Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-06-08
BLAINE RESIGNS HIS SEAT THE
CABINET.
This Means that He is Candidate for
Nomination.

Nomination.
If NOMINATED, THE OPPOSING CAN
DIDATEs WILL PROBABLY BE,
AS IN 1884, BLAINE AND
CLEVELAND.
The country was startled last Satur
day by the wholly unexpected an
nouncement that Hon. James G. Blaine
had resigned his position as Secretary
of State. This is understood to mean
that he is a candidate for nomination
Notwithstanding his letter of February
in which he said his name would not be
presented to the Convention, and the
effect has been to enthuse the advO-
Gates of his nomination and to depress
the hopes of those of Harrison's. AS
soon as the news was received at Mime
apolis the delegates and others there
favorable to Blaine's nomination were
excited to wonderful degree, and
their shouts for Blaine rent the air.
at meant" they said" that he was a
candidate and that he would be nomi-
mated" The friends of Harrison's nomi-
nation were taken by surprise, but said
they would stand firm and nominate
him-that they had the votes to do it.
Chauncey Depew, of N. Y, who is cx-
pected to nominate Harrison, said be-
fore going to Minneapolis that ''Others
had brass bands, but they had votes"
The friends of Blaine, on the other
hand, believe that many of the dele
gates who were sent as Harrison dele
gates, will desert him and support
Blaine. Heretofore it was thought
that Blaine would not accept the nomi-
nation unless it were offered unani-
mously and without contest; but it
is now understood that he will make
determined contest for it. That he is
anxious to defeat Harrison's nomina-
ton is evident, but it is not, as yet,
positively known whether he desires it
for himself or for another.
On Saturday last, about 1 o'clock p.
m, Blaine sent to the President his
resignation of the office of Secretary of
State without word of explanation,
so far as the brief and curt correspon-
dence shows, and it was promptly &C
cepted by the President without a
word of regret. AS the N. Y. Herald
says, the ordinary official amenities
were discarded between these two men
who made and executed the policy of
the administration during the past
three years, and whose friends are now
struggling for the mastery at Mime
apolis. Possibly it was because that
struggle was going on that the resigna-
ton was sent and accepted in notes so
brief and curt that one cannot easily
believe they passed between the Presi-
dent of the United States and his Secre-
tary of State.
81 resign said Mr.. Blaine. 81 &C
cept your resignation" said Mr.. Harri-
son. 1t was strange parting between
the men who have directed the chief
features of this administration, and
one that has caused the greatest polit-
ical sensation which the country has
experienced during the last decade.
Here are the brief, freezingly polite
notes that passed between Mr. Blaine
and Mr.. Harrison
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June a, 1892.
To the President:-
l respectfully beg leave to submit my
resignation of the office of Secretary OF
State of the United States, to which
was appointed by you on the 9Th of
March, 1889.
The condition of public business in
the Department of State justifies me in
requesting that my resignation may be
accepted Immediately.
l have the honor to be very respect
fully your obedient servant.
JAMES G. BLAINE.
The following is the Presidents ans
Wer -
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, D. c., June A. 1892.
To the Secretary Of State =
Your letter of this date rendering
your resignation of the office of Secre-
tary of State of the United States has
been received.
The terms in which you state your
desires are such as to leave me no
choice but to accede to your wishes at
once.
Your resignation is therefore accept
ed
Very respectfully yours,
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
These amazing notes tell the story of
breach in the republican party which
the managers will find it difficult to
bridge.
1t seems to be generally understood
that, if Blaine should be the Republi-
can nominee, Cleveland will be the
Democratic nominee, and that the con-
test of 1884 will be repeated; and the
Democrats hope and believe with a
similar result. There is but little doubt
that Blaine is the choice of a majority
of the Republicans, and that Cleve-
land is the choice of a majority of the
Democrats. This would make an ex-
ceedingly interesting contest, and
would present a remarkable contrast
in the opposing candidates-that of
trust and distrust-the one being man
VI dl1u>
whom all can safely trust, and the
other man whom all should distrust,
for he has deceived even the members
of his own party, and forfeited their
confidence He said in letter that he
would not be a candidate, and if he is
one at this time, it shows either that
he is wanting in decision of character
or in sincerity and those who know
him best will not attribute it to want
of decision of character. He is man
of great talents, but he cannot be
trusted and the honest masses of the
people want man as President in
whose integrity and patriotism they
can repose implicit confidence. They
want man who will look to the inter