The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-26
Blaine to Garfield. Eight Years = GO

M DEAR GARFIELD: Your gen
erous invitation 10 enter your cabinet
rs secretary OF state has been under
consideration for more than three
weeks, although it had really never
occurred 90 my mind until at our late
conference you presented IL with such
cogeut arguments in its favor, and
with such warmth Of personal friend
ship IN and of your Kind offer. | know
that an early answer is desired, and !
have waited only long enough TO con
slider the subject in all its bearings.
and to make NJ my mind definitely
and c0nciUsivcly.
now say to you in the same corpial
spirit IN which YOU have invited me
that ! accept the position. Il is no
aiiectation for me 10 add that | make
this decision not for the honor OF the
promotion II gives me in the public
service, but because | think | can be
useful 70 the country and to the party.
| useful 10 yop a. the responsible leader
OF the party end great head OF
the government am in
| iluenced, somewhat. perhaps. bv
| the shower of letters / have received
| urging ne To accept written me in
consequence Of the unauthorized news
paper report that you had been pleased
| 70 uiier me the place. While / have
received these letter. from al sections
/ OF the Mon, | have hecu especially
pleased, and even surprised. ut the
cordial and widely extended -eiinE~
ia my favor throughout New England
/ where | had expected to encounter a
local jealousy ard perhaps rival a
piratiouS.
In our new relations { shall give an
/ that am. al that ! 81 hope % be.
( freely Anu jayfully to your service.
/ You neoi no pledge OF MY LOYALTY iu
/ heart and in at Z SLoild Ic false -
/ ms SELF 90 ! did not prove true both ga
( the great trust yoH cuDh3e iu mc aud
/ your OWE personal ami ruIacd far-
/ tHrcS go the present and futu-s.
! Your Administration must be made
emincutiy successful and strong ir
T the confidence and lfiir uT thr aas.
{ pie tot at aii q Irc,tius its gatre e, tn-
/ reelection, and compelling that result
by the loc'g OF events and hy .muari-
f oa. niece sites Ell the situation o. The
( most Co-lraH Pile contamination.
I feel that next to your~elf I can
+. possibly coutrIHtte as much influence
/ Us ans other | say this uo. from
I esofi>u OF vsjnEio-y hut merely a- q
I Ge,iu.tioH from the plain analysis o..
{ political forces wh}cA have been az
wurs in The country for tive wears past,
ans which have been ~i1uidC4nt s.
shonH ice two srsat national canveu-
Uau-.
+ accept a. uue cj tie happ.tst cir.
Z rum>taHce> connected with this affair.
that p" ais ing tas piit.ca. fortune with
YOUR ny, rather for q time merging
mine lu your. nay henri gue~ with any
hcai. and lhat { carry 10 yoB not oI.lv
+ political support, but per~aual and de-
voted friendship I csu tat regard Il
as someN hat remarkable thar two
men entering tOu-Fcs, ~ the same
tiac, influenced hv the same aims and
cherishiuc the same alaj iti5ns. ,huua!
never for a single moment. ia l. YEAR
81 close iuJimaCy. have hs8 usI-.
aDdrTS audiuS ar Goodness. and thar
oar friendship has Syeadi yEruNu sIth
oar growth ana treugthsasi with ear
,trcgg h
IL ! thi> fact which has lei the {,
the conclusion embodied IN this letter.
for however much. UIy dear GarlsId.
/ W,cbi admire you n q statesman.
would not enter your cabin TT did
not believe ln you ~ man sud love
you As q friend Always faithfully
yoCrs. JAMES g.. EtafvE
NAsHgNGroS, Dee. - ISs0