The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-06-22
BLAINE RESIGNS.
The Secretary of State Retires
From the Cabinet.
His Resignation Immediately Ao-
cepted by President Harrison.

Mr.. Blaine Is Secretary Of State no longer.
To the people of Washington, Cabinet Minis
ters Government employees, Congressman,
and all his resignation was stunning sur
prise. A few minutes before 1o'clock
Louis a. Dent, Mr.. Blaines Private Sscre-
10 the White House and banded the en-
velope containing the resignation to
the President who was just on
the point of going down to the East Room
to hold the usual reception there. The
President read the letter without changing
color or moving muscle, and then
went down stairs and shook hands
with about two hundred persons
who had assembled in the East Room
as calmly as though nothing unusual had
happened. The reception over, he returned
to his office, wrote his acceptance Of the res
ignation, and handed it to Mr.. Dent, who
took it to his chief at the State Depart
ment. Ex-Secretary Blaine glanced over the
document, put on his hat left the
Office and went home. The Presi-
dent meanwhile designated William F.
Wharton, the First Assistant Secretary, tn
act as Secretary Of State until new ap-
pointment can be made. Mr.. Wharton has
been in the department for three years, and
has acquired Thorough familiarity with
the practical details Of the office. The fol-
lowing is the correspondence:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, [
WASHINGTON, Juns 4, 1892, 2:45 P. II.
To the President:
respectfully beg leave to submit my res
ignation of the Office of Secretary OF state
Of the United States, to which l was ap-
pointed by. YOU on the 5th Of March, 1889.
fhe condition Of public business In the De-
partment Of State justifes me in requesting
that my resignation may be accepted Inn
medtately.
nave the honor to be, very respectfully,
' JAMES g. BLAINE.
WASHINGTON, June 1, 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 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 accepted.
Very respectfully yours,
BENZ. HARRISON.
Hon. JAMES g. BLAINE.
A copy of the Presidents letter given out
by Mr.. Blaine to the. press was endorsed as
having been received by him 'at FIVE min.
utss Of o'clock" -.
The news of Mr.. Blaine's resignation
quickly few over Washington, creating the
most intense excitement. 1t naturally
reached first the State, War, Navy, and
Treasury Departments, and in those ouud'
ings work was generally suspended,
and the news was eagerly discussed
by groups Of subordinates gathered In the
several rooms and corridors, while In the
inner sanctuaries Of the chiefs OF depart
ments there were many hurried and anxious
consultations. The Cabinet colleagues OF
Mr. Blaine were as completely and genuinely
surprised as anybody else.
The scene at the Capitol when the news
arrived there was striking one. The Sem
ate was not in session, but the House was
wrestling with the Po5tofics Appropriation
bill. Tho chamber was like an oven,
and the members were hot red-faced
and angry. At a quarter before D
an official messenger entered the
west corridor of the Housa. bearing In ms
hands an open telegram in these words:
"Secretary Blaine has resigned" he then
vanished into the House, carrying the news
with him. In half minute thereafter the
House was in an uproar. A hundred men
gathered in an excited group in frone
Of the Speakers desk, peering over one an.
others shoulders at the telegram held aloft
In the centre OF the throng. Then the MEM
bers turned away into little knots OF fiVe or
tan. and discussed the intelligence with AMI
mated gestures and a subdued chorus OF e4.
cited Conversation rsverbera.ed throughout
the room.