Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-06-06
Mr.. Blainc's Rcsignatio

The announcement of Mr.. Blaine.
retirement from rho Cabinet was mi,
lished in the GAZETTE on Saturd4y
The resignation appears to have bo..
determined upon very suddenly. bn,
for a long time there have been yarion
facts known to close observers in Wa.l
ington, as sort of open secret 'wS ,i'i'
warrant a belief that the resignation
though undoubtedly precipitated h.
occurrences Of very recent date. had 4,
origin long while ago and in cause.
essentially personal rather than poIi,i
cal.
These causes may be briefly summo,.
lied as incompatabilitics OF temnqr,
ment developed and emphasized a. a.
times by impatient disagreemcnts ov ..
public questions such as the mapoga
ment of the war-threatening ditlirny
with Chill invidious comparisons ani
comments on the part of inudicon,,
friends concerning the credit dro
for the enactment and the cyccr
ton of the reciprocity project and tbo
general conduct OF the foreign affair. of
this government, including the manage
ment of the Behring sea controyqH,
and the lack of cordial relations h:
tween the families of the Pres
dent and Secretary Blaine. Tbcse
causes had undoubtedly created a feel.
ing of constraint in the personal relo.
tions of the President and the Secretary
of State months before the wIiting
of the letter in which llr. Blaine
declared that he was not can.
didate for the Presidential nom.
nation, and the recent pubica.
tons authorized by various member.
of the Cabinet concerning Mr. Blaine
and the Presidency. closely following
other published statements attributed
to member of the Presidents family
and tosome of his close political friend,
regarding the ;Secretary's physical and
mental condition, &c, are understood
to have made him feel that LONGER con.
| tinuance in President Harrisons Cab.
net would be intolerablc TO him. wholly
irrespective ofany question Of right or
duty TO accept the republican nomina.
ton for the Presidency if tcndclel 10
him.
1t has long been an open secret that
the social relations between the lIarri.
son and Blaine families have been con.
fined to the most formal outward in.
tcrchange of civiiitics on State occ;l-
sions, the two families having virtually
remained as strangers from the outset
of the administration. The refusal Of
Mr.. Harrison to appoint lIr Walker
Blaine Assistant Secretary Of State and
to promote Col. Coppingcr. Mr. BIanc's
son-in-law, TO the position OF Brigadcr
General, also widcned the breach ic.
tween the President and Mr. Blaine
Mr.. Harrison. it is now said. did not
want to put bIr. Blaine in his Cabinet
ut the beginning, but he knew tbatt hedbi
not lie would have quarrel on his hands ri
such marked dimensions that twoGd cal~
split in his party.
The comments of the Presidents friends
are unqualilledly severe. They declare tina;
Mr.. Blaine has been trcachcIous; ana that he
trcachcry is in keeping with his character
and just what WAS TO have been expected fmn
him.
Politicians of both parties seem to think
the outlook for Mr.. Blainc's nomination &
better than ii has been at any time hercio-
fore and that il he cannot succeed in getting
it for himself he can at least keep it AWAY
from Mr. Harrison.