Life and Later Speeches of Chauncey M. DePew (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Life and Later Speeches of Chauncey M. Depew

Since' our interview on Saturday, I have given the most earnest thought, and sought the best information, on which to base a judgment upon the question of Secretary of State. The office is one of the most attractive in the Government, and was rendered doubly so by the cordiality of your tender of it. So prominent and confidential a relation with yourself and your administration would be in every way most agreeable to me. I throw aside in considering the subject the large and remunerative trusts which I must resign, and view the appointment as it may affect the present campaign.

First, and above all other things, I am anxious for your success in the coming election. That, in my judgment, is of the greatest moment for the best interests of the country and for the future of the Republican Party. Our canvass is extraordinarily free from either defensive or explanatory matters and presents unusually aggressive strength. One prominently identified with railway management coming into the Cabinet at this late hour, and in the heat of the campaign, might lead to an effort to raise new issues in the few States where such questions are as yet unsettled. If the question did, in any way, create a diversion or embarrass ment it would destroy all the pleasure and pride which would otherwise attach to this great office. Lean do much more effective work in the ranks, as I have been accustomed to, than in office.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.