CORNELIUS N. BLISS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/10/1894 - HFSID 13757

CORNELIUS N. BLISS
He pens a letter in 1894 to thank the recipient for a letter, but says that he can't claim more than a modest share of credit. This letter may be in reference to the New York State elections, which were held only four days before this letter was written.
Autograph Letter Signed: "C. N. Bliss". 2 pages, 4¾x8, 1 sheet folded, front and verso. New York, Nov. 10, 1894. Addressed to James S. Lehmaier, Esq. In full: "My dear Mr Lehmaier. I have your kind favor of the 8th and assure you I receive [illegible] pleasure you approving [illegible]. It is far from my [illegible] to claim more than a modest share of the credit due to the Committee of 20. All its member labored for success with a unity of purpose truly exhibitive by any body of its size, & certainly the Committee of our party in this city has been [illegible] informed by the [illegible] of this Committee. In your own [illegible] in the [illegible], and for your [illegible] support and [illegible] from the beginning to the end I thank you most heartily. [illegible], and congratulations on the [illegible] of our Republican party affairs [illegible] Sincerely Your Friend". This letter may be in reference to the New York State elections of Nov. 6, 1894, in which the entire Republican ticket was elected, including Governor Levi P. Morton. American businessman Bliss (1833-1911) was Secretary of the Interior (1897-1899) under President William McKinley. Bliss was a partner in Bliss, Fabyan & Co., one of the largest wholesale dry-goods firms in the nation around the turn of the century. He was also active the New York State Republican party and served as Treasurer of the Republican National Committee at a time when the Republicans were in the ascendancy. With his business ties and his political connections, he should have had his pick of political jobs. However, Bliss was famous for turning down political nominations; he even turned down a nomination for the New York governorship in 1885 and 1891 and an offer to become McKinley's vice president in 1900 (McKinley was later assassinated, and Theodore Roosevelt, who did accept the job, became President).His two years as Secretary of the Interior were the only public office he ever held. Lightly toned and soiled. Show-through touches handwriting but not signature. Ink transference. 2 binder holes near left edge. Rounded corners. Light nicks at right edge. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise, fine condition.