The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1892-06-06
BLAINE IN AND OUT !
The Plumed Knight Gives Harrison
a Surprise.
Getting Ready for the Nomination Ht
Resigns His Place.
BENNrE ACCEPTS WITHOUT THANKS
The Greatest Political Excitement known
for Many Years on the Eve OF
"A Great Convention

for Many Years on the Eve of
"A Great Convention
WAaa!NGToS, June 4.-James G.
Blaine resigned the portfolio of secretary
of state at o'clock TO day. President |
Harrison accepted it an hour later. No
ink was wasted in the correspondence.
ON both sides it was cold and formal
There was no expression Of regret on
either side, and the president even for
got the usual courtesy of expressing
his appreciation of the services hitherto
rendered by the head of his cabinet.
But Mr. Blaine's letter was a declara
ton of war, open and fair 1t was ac-
cepted as such, even if, in his haste to
take up the gauntlet lest hesitancy might
be attributed to fear, the president did
forget to be courteous or even dignitied.
Apparently no one of Mr.. Blaine's
friends had any intimation as to his in
tention. Maybe General Clarkson and
those who are looking after the secre-
tary's interests in Minneapolis knew it;
but party leaders in Washington did not.
But the steps having been decided on,
Mr.. Blaine did not wait to consult his
friends. With his usual firmness he
acted
1t was just 1e:45 o'clock when Mr.,
Blaine's secretary, Mr.. Dent, left the
room of his chief He went directly to
the executive mansion. In his pocket
reposed communication addressed to
President Harrison, sealed in an official
envelope of the state department. Prl-
yate Secretary Halford received the mes
sage and took it at once to the president.
The latter tore open the letter and read ;
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
"WAsuINToN, June 4, 1892, 12:45 P. m.
/ D inc IICSIucul:
II respectfully beg leave to submit
my resignation of the office of secretary
of state of the United States, to which l
was appointed by you on the 9TH OF
March, 1899.
"The condition of public business in
| the department of state iustities me IN
| requesting that my resignation be ac
cepted Immediately. | have the honor tc
be, very respectfully, your obedient ser
want.
"(Signed) JAMES e. BLAINE.
Without a word the president handed
the message to Mr. IIalford. Then, as i
WAS ihc hour fixed for public reception
he went 20 the east room, where he shOOl
hands with some two hundred guests
He said little, but il was apparent tha
ne was doing a cheap O thinkin'." Th
re ptiou over, he hast to lunch, bu
was back AT his desk in a half hour afte
he had received Mr. Blainc's letter.
Il WAS 2:05 when Private Secretar
Halfcrd call, q at Secretary Blaine's resi-
dence On Lafayette square. lie, toe
bore an official envelope, which he place
in the hands of Mr.. Blaine himself. Th
letter it contained read:
"EXECUTIvE MANSION,
7 "WAsHINGToN, June 4, 1892
''To the Secretary Of State:
Your letter of this date, tenderin
vour resignation of the office Of secretar
of state of the United States, has bee
lreceiyed. The terms in which you stat
Pvour desire are such as to leave me Il
. ichoice but to accede to your wishes
; once. Your resignation is therefore a
cepted. Very respectfully yours,
"(Signedl BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE
/ While this letter was on its way TO Sc
: retary Blaine the president was bu:
" sending telegrams announcing the resi-
: nation Of the secretary of state TO Il
{ other members Of the cabinet. With
\ fifteen minutes Attorney General Mill
d was at the white house, and he kept Il
: president company until Secretary
/ War Elkins arrived. Neither wGit'
t long, but the way in which they kept t
= telegraph wires busy during the afte
II noon indicated their agitation.
The news Of the signation created
! mos, intense excitement Throughout, t
Y CITY. Few would al first believe it. y
Il Blaine's most intimate friends did n
g anticipate it. The consensus OF opini
is that Mt Blaine has thrown down I
= gauntlet, and that his resignation Is
Ia cIaration that he is a candidate.