Frye to a seat in the Cabinet, which Mr. Blaine desired, as
it would smooth the way of Mr. Eugene Hale, his most intimate
friend and strongest supporter, to succeed Mr. Hamlin in
the Senate. President Hayes was willing to appoint Mr. Hale
to a Cabinet office. But Mr. Hale, I think very wisely, declined
the overture, as he had before declined the tender of a seat
in the Cabinet from President Grant. He would have made an
excellent Cabinet officer. But he was specially fitted for
the more agreeable and permanent public service of Senator.
I do not know what occasioned President Hayes's reluctance
to comply with Mr. Blaine's desire. But it was a fortunate
decision for Mr. Frye. If he had gone into the Cabinet,
in all likelihood the people of Maine would have chosen another
Senator when Mr. Blaine became Secretary of State under Garfield
in 1881, and according to the habit of the people of that
State would have continued him in their service. So Mr.
Frye's brilliant and useful career in the Senate would have
been wanting to the history of the Republic.
I had myself something to do with the selection of the Cabinet.
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