Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-10-13
The Secretary's Eefter Accepting the
Tender OF the State DcpnrlmemE.


Tender OF the state Department..
The Philadelphia Press publishes the letter
of Secretary Blaine accepting the tender of the
State Department, made him by tho late Presi-
dent Garfield. 1t is as follows:
WASHINGTON, d. O., Dec. 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. The thought had really never
occurred to nv mind until at our late con-
ference Won presented it with such cogent ar
guments Ia q favor, and with such warmth Of
personal friendship in aid OF your kind
offer. / snew that an early answer is
desirable, and | have waited only long
enough to consider the subject in all
its bearings and TO make up my mind definite
" and concusiyelv. / now say to Won, in the
same cordial spirit in whioh yon have invited
me, that | accept the position. II is no affoats-
ton for me to add that / make this decision
not for the honor Of this promotion it gives me
in the public service, but because |
think can be useful to the country and to the
party, useful to you as the responsible
leader Of the party and the great head
Of the Government. | am influenced
somewhat, perhaps, by the shower Of letters
| have received urging me to accept, W ten
me in consequence of the mere Unauthorized
newspaper report that you had been pleased to
offtr me the place. While / have received
these letters from all sections of the Union,
Ihaye been especially pleased and even sur
prised at the cordial and widely-extended feel
ing in my favor throughout New Englasd.
where had expected 20 encounter local lt&s-
ousy. and perhaps a rival aspiration.
III our new relation | shall give all that am
and all that can hope to be freely and Joyful
lv to your service. You need no pledge of my
loyalty in heart and in act. | should DO fSlse
to myself did not prove true both to the gr at
trust You eoniide to me and to your own person
al and political fortunes in present aud IN
future Your administration must be made
eminentlv successful and strong III The cent?
dence and pride of the peo,'le. not at all direct
ing its energies fo- reelection and vet com
pelling that result by die logic of events.
and by the imperious necessii s
of the situation. To that most desirable con-
summation feel that, next to yourself, can
possibly contribute as much influence az any
other man. ! say this, not from egotsm or
vain-glory,, but merely as the deduction fron
plain ANALYSIS of tho political orces wlich
have been at work in the country or i've years
past, and which have been significantly shown
in two great national conventions. ] accept it
as one of the happiest circumstances
connected with this affair that in ally
ing my political for unes with yours,
or, rather, fer the time fneT4 ing
mine in yours, my heart goes with my head,
and that carry to you lot only political sup.
port, but personal and political friendship. |
can but regard il as somewhat remarkable Inst
two men OF the same age, entering Congress at
the same time, influenced by the same aims and
cherlshlng the same ambitions, should never for
8 single moment in eighteen years of close in
timacy have had misunderstanding 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 CON
cusion embodied in this letter, for, ho,f "
much, my dear Garfield, l might admire you
as a statesman, wonld not enter your Cabinet
if did not believe in you as a man and love
you as friend. Always faithfully yours.
JAMES G. BLAINE