden out of 9iglit in 1888. The country is now in the enjoyment of an industrial systein wliicb, in a quitrter of 11 century has assured a larger ïational growth, a more rapid accumulaion and a broader distributiou of wealth han were ever before known to liistory. Tlie American people will now beopenly and formally asked to deelde whether this hall be recklessly abandoned and a new rlal be made of an old experiment, wliich i:is uniformly led to natioiial ernbaras9nent and wide-spread individual distress. On the reault of such an issue, falrly )resented to the popular judgment, tliere s no room for doubt. One thinL only Is necessary to assure 8UCCC88 - complete luirinony and cordial co-operatloti on the part of all republicana- on the part of those who aspire to ead and of those who are eager to follow. The duly is not merely one of honorable devotiou 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 promptlngs of patrlotiütn. A closer observation of the conditions of life among the older nations gives me a more intense desire that the American eople shall mnke no mistake In choosing the policy whicli Inspires labor with hope and crowns it wlth dignity, which gives safety to capital and protects lts increase, whlch gecures political power to every iltlzen, comfort and culture to every lome. To tlils end, not less esrnegtly and more directly as a private citizen than a public candiilate, I shall devote myw'lf, with the conlldent belief that the idmiiiisti'.'iiion of the government will be restored to the party which bas demon8tratel the purpose and the power to wleld it for the tinity and honor of the republic, for the prosperity and progress of the people. I am verv sincnrelv vnura