The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-28

The President and the Cubinet-what Next
Mr.. Johnson had once an opportunity to
serve himself politically and to avoid the
thorny path he has been compelled to tread,
but he let that opportunity slip. Though he is
not lacking in political sagacity and experience,
and though he may deserve credit for honesty
of purpose and irmness, he has lost much by
his slowness and excess of caution. The first
thing he should have done after he entered
upon the Office of President was to remove the
old Cabinet-every member of it-and to call
a new set of men around him who would have
been not only in perfect harmony with him and
his policy, but who would have represented
the strong conservative elements of the party
that elected him and the country. If he had
made this change at first and called Congress
together his Cabinet would have been ratified
by the Senate the South would have been re-
stored and he would have avoided the pro-
longed and desperate conflict with the Con-
gressional majority he has had to endure. He
made great mistake, and both he and the
country have suffered for it.
Another opportunity occurs now to repair
in measure the damages already done, to
| spare himself from future danger, TO make his
administration strong for the remainder of his
term and 10 give great impulse to the con-
servative movement which has set in He
should change his Cabinet. He should remove
every member of 1t. No sentiment of delicacy
as regards the individuals, their past services
or association with them should deter him
from doing that which is best for the country
This Cabinet was selected under an entirely
different state Of things from the present the
members Of il have neither been in accord with
the sentiment Of the country nor among them
selves on great questions of public policy,
though some Of them may have agreed about
smaller matters in general for the sake of hold
ing on TO Office. The Secretary of War, Stan
ton, was only ct for war times and as the leader
Of despotc faction. He, however has been
forced out by the action of the conservative
Senator'S in the impeachment case. Mr..
Seward has no party behind him nor political
infuence-no friends, in fact, but q few cor
rupt and trading politicians from New
York Of the Thurlow Weed stamp. SO far
from bringing any strength TO the ad-
ministration, he Is positive weakness
to it, lie has served out his day and genera
ton for all useful purposes. Mr.. McCulloch rep
resents nothing but the Treasury ring and the
national bank ogarchy He has neither the
smallest qualification for statesman nor for the
finance minister Of great nation. Had not
the country been redundant In resources the
Treasury would have been bankrupt long ago
through his incapacity and mismanag cment
II the Treasury Department had been managed
by competent man the debt would have been
less by hundreds Of millions. Had the enor-
nous income of the government during the
last three years Of peace been properly ap-
piled and the vast frauds in the revenue been
prevented, the debt might have been brought
down four or five hundred millions below what
il is. As to the rest Of the Cabinet, they are
small men, without party to back them or
strength to the admnistration--m ciphers.
whose Offices give no more political support to
the President than IL administered by bureau
clerks. In word, the present Cabinet Is q