The Plumed Knight Out

Pittsburg, Pa., Feb. 13. -The Commercial Gozette publishes the following: Mr. JJ, F. Jones, chairmau of the national Republican committee, bas received a letter from Mr. Blaiue declining to allow his name to be presented to the national Rej ublioan oonvention as a candidato for the presidency. Mr. Jones, as chairman vt the committee, refused to be interviewed on the subject, saying tbat it would not be proper for him to express any opinión. Following is the letter of Mr. Blaine: Florence, Italy, Jan. 26.- B. F. Jones, Esq., CJiairnian of the Republican National Committee, - Sm; i wish througbyoutostaU; to the merabers of tho R publican party that my name will not be presentad to the nalional convention called to asseniblo in Chicago in June next for the nom ination of candidates for president and vice president of the United States. I am constrained to this decisión by considerations entirely personal to myself of which you wer advised more than a year ago. But I caá not make the announcement without giving expressíon to my deep sense of gratitud to the many thousands of my countrymen who have sostained me so long and so cordialty that their feelinga has seeraed to go byondthe ordinary political adherence of fellow-partisaus and to parteke somewhat of the nature of personal attachment. For this most generous loyalty of friendship, I can make no advquate return, but I snall carry the niemory of it while Ufe lasts. Nor can I refrain f rom congratulating the Republican party upon the cheering proapects which distinguís the opening of the national contest of 1888 as compared with that of 1884. In 3882 the Republican party throughout the uniou met with a disastrous defeat. Ten states that had sopported Garfield and Arthur in the election of 1880 were carried by the Democrats either by majorities or pluralitíes. The Republican loss in the northern eleotions compared wilh the preceding rtational elecuons exceeded 500,000 votes, and the tectoral votes of the Union, divided on the basis of the result of 1883, gave to the Democrats over 800 electora out of a total of 401. Tbere was a partial reaetion in favor of the Republicans in the etections of 1883, but the Democrats still held posseseion of seven northern states, and on the basis oí the year's contest could show more than 100 majority in the electoral colleges of the whola country. But aguinst the discourage ment naturally following the adverse elections of these two years the spirit of the Republican party ín the national con test of 18b4 rose high, and the RepubScan masses entered into the campaign with such energy thar. the final resul t depended on the vote of a siugle state, and that state was carried by a plurality so email that it represented less than one-e!eventh of 1 per cent of theentire vote. The change of a single vote in every 2,0iX) of the total roll wou ld have given the state to the Republicans, though only two years before, the Democratie pturality exceeded 19,000. The elections of 3886 and 1887 have deraongtrated growing st rength in the Republican ranks. Seldom in our political history has a rariy, defeated in a national election, rallied iinmediately with snch vigor, as have the Republicans since 1884. No compariaon is possibie between the spirit of the party in 1882-3 and its spirit in 188Ö 7. The two periods present simply a contrast - the one of general rtèpreasion, the other of enthusiaslic revival. Should the party gain. in the results or' 1888 over those of 1886-7, Ín like the proportion of the gain of 3884 over 18&Í-3, it would secure one of the most remarkable victories of its entiiií existonce. But Tictory does not dwpend on so large a ratio of increase; the party has ooly to maintain rolatively its prestige of 1886-7 to give to its national candidato every northern si ate but one, with a far better prospect of carry ing that one than it has had for the past six years. Auother feature, of the political situation should inspire Republicans with irresistable strength. The present national administration was elected with. if not upon, the repeated assertions of its ïeading supporters in every protection siate that no Lssue on the tariff was involved. Ho we ver ♦ ariu'stly Republicans urgod that question as the one oí conirolling impbrtance in tlie campaign, iliey were met by the Democratie leaders and jonrnals with persistent evasion, concealmentand denial. That resource the president hftfl i'ortunateïy removed. The issue which tho Republicana maintained and Oie Demócrata avoided io 1684 has been prominent y an-.! sieci flcally brought forward by the Dein ocratic president and can not be hidden pui of sight in 1888. Tho. country is now in ihe enjoyment of an industrial system which in a Quarter of a century has assuivd ii larger national growth, a more rapid accuinulation ai:d abroadërdistrlbutioQ of we.Uth than were ever befo known in history. The American peoplo wil! now be openly and formally asked to decidö whether this system shall be reekl.'ss y abandoned, and a new trial madd of an old experiment whjch hos uniformly led to national embarrassment and widéapred individuiü distroas. On the re u t of such an issue, fairly prese ted to the popular judgment, there is no room for doubt. One thing only is necessary to assure success- complete harmony and cordial co-operation on the part of all RepubHcans- on the iart both of those who aspire to lead and of those who ara eager to follow. The duty is not one merely of honorable devotion to the party whose record aud who-íe aims are alike preat, but it is one demandeil by the instinct of self -interest and by the still higher promptings of patriotism. A closor obscrvation of the conditions of life among the o der natious gives one a more intense desiro that the American peoplo shall make nomistake in choosing the policy which inspires labor with hope and crowns it with dignity, which gives safety to capital and protects its increase, which secures political power to every citizen, comfort and culture to every home. To this end, not lees earne-stly 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 the party which has deinonstrated the purpose and the power to wield it for the unity and the honor of the republii!, for the prosperity nnd progress of the people. Í am, very sincerely yours,