surprised, at the cordial and widely extended feeling in my favor throughout New England, where I had expected to encounter local jealousy and, perhaps, rival aspiration.

In our new relation I shall give all that I am and all that I can hope to be, freely and joyfully, to your service.  You need no pledge of my loyalty in heart and in act.  I should be false to myself did I not prove true both to the great trust you confide to me and to your own personal and political fortunes in the present and in the future.  Your administration must be made brilliantly successful and strong in the confidence and pride of the people, not at all directing its energies for re-election, and yet compelling that result by the logic of events and by the imperious necessities of the situation.  To that most desirable consummation I feel that, next to yourself, I can possibly contribute as much influence as any other one man.  I say this not from egotism or vainglory, but merely as a deduction from a plain analysis of the political forces which have been at work in the country for five years past, and which have been significantly shown in two great national conventions.  I accept it as one of the happiest circumstances connected with this affair that in allying my political fortunes with yours—­or, rather, for the time merging mine in yours—­my heart goes with my head, and that I carry to you not only political support, but personal and devoted friendship.  I can but regard it as somewhat remarkable that two men of the same age, entering Congress at the same time, influenced by the same aims and cherishing the same ambitions, should never, for a single moment in eighteen years of close intimacy, have had a misunderstanding or a coolness, and that our friendship has steadily grown with our growth and strengthened with our strength.  It is this fact which has led me to the conclusion embodied in this letter; for however much, my dear Garfield, I might admire you as a statesman, I would not enter your Cabinet if I did not believe in you as a man and love you as a friend.  Always faithfully yours,

  James G. Blaine.

Mr. Blaine’s diplomatic career began with his appointment as secretary of state on March 5, 1881, and ended with his resignation on December 19, three months after President Garfield’s death.  The two principal objects of his foreign policy, as defined by himself on September 1, 1882, were these:  “First, to bring about peace, and prevent future wars in North and South America; second, to cultivate such friendly commercial relations with all American countries as would lead to a large increase in the export trade of the United States, by supplying those fabrics in which we are abundantly able to compete with the manufacturing nations of Europe.”  President Garfield, in his inaugural address, had repeated the declaration of his predecessor that it was “the right and duty of the United States to assert and maintain such supervision and authority