The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-10-14
LANES ACCEPTANCE.
.tter OF the Secretary Of State TO the Late
President

.tter Of the Secretary Of State 70 the Late
President.
PHILADELPHIA, October 6.-The Press
tomorrow will publish the following letter
Of Secretary Blaine. accepting the tender Of
the State Department made him by the late
President Garfield:
WASHINGTON, December 90, 1880.
My Dear Garfield: Your generous invita-
ton To enter your Cabinet as Secretary of
State has been under consideration for more
than three weeks, though really Il had never
occurred to my mind TO accept until at our
late conference you represented It with such
coeent arguments In its favor, and with such
warmth Of personal friendship. Inregard to
Your kind offer know that an early answer
is desirable, and | have waited only long
enough to consider he subject In all It's bear
ings, and 10 make up my nina definitely and
conclusively. now say TO you In the same
cordial spirit in which you have invited me
that accept the position.
II Is no affect alton for me to add that /
make this decision, not for the honor of the
promotion 1t gives me In the public service,
but because think l can be useful to the
country and party and useful to you as the
responsible leader of the party and the great
head Of the government. am Influenced
somewhat, perhaps, by shower of letters l
have received urging me to accept, written
me in consequence of the mere unauthor-
lied newspaper report that you had offered
Inc the place. While have received these
letters from all sections Of the Union, l have
been especially pleased and even surprised at
the cordial aud widely-extended feeling I'm
my favor throughout New England, where
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 and
joyfully to your service. You need no pledge
Of my loyalty in heart aud IN act. l should
prove false to myself did not prove true
both to the great trust you confi,ie In ne, aud
To my own personal aud political fortunes In
the present and future. Your administra-
ton must be made eminently successful,
strong In the confidence and pride Of the
people, not at all directing It's energies for
reelection, and yet compelling that result
10y The logic of events and by the imperious
necessities Of the situation. To that most
desirable contamination feel that, 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 deduction from a plain analysis OF the
political forces which have been at work In
The country FOR five years past, and which
have been significantly shown in two great
national conventions. l accept 1t as one of
the bappiest circumstances connected with
the affair, That allying my political fortunes
with yours, or rather for the time merging
mine into yours, my heart goes with my
head, and that carry TO you not only polit-
ical support, but personal and devoted
friendship.
BILE that two men of the same age, entering
Congress al the same time, influenced by the
same aims and cherishing the same ambi-
lions, should never for single moment of
eighteen years close intimacy have had a
or GOODNESS, and that our
friendship has steadily grown with our
growth and strengthened with our strength.
IL IL this fact which has led me to the con-
clusion embodied in this letter, for however
much, my dear Garfield, might admire you
as ST atesmaB, would not enter your Cabi-
net If did not believe in you as a man and
love you as friend.
Always faithfully yours,
JAMES G.. BLAINE.