New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-05

THE sEcRETARY's REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE
AcIoN-TuE CORRESPONDENCE on THE SUB
JNr-ExorTEMEST IN THE HOUSE WHEN
THE NEWS WAS ASNoUNCED-sPEc-
ULAnoN As TO THE SIGNITI-
cAYCE OF THE ACmON.
IpY TELEGRAPH TO THE IRIBUSRY
Washington. June 4.-Secretary Blaine has sent
his resignation to the President and 1t has been
accepted
Following Is the correspondence between him
Department Of State,
Washington, June 4.
To the President:
respectfully beg leave 70 submit my resigna-
ton of the office of Secretary Of State OF the
United States, to which appointed by you
on the 9TH OF March, 1889
The condition of public business In the Depart
mcnt Of State justiies me In requesting that my
resignation may be accepted Immediately
have the honor 70 be very respectfully, your
ohod;ent scrvont. JAMES G. BLAINE.
Executive Mansion, Washington, June 4, 1892
TO the Secretary OF State
Your letter of this date rendering your resis-
nation Of the Office Of Secretary OF State oil
the United States has been received The terms In
which you state your desires are such as to
leave me no choice but to accedc to your wishes
at once Your resignation is therefore accepted
Very respectfully yours.
BENJAMIN HARRISON
Hon. James c. Blaine.
OF course the announcement that secretary
Blaine had offered his resignation and that II
had been accepted by the President produced a
profound scnsation as well as universal sur
prise In Washington. The resignation aud The
motives which prompted il form the sole topic OF
discussion, and the opinions expressed in regard
TO The probable results Of the action are most
diverse and contradictory. There is some reason
TO believe that President Harrison was not taken
wholly ty surprise when Secretary Blalpes letter
was hanlcd TO him about o'clock this after
noon, and it il more than probable that ne cx-
rec,ed it, II is possible, also, that one or more
members OF the Cabinet had an inkiing OF the
corning event, but none of them are willing to
discuss the subject. Both President Harrison and
Mr.. Blaine were equally reticent when sccn late
this afternoon. and it was quite impossible to
ascertain whether tie step taken by the latter
had long been contemplated by him or the rea-
sons for IL The letters were most carefully
studied and some persons thought they discovered,
between the lines evidences Of the existence Of n
difference Of opinion between the President
and his Secretary OF State questions Of policy,
which might have been OF such nature as to
prompt tie latter 20 offer his resignation. but
this Wow was not widely accepted II was III"
general opinion that Tho expressions IN Mr.. Blaine
letter relating TO the condition Of the public busi-
ness indicated that IL wns in such state that
his retirement from office AZ this time would not
he an embarrassment 20 the Administration.
WHAT Is TIE POLITICAL sIGNIF1CANCEf
But thi, feature Of the case was completely
overshadowed in cvcrybodys mind by the merely
political one Does il mean that Secretary Blaine
has decided - he candidate for the Presidential
nomination. and therefore feels it proper and
necessary TO retire from the Cabinet in order b.
relieve his friends and supporters, as we'll as the
President and himself, from embarrassment? How
will il affect President IIarrsons prospects for u
denomination, as well as his own chances, II II"
has decided 10 br n candidate? These and other
similar questions are asked and earnestly not to
SAY cxcitcdly, discussed on every side, and the
answers are, of course diverse and the opinions
conflicting.
The two men In Washington who 10 oil out
ward appearances are the least disturbei or ex-
cited over the occurrence are President Har-
rison and Mr. Blaine. Both Of them appeared 70
kc in excellent spirits, and there was nothing III
the dcmcanor of either one to indicate a shade
Of disappointment or annoyance lhey simply
declined to discuss the subject in any Of its phases
this afternoon, and members of the Cabinet who
could be found initiated their example.
-FCRFTARY FI.KrNS WITH TIE PRESIDENT.
Tie only exception was Secretary EIkins, who,
however would do no more than relt"rate with
emphasis his opinion that President Harrison will
be nominated on the first ballot and without scrl-
ons opposition. lie happened to be with the
President when Secretary Blaine's note was re-
ccivcd What took place what effect the res
ignation had on Secretary Elkns is not known
beyond the fact that he remained with the Pres
ident until nearly 2 o'clock.
In the meantime o'clock, the regular hour
for the Presidents tri-weekly han ishaking, ar
rived. nnd about 200 visitors were waiting below
in the East Room The President, who is usually
punctual on these occasions, did not appear in
the East Room until twenty minutes
after l. A stranger would not nave
Observed anything unusual in his manner
hut those accustomed TO seeing him
no through the handshaking frequently. saw at o
Glance that he looked extremely preoccuped and
was more quiet than usual. Remarks were made
that he looked tired, and his WEAKNESS was at
tributed to Mrs. IIarrsons illness, as it is well
known that he insists on sharing the care Of the
sckroom The Handwriting occupied only few