The state capital., 1892-06-11

ET- secretary OF State James G.. Blaine
OF Mr. Blaine, written on the official
paper of the department Of state. The
president did not, either in word or ac-
tlon, express any surprise, but handed
the letter to Private Secretary Halford,
who then for the first time was made
aware of it's significant import 1t was
then few minutes of / o'clock. the
hour the president receives visitors in
the East room. He descended the pri-
vate stairs of the executive mansion
and went into the East room. where he
shook by the hand some 200 people
who had assembled there. He did not
snow the least nervousness or appear as
II anything unusual had occurred.
After the reception in the East room
the president went to lunch, as is his
wont. About 1:30 o'clock the president
went to his desk again and taking up a
sheet of official paper headed "Execu-
tive Mansion inditcd reply accepting
Mr. Blainc'S resignation as secretary of
state. This letter was handed to Mr..
Blaine in person at his residence on
Lafayette square by Mr. Halford It
w AA'o olINh pouu I.to - ClOCk.
AS soon as the resignation of Mr..
Blaine had been accepted an official
telegram was sent from the executive
mansion to the several departments an
nOuncing the fact to the several secre-
taries.
Within a few minutes after 2 o'clock
Attorney-General Miller called and had
nDrnnSf tall with bo
secretary Elkins arrived as the at
torney-general was leaving. He re-
malned with the president for some
time, and emerging from the pres ident's
room, indited number of kilograms
which were sent on from the executive
mansion. The telephone, too, was
kept busy with messages to the various
The news of Mr.. Blaine's resignation
created the most intense excitement
throughout the city, 1t was surprise
so big that few would at first believe it.
MIR. Blaine's most intimate friends did |
not anticipate 1T, and were perhaps
more surprised than the general public. |
who have been unable to see how Mr.. |
Blaine could remain in the cabinet oc- |
,upying the attitude to the republican
that lie did The consen-
sus of opinion here is that Mr. Blaine |
las thrown down the gauntlet and that
lis resignation is a declaration that he
S now an avowed candidate The
news of Mr.. Blaine's resignation was
eiven by the secretary himself to the
)resS
In response to Il summons by telc-
'hOne representative of the United
'ress called at Mr.. Blaines residence
t 2:40 and was handed copy of the
in sealed envelope
marked Important" Surmising it's
Ontents the reporter asked If there was
nything to add, to which the reply
vas, Nothing" Mr. Blaine looked
veil and walked up and down his
lbrary as if he felt the importance of
he step he had taken The letters
themselves, though courteous in tone,
re utterly devoid of rhetorical flourish
r expression of regret and good wishes,
he usual formal termination of such
They are as formal
S the most ordinary business letters.
gentleman who Is ordinarily con-
dered as close to Mr. Blaine was
realty surprised when told the news
n hour or SO after it's announcement.
his was taken to indicate that Mr.
iaipe had not consulted many of his
lends. The effect of Mr.. Blaine's res ]
rnatiOn upon the situation at Mime
polls is cagearly canvassed: friends of {
9th Mr.. Harrison and Mr.. Blaine ex- S
ress the fear that if either is nomi- .
ated the friends of the other will be I
% sore to go actively into the cam
aign, and say that it will be necessary I
choose some other man upon whom !