The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-17
A SPICY LETTER,
2. n. Blackburn Writes TO the
President as to Secretary Smith.

Atlanta, Dec. l6.-B. NJ. Blackburn,
who was known as q strong Cleveland
man before and after Mr.. Cleveland's
nomination, and who has failed to get such
an appointment as he thinks he ought to
have viii make public in the
morning 4 letter which he wrote the
President last October. The reason for
publishing the letter, Mr.. Blackburn
says. is to correct certain newspaper re-
ports that have pretended to account for
my failure to secure an appointment OF
dignity under this administration, and to
defend myself against the injustice done
me by publications, which were intended
TO create the impression that / had OK
hibited an indicate anxiety for official
place.
The following are a few extracts from
the letter:
Atllnta, Ga. oct. - lss3-Hon. Grover
Cle7eland. Washington. d., c. My Dear Sir;
Your letter Of the 10Th inst, te -derlng me
position in the census bureau at a salary OF
8, 100 per annum, has been received.
On the occasion OF my last visit to Wash
ington you we're kind enough to tender me
two consular Experimentation and
81. homas. Both Of these positions were
declined
Before returning home I suggested that you
dismiss Ely name from further consideration,
ana mad supposed that YOU had done as re-
quested. was therefore much surprised to
that you still had me in mind. and you were
yet DESTROYS Of doing something for me.
In declining this. the third offer OF place
under our administration, l desire TO write
to you aOo.t one phase of my experience as
an applicant, TO which reference has not been
made, viz: tho significant suggestion that
was made to me more than month ago by
When visited Washington in September 1
called to see Mr.. --- in accordunce with
the suggestion OF very good friend. who had
talked with him personally in my behalf. 1t
is proper to state, in this connection, that 1
had written to this gentleman. whose name
IL Is not necessary to mention here, with
view to euisting his friendly Offices In my
letter referred explicitly to the embarrass-
ments that hampered my application for
honorable place IN the government service,
and spoke uureservedly Of the manner OF Mr..
hoke Smith S opposition.
After making some general reference to
what my friend had volunteered in my be-
half, Mr.. ------ aid TO me that he wanted to
aid me IN securing the position that desired,
but suggested that call on Mr.. smith, talk
over my differences with him, secure his in
dorSement, and everything would e all right
appreciated the force OF Mr. ---- lnt1u-
ence. and knew that acquiescence meant my
honorable promotion, but such a course IN
VolYed crOoking the knee to Hoke Smith, and
therefore very promptly informed Mr.. =
that would not thus compromise myself
He declined to serve me unless agreed to 10
az he suggested. l sill refused because l
felt that under all the circumstances, the in
uOTSeIUenb OF Inc secretary OF the Interior
o I'D retee on me.
MIR. - endeavored to convince me that
TINS official was not opposing my appoint
ment whereupon1 told h.m that blr. smith
had never been my friend, and that sup
posed his hatred of me had been intensified
by the course OF the Constitution advtrtis-
ing me as the promoter Of the Cleveland
movement in Georgia This caused Mr.. -
"Mr. Blackburn, what II the President
should appoint you TO good position and the
Constitution should contain to morrow In
prominent headlines: .Hoke Smith Has Been
/ Turned Down by the Presidsntt'"
There was flood of meaning in this query,
and much OF the mystery which had sur
rounCed my appreciation became a matter of
easy solution. But l submit that il does not
reflect much credit on cabinet o'ficer, who
was selected to represent the democracy of
my state / would rather suffer honorable
defeat than be a party to a conspiracy that is
founded upon such ignoble considerations.
In the talk that had with you last month
was impressed with the idea that some one,
who did not hold my confidence or esteem,
had taken a very active interest in my appli-
cation, lest my name be put on the list of
respectable appointments.
have every reason to believe that Mr..
Smith is this enemy, and in support of this
conviction present the following:
Before leaving Atlanta for his new and Tn.
tried field of laUor Mr.. smith said to me vol
UNFAIRLY Il have never asked his endorse
ment) that some of his friends had asked
him to fight my appointment, but this he re-
FUSED TO DO, as he wanted me to have any
thing that 1 desired from this administra-
ton Note the difference. After going to
Washington he said that, he was willing for
me to have an appointment under your ad-
ministration. but lost no time TO volunteer
the opinion that II was striking too high, but
would get a 5000 consulate Then last
March he sent for me 10 patronizingly inform
me that she did not think that would be ten
dered such place as L thought deserved but
1t was the Presidents intention to offer me,
consulate in Spain" "a piece Of presumption
that promptly resented, since which time
have not seen nor spokento Mr.. SMITH Con-
meet with this ot1lciousness the bushwhacking
attempts OF his paper, The At
lama journal, 10 ihiure my can
didacy, and you 8. have strong
chain of circumstances going to show that I
have been the Victim of an antagonism that
is below the dignity OF cJwardice. If there is
a missing link in this chain of evidence it is
abundantiy supplied in the conversation
quoted above with Mr. --.
can accept gracefully the disappointment
that comes with defeat In n fair, open and
manly contest, but when am sought out for
humiliation by boastful braggart, who de-
lights in his personal proweSs, every element
of my manhood rebels, and tells me to expose
the treachery OF him who thus outrages true
mani1Dcas