The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-06-06
HARRISON DEFlED.
THE RESIGNATION TERSELY OFFERED
BY THE SECRETARY.
NOT 4 WORD or RECOGNITION FOR
SERVICES THAT HAVE HONOR
ED THE ADMINISTRATIONS.

4
Blaine resigned the portfolio Of Secre-
tary of State at | o'clock to-day.
President Harrison accepted it an hour
later. No ink was wasted in the cor
Irespondence. On both sides it was
cold and formal. There was no ex-
preston of regret ON either side, and
the President even forgot the usual
courtesy Of expressing his appreciation
of the services hitherto rendered by
the head of his Cabinet.
But Mr.. Blaine's letter was decla
ration of war, open and fair. It was
accepted as such, even if, in his
haste to take up the gauntlet lest hesi-
fancy might be attributed to fear, the
President did forget to be courteous or
even dignifed.
Apparently no one Of Mr.. Blaine's
friends had any intimation as to his
intention. May be General Clarkson
and those who are looking after the
Secretarv's interests in Minneapolis
knew it; but party leaders in Wash
ington did not. But the step having
been decided ON, Mr.. Blaine did not
wait to consult his friends. With his
usual firmness he acted.
It was just l2:45 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 adj
dressed to President Harrison, sealed
in an official envelope of The State De-
partment. Private Secretary Halford
received the message and took it at
once to the President. The latter tore
open the letter and read:
"DEPARTlIENT OF STATE,
"WAsH1NGToN, June 4, 1892,
ITO the President:
II respectfully beg leave to submit
my resignation Of the Office Of Score.
tary 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 NV resignation may
be accepted immediately. have the
honor to be, very respectfully, your
lobedient servant,
i ''(Signedl JAMES G. BLAINE. 2
| Without word the President hand.
led the message to Mr.. Halford. Then,
as it was the hour fixed for public re.
ception, he went to the East Room,
where he shook hands with some two
hundred guests. Hesaid little, but il
was apparent that he was doing a
heap O. thinkin'." The reception
over, he FASTENED to lunch, but was at
| his desk a half hour after he had re-
lceived Mr.. Blame's letter.
| 1t was 2.05 when Private Secretary
Halford called at Secretary Blaine's
residence on Lafayette Square. He,
ltoo, bore an official envelope, which he
placed in the hands Of Mr.. Blaine him.
Ilself. The letter it contained read:
Il "ExEeUTIvE MANSION,
Il "WAsHINGToN June 4, 1892.
To The Secretary Of State:
a "Your letter of this date, rendering
lyour resignation Of the Office of Secre-
tary of State Of the United States, has
4 been received. The terms in which
lyou state your desire are such as to
laeave me no choice but to aecede to
your wishes at once Your resigna-
ition is therefore accepted. Very res
lpectfully yours,
1 "(Signe6 BENJAMIN HARRISON.
| .'HdN. JAMES g. BLAINE
II While this letter was on its way to
Secretary Blaine the President was
busy sending kilograms announcing
the resignation of the Secretary Of
State to the other members of the Cab
! met. Within fifteen minutes Attor-
lney-General Miller was at the White
House, and be kept the President COM
pany until Secretary Of War Wilkins
arrived. Neither waited long, but the
way in which they kept the telegraph
wires busy during,the afternoon indi-
Gated their agitation.
The news of the resignation created
4 the most intense excitement through
out the city. Few would at first be-
Ilieve it. Mr.. Blaine's most intimate
friends did not anticipate it. The con-
sensus Of opinion is that Mr.. Blaine
J has thrown the gauntlet, and that bis