Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-02-10
BLAINE ABOUT TORESIGN
He VIII Shortly Retire from the
Secretaryship Of State.
POOR HEALTH PROMPTS THIS MOVE

The Only Reason lie Does Not Drop the
Heavy Mantle at once Is TO Avoid Any
SIisoonstructiono Of His sIotive-Tho Date
of Ills Outgoing Not Yet Fixed.
WASHINGTON, Feb 10 Secretary Blaine'a
resignation from tho cabinet win, after d
reasonable interval, follow his letter Of
withdrawal as presidential possibility.
For this statement your correspondent has
authority second only to that Of Secretary
Blaine himself
Mr.. Blaine has reached a definite deter
mination to resign his commission as secre-
tary of state Only the date at which this
action shall be taken remains undetermined.
MIR Blaine if he follows his personal in.
clination, would tender the president his
resignation at once, but he realizes that
such an act, following Immediately upon his
letter to Chairman Clarkson, would be
widely misinterpreted and would DO con
etrued by the opponents Of the Republican
party either as an act Of pique or az indicat-
ing serious differences between the president
and his party
Therefore Mr., Blaine win postpone his
resignation from the cabinet until time
enough shall have elapsed 30 separate in the
public mind that act from his announcement
that his name would not go before the Re
publican national convention for the preei.
DENTAL nomination
HE Health the Cause.
The reason which Secretary Blaine will
give to the president for retiring from tho
cabinet win be that Of physical inability to
continue to perform the arlunua and exact
ing duties Of his present Office This *, IN
fact, the true reason for Mr. Blaines deter.
miuation 20 withdraw entirely from official
life Other motives may, and doubtless
win, be assigned by his critics for his action,
but it viii really be based upon his preoari-
ous health.
It has been the hope Of Mr. Blaine for
several months 10 spend some Of the present
winter in a warmer climate When he left
Bar Harbor last fall II was with the inten-
tion Of going from Washington either to the
extreme southern part Of Texas or to Mex
leo to spend the winter.
The Chiliau imbrogio dragged its length
along till a trip Of So great extent became
impracticable Since the Chilian affair has
assumed less Importance it IS stated that
Mr.. Blaine has expressed desire to 10 as
soon as possible 10 the Bermudas and re-
main tin the late spring 81 early summer
months have settled the fckle weather 81
this latitude Since that time Mr Blain1
has also expressed a desire 20 visit Cuba
and il is Thought that that island win ha his
most probable destination after he has ra-
signed from the cabinet.
The determination Of MI Blaine 10 retire
from the cabinet which Is now publicly an
nounced for the first time, was mtimated by
General Felix Agnus, OF Baltimore, who said
in an interview; II should not be surprised
to see Mr.. Blaine retire even from the cab
met Of which he has been such an eminent
member General Agnus' words may be
given all the significance to the utterance OF
an intimate personal friend OF Secretary
Blaine. To only few Of these friends is
Air Blaine's determination known
The Question OF Succession.
1t is, Of course, too searly to speculate as
to who may succeed Mr.. Blaine as secretary
of state. The name Of ex-senator Edmunds.
Of Vermont, naturally suggests itself be.
cause Of his known intimacy with the presi.
dent and his great experience in public
affairs, but it win be remembered that Mr..
Edmunds assigned his own precarious
health as his reason for resigning from the
senate. New York already has a member
Of the cabinet, which would seem 90 debar
from consideration the name Of ex-senator
Eyarts, who was secretary Of state under
President Hayes
It is thought more probable that the pres
ldent would look to the west for a successor
to Secretary Blaine, and it is suggested that
he might find it good politics to select a man
from Illinois. In this connection the name
Of Robert 4. Lincoln, who was secretary Of
war under President Arthur, and who IS
now United States minister at the court Of
81. James, might be recalled and promoted
70 the head Of the state department.
The most important subject after reel
procity now before that department Is the
Behring sea question, with which Minister
Lincolns duties during the past three years
have made him thoroughly familiar