The Helena independent., 1889-04-12
BLAINE TO RESIGN
The Secretary Of State Not a Very
Influential Member in Mr.. Har-
rison's Family
Selections for Foreign Missions Made
by the President Without Consult
ing the Premier.



very close 10 Mr.. Blaine that be will not
be- a member Of the cabinet on the lst Of
July unless there Is decided change In
the attitude Of the man who presdes over
the white house towards his secretary Of
state.
Many OF Mr. BlRine's friends think that
he has already remained too long az the
head Of the state department They say
his resignation now will lack the force 1t
would have had II II had been rendered The
instant SIR. Blaine realized that II was MI
IIarrison's intention 10 wilfully humlllaie
him. by accepting without apparent re-
sentiment the atironts that have unques-
tionAbly been put upon him, Mr. Blaine,
they say, has lost much caste with his
party.
But Il should be- borne in mind that il is
not the habit Of the Plumed Knight when
he IN Emltten on the cheek t0 adhere To the
scTiptuTal Injunction and turn the other
meekly To his assailaDL The history 0t
Mr. Blaine's political career shows no par
allel t0 his present course. II anything, be
used To err IN being too quick 10 resent an
injury or Alff0nt when a more pacific poll
cy would have been advisable. There are
many reasons given for Mr. Blaine's change
Of tactics. II may be that he has acquired
more discretion with his experience, and In
only biding his time to make the blow
the more tiiectiye when he is ready 10
strike.
That the relations between Mr. Blaine
and Mr.. Harrison are, Ia put II mildly,
"stralned," does not admit Of doubt.
One II constantly hearing In the hotel
corridors and places where the politicians
congregate Mr.. Blaine referred 10 AS a
Gagged lion, and AS man who has found
his master. lie Is alsn compared 10 Mr
I5ayard. These comments come mostly
from well-kD0wn anti-lilaine people, but
they are apparently encouraged by the ad-
ministratiOn.
A gentleman who Is In a position 20 be
we'll Informed made the rather startling
: aiement that Mr.. Blline's wishes had not
been followed In single case In the MAJ.
ter Of any foreign appointments Of pr0ml.
nence OF In any other matter concerning
the shaping OF the policy Of the admins
tration
"l mean" he added, "that Mr.. Blaine
has not had his own way. Some of his
friends have received appointments, but
none Of them have got Just what he want
ed The case OF Mr.. Reid In the best illus
trAtlon that can be made Of the extent Of
the pull MIR. Blaine has with Mr.. Ilarri-
SON Mr. Reid, as is well known, was ex-
/
| the one place he has coveted for years Mr..
| Reds wishes were communicated 10 Mr..
| Blaine some time before the inauguration
| and Mr.. Blaine practically promised Mr.
| Reid the appointment He did his best to
| deliver the goods and even went ~ far, |
aun told as to make the request for the ap
poIntment OF Mr.. Reid b. the English mis-
| sion n personal matter. III there was one
man that Mr. Blaine was in duty bound 10
make light for IL was Reid, and yet he did
! not succeed.
| "The cold truth, however unpalatable IL
may he 10 the Blaine people, is that large
| number OF the diplomatic appointments
were decided ON by President Harrison be-
| fore he left indianapolis, and that the ma
iority OF MIR. Blaine's recommendations
have been totally ignored.
zone OF President HarrlsOn's first acts
on his arrival at Washington after taking
the oath Of Office was 10 hand Mr.. Blaine a
list OF foreign appointments, which he
wished made at the proper time. This list
was prepared at Indianapolis and without
any assistance from Mr.. Blaine. II con.
tain9d among others the name Of Robert
+. Lincoln for minister TO England, When
Mr.. Blaine said that he had thought Of
sending Mr.. Reid 10 England, Mr. Ilarri-
son remarked with quiet irony that he was
sorry AS he had decided 10 offer the ap-
pointment To the son Of Abraham Lincoln.
Mr.. Reid, Mr.. Harrison said, might 20 10
France Mr. Harrison refused 10 listen to
any arguments. as ne said his mind was
made up. Mr.. Reid was, | am Informed,
highly Indignant when informed Of the
presidents intentions Mr.. liArrison's
conduct was regarded as little short Oi
treacheTy. At first, Mr. Reid refused
point blank to entertain the proifer of the
French mission. just what arguments
were employed 10 induce him Ia change
his mind are not known, but IL Is believed
that Mr.. Blaine appealed tO him 20 accept
TO save him lialne) from embarrassment
Thomas w. Palmer who goes 10 spain
and was honorcd with heading the list VI
the first appointments Of the president, has
been outspOken In his antagonsm Il
Blaine, and in 1884 he went to Chicago and
worked against him. Edwin II. Terrell,
of Texas. minister 10 Belgium, was absO-
lutely unknown 10 the secretary Of state
before Mr. Harrison sent his name 10 the
senate lie was born in Indiana, however,
and was a classmate Of Mr.. Harrison al
college
Erred Grant was named for the Austrian
mission by the president ON his own re-.
sponsibillty. The appointment Of ex Gov.
Porter, OF Indiana, minister 10 Italy, wal
also personal selection OF the president
as was the sending Of Col. John &. New
To be consnl-general at London.
"But perhaps the crOwning snub that hni
| DttU W ny MI
Harrison was In the selection OF the mem
bers Of the South American commission
This was Mr.. Blane's pet scheme. IA,
originated II when he was secretary o
state under Garfield, and revived 10 agaiI
when he got back to the state department
He gave Mr.. Harrison a list Of names fol
the commission, but only one on his lis
was among the names Mr.. Harrison sent Il
the senate and that was William II. Tres
colt. The slaughtering of Mr.. Blaine'i
commissioners was even more deadly thar
the destruction Of Roman Pr0consuls In
the inaugural message OF Mr. liarrlson'l
grandfather by Mr. Webster Estee ant
Prescott are about the only known friends
of MIR. Blaine on the commission. Ther,
was nothing that Mr.. Blaine took deeper
personal interest In than In this cOmmls
sion, and that he should be- allowed 90 hav,
so little voice In its formation must hay,
been as humillating as ii was disappointing
TO Mr.. Blaine"