Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-10-15
A BIT OF POLITICAL HISTORY.
Blains's Letter Of Acceptance to Garfield.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 6th.-The
Press publishes the following let
ter Of Secretary Blaine, accepting
the tender of the State Department
made him by the late President
Garfield:
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1881.
My Dear Mr.. Garfield.
Your generous Invitation to en-
ter your Cabinet as Secretary of
State has been under consideration
for more than three weeks.
Though 1t had really never oc-
Cured to my mind until at our
late conference you presented it
with such cogent arguments in its
favor, and with such warmth of
personal friendship in your kind
offer. 1 know that an early answer
Is desirable, and L have waited
only long enough to consider the
subject in all its bearings and to
make up my mind definitely and
conclusively. now say to you
in the same cordial spirit in which
you have invited me, that accept
viz BOSitiObs IL 10 bO hhcCldtlOb
for me to add that make this de-
cision not for the honor of the pro-
motion it gives me in the public
service, but because 1 think 1 can
be useful to the country and to the
party, and useful to you as the re-
-pousible leader of the party and
great head of the Government. I
am influenced somewhat, perhaps,
by the shower of letters l
have received urging me to ac-
cept, and written me in conse-
quence of the unauthorized news
paper report that you had been
pleased to offsr me the place.
While L have recei we'd these let
ters from all sections of the Union,
l have been especially pleased and
even surprised at the cordial and
widely extended feeling in my ia
vor throughout New England,
where 1 had expected to encounter
local jealousy and perhaps rival
aspirations. In our new relation l
shall give all that 1 am and all
that l hope to be, freely and joy
fully to your service. You need no
pledge of my loyalty in heart and
In act. L should be false to myself
did L not prove true both to the
great trust you confide in me and
your own personal and political
fortunes both in the present and in
the future. Your administration
must be made eminently success
full and strong in the confidence
and pride of the people; not at all
directing its energies for re-elec-
ton, but compelling that result, If
it Is to come, by the logic of events
anu the imperious necessities of
the situation. To that most desir.
able coDsummstion, feel that,
next to yourself, l can possibly
contribute as much influence as
any other man. I say this not
from egotism or vain glory, but
merely as deduction from plain
analysis of the political forces
which have been at work in the
country for five years past, and
which has been significantly shown
in two great National Conventions.
[ accept it as one of the happiest
cumstances connected with this
affair, that in allying my political
fortunes with yours, my heart
goes with my head, and that 1
carry to you not only political sup
port, but personal and devoted
friendship.
can but regard it as somewhat
remarkable that two men of the
same age, entering Congress at the
same time, influenced by the same
aims, and cherishipg the same am
bitiou, should never for a single
moment in eighteen years. close
intimacy, have had q misunder-
standing or GOODNESS, and that our
friendship has steadily grown with
our growth, aud strengthened with
our strength. 1t ia this fact which
has led me to the conclusion EN-.
bodied in this letter; for however
much, my dear Garfield, I might
admire you as statesman. I would
not enter your Cabinet If did not
believe in you as a man and love
you as friend.
Always faithfully yours,