Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-07
BLAINE TO GARFIELD.
n A,Ns,s LETTER ACCEPTING A
PLACE IN GARFIELD'S CABINET.
An interesting Communication that Is Now
Apart Of History Merge Ny For
tune for a Time in Yours
Personal Friendship.
BLAINE's REASONS FOR ACCEPTING.

PHILADELPHIA, October 6.-The Pres
tomorrow will publish the letter OF Sec
rotary Blaine accepting the tender OF
the State Department made by the late
President Garfield. 1t is as follows:
WAsHIHares, December 20, 1880.
Ny DEAR GARFIELD:-Your generous
invitation to enter your Cabinet as Sec.
retary OF State has been under my con-
sideration for more than three weeks.
The thought had really never occurred
to my mind until at our late conference
you presented it with such cogent argu-
ment in its favor, and with the warmth
Of personal friendship in aid OF your offer.
l know that an early answer is desira-
BILE, and have waited only long enough
to consider the subject in alllts 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 the position.
1t is no affectation for me to add that
l make this decision not for the honor
OF the promotion it gives me in public
service, but because | think | can be
useful to the country and the party, and
useful to you as the responsible leader
OF the party and the great head st the
Government. | am influenced some.
what perhaps by the shower
OF letters l have received, urging me
to accept, written me in consequence OF
the mere Unauthorized newspaper re-
port that you had pleased to offer me the
place. While | have received these
letters from all sections OF the Union, ]
have been especially pleased and even
surprised at the o dial and
Widely Extended Feeling in My Favor
throughout New England, where l had
expected 10 encounter local jealousy
and perhaps rival aspiration.
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 heartand
in act. l should be false to myself
did not prove true both to the great
trust you confide to me and to your
own personal and political fortunes in
the present and in the future. Your
administration must be made brilliantly
successful and strong in the confidence
and pride OF the people, not at all di,
recting its energies for re election, and
yet compelling that result by the logic
Of events and by the imperi-
Gus necessities Of the situa.
ton. To that most desirable
consummation / feel that next to your
self can possibly contribute as much
influence as any other one man. say
this not from egotis IN or vain glory but
merely as q 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 Convsn-
tions.
accept it as one OF tine happiest cir
cumstances connected with this affair
that allying my political fortunes
with yours, or rather for the time merI.
ING mine in yours, my heart goes with
my hand, and that | carry to you not
only political support, but personal de.
voted friendship. can but regard it as
somewhat remarkable that two men OF
the same aye, entering Congress at the
same time, influenced by the same
aims and dcherishing the same ambitions,
should never for a single moment in
eighteen years OF close intimacy 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-
clusion embodied in this letter; tor how
ever much, my dear Garfield, might
admire you as a statesman, would not
enter your Cabinet il did not believe
in you as a man and love you as friend.
Always faithfully yours,
GSiyned.1 JAMES 6. BLAINE.