Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-07

In IL
marrow will publish the following letter OF
Secretary Blaine accepting the tender OF the
state Department made him by the late
President Garfield: =,
WASHINGTON. Dec. 20.
Ny Dear Garfield: =
Your generous invitation to enter your
Cabinet as Secretary OF State has been nnoe'
consideration for more than three weeks
The thought had really never occurredto my
mind until at our last conference you pre-
sented it with such cogent arguments III us
f.vor and with such warmth of personal
friendship in aid of your offer. 4 know that
an early answer is desirable, and nave
waited only long enough to consider the SUD-
iect in all its bearings, and to make up my
mind definitely and conclusfvely. now say
TO YOU in the same cordial spirit when you
have invited me, that | accept the position'
1t is no affectation for me to add that 'haAe
this decision, not for the honor of promotion
it gives me in public. but because l think l
can be useful to the country andto the party
useful to YOU as the responsible leader
of the party and the great head of the gov
erment. | am influenced somewhat. per-
hans. bv the showers of letters that l have
received urging me to accept, written to me
in consequence of the mere unauthorized
newspaper report, that YOU had been pleased
to offer me the place. While have received
these letters from all sessions OF the unoh'
| have been especially pleased and even sur
prised at the cordial and widely extended
feeling in my favor throughout New Eng
land where l had expected to encounter
local. jealousy and perhaps rival aspirations.
In our new relation shall give all that am
and all that can hope to be, freely ana JOY
fully to your service. You need no pledge
of nv LOYALTY in heart and in act. should
be false to myself did not prove true, both
to the great trust you confide to me and 10
yorr own personal and political fortunes in
in the present and in the future. Your adj
ministration must be made brilliantly sue
cessful and strong in the confidence and
pride of the people, not all directing its en-
ergies for reelection. and yet compelling that
result by the logic of events and by the I'M
perious necessities of the situation to that
most desirable consumnation. | feel next to
yourself. | can possibly contribute as much
influence as any other one man. say this
not from egotism or vain glory, but merely
as a deduction from a plain analysis OF the
political forces which have been at
work in the county for two years
years past, and which have been signifi-
cantly shown in the two great conventions.
accept it as one of the happiest circumstances
connected with this affair, that in allying my
political fortunes with yours, or, rather.
for the time, merging mine in yours, my
heart goes with my head, and that l carry to
you. not only in political support, but per-
sonal and devoted friendship. l can but re-
gard it as somewhat remarkable that two
men of the same age, entering Congress at
the same time. influenced by the same aims
and cherishing the same principles. should
never for a single moment, in our Is wears
Of close intimacy, have had word or cool
ness, and that our friendship has steadily
grown with our growth and strengthened
with our strength. 1t is this fact
which has led me to the conclusion
imbodied in this letter, for, however, much,
my dear Garfield. might admire you as a
statesman would not enter your Cabinet if
did not. believe in YOU as a man and love
you as friend.
Faithfully yours,
JAMES G.. BLAINE.