The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-06-16
BLAINF'S SENSATION.
HE RESIGNS AS SECRETARY OF STATE
IN THE HARRISON CABINET.

The Democrats Delis & hted and tho KepuL-
Hosns Blue oyer the .Action of the
PIuned Knight Exciting Scenes When
the News Was Received.
WASHINGTON, June 4. The follow
ing correspondence explains Itself:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, June 4, 1892
To the Presidents:
respectfully beg leave to submit nv
resignation OF the Office Of Secretary of
State of the United States to which |
was appointed by you on March S, 1889.
The condition Of public business in the
Department of State iusties me in re-
questing that my resignation may be &C.
cepted Immediately. l have the honor
to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, JAMES G. BLAINE.
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WASHINGTON, June 4, 1892.
TO the Secretary of State:
Your letter of this date rendering your
resignation of the Office of Secretary of
State OF the United States has been re-
ceived. The terms in which you state
your deslles are such as to leave me no
choice but to accede to your wishes at
once. Your resignation is therefore ac.
cepted. Very respectfully yours,
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
The news OF the resignation of Blaine
created profound sensation at the Cap
ltol. The Senate was not in session.
but the House was in the throcs of fill
clustering against the anLi-option bill.
The effect of the reception of the Asso.
clated Press bulletin announcing the
event was magical. The telegram was
read by The Speaker and by Represen-
tatiVe DlDgly and almost instantly the
news spread over the hall like O wave
OF sound.
Within two minutes the space in front
OF tue desk was filled by thrCng OF
Representatives struggling to oct q
glimpse OF the bit of yellow paper which
was snatchcd from one hand to another.
The Speaker left the chair tcmporari.
w, delegaliug his duties to Representa-
tive Johnson et South Carolina, and the
latter soon found that he had assumed
an almost impossible task in endeayor.
ing to keep order in the House, while it
ia1orcd under the storm of excitement.
The clerks were calling the roll on
some motion to take recess until some
unreasonable hour in the evening, but
Their voices could scarcely be heard over
ana above the hum Of consultation and
Inc tones OF ejaculation. The effect
was dlscourasing to The pending busi-
ness. Ihcn came a comparison of
VlcWs, Democrats and Republicans
SaIhcrlnS IN knots in the rear OF The
seats and putting their heads together
III consultation.
| What does it, Jnean?" was the uues-
Ilon III every mouth. 1t did not take
the Democrats long TO decide what view
To take OF the matter as to the initial
stage. Ii means that Blaine is stand
my tor nomination, said one and all.
Nearly all of the Democrats were of
one mind on another pont and that was
expressed by Il speaker who said that
the resignation meant war to the knife
between the administration and anti
administration factions.
The newe set The Republicans think
ing hard and they did not mantle st ANY,
, thing like the eXhilaratiou that was ex-
hibited by the Democrats.
Dockcry OF Missouri said: "Fate is
with us. 1t means that Blaine ls the
uomlnce and Blaine caa never be elect
ed.D
Sayels of Texas: "Set it down that
Blame will be the nominee and will be
beaten"
SAID Mckinney. representing the New
England Democracy, his face fairly a.
dIant: 1--WE have got them. Blaine
VIII be nominated and, of course, we
VIII nominate Cleveland. lie beat
blalne once and can 90 it again."
wilson of West Virginia remarked:
ut means rupture in the Republican
party, and that means Democratic
victory"
O'Ferrall OF Virginia is confident that
IL means Bla!ne's nomination and that
nomination makes doubly sure the nom.
ination of Cleveland at Chicayo--a nom.
nation OF which he never had the slight.
est doubt.
Watson, the Farmers Allianceman
from Georgia, said that as the Syracuse
Convention had split the Democratic
party into factions 80 would Blaine,s ac-
tlon result in q division of the Republi.
cans. Then would he the opportunitv
OF the third party; and it would take ad-
vantage OF it and wedge would be IN
serted.
Enloe OF Tennessee thought it meant
Bia!ne's nomination. But Blaine, ac-
cordlng TO Enloe, lis carrying diplomacy
10 ONT which in our section of the
country would be called square lyirg."
IT was displomacy like that practiced by
Minister Eagan.
Pierce Of Tennessee was of the opln-
ION that Blaine was sharp enough to see
lie hands of his opponents before he
rendered his resignation.
Fellows OF New York could see no
reason for Blainc's resignation other
Than that lie wanted the nomination.
The action OF Blaine, Fellows thought,
would weaken him in some Quarters.
Ills general observation was that Blaine
would be willing TO take the nomination
If rendered him.
just as Colonel Fellows finished
speaking, New York Republican Rep
resentativc Curtis came up and Fellows
sald to him: "Wlat do YOU Renubli-
cans mean?"
Curtis, responded: 1T will take the |
nomination out of Indiana but Blaine
Will not get it,"