The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-19

A Grant Westcrn Organ ON Elihu b. WASH
burue.

A Grant western Organ ON Elihu b. Wash.
burne.
From the Chicago Trbune--Grant organ-Nov. 10.
The phrase "statesmann IL defined by Worcester
as zone versed or employed in public affairs or in
the arts OF government" 1t will hardly be denied
that Mr.. WashDurne, Tor Instance, has been versed
and employed in public affairs some sixteen years.
That he Is personal friend OF General Grant Is
stance OF personal friendship make him less
suitable person for constitutional adviser OF
the President than he would otherwise beS We
hold that 1t is very powerful consideration in favor
or his being invited to seat in the Cabinet. II he
were person OF inferior ability or doubtful cnarac
ter, no argument could be made for giving him u
place either in the Cabinet in the House OF Repre-
sentatves bus possessing both character and ability,
the consideration OF tried and proved friendship
becomes OF the utmost consequence. What the
Executive most needs in his advisers is high capa-
CITY for truthiglness; he ought 70 have nobody 10
motive for distortng or Withholding facts from him.
When he finds man competent to discharge the
duties assigned to him, who gives the rare promise
OF personal friendship that he will under all circuni
stances give him the truth, the whole truth and
nohng but the truth he ought to 2,I prize
committed an error, in political point or view, IN
calling to his Cabinet four men who had been his
time OF ms accession retained keen sense or disap-
pointment and an unburied hope OF succeeding him
the several ministers were kept together by the
tremendous pressure or events and forced to
cooperate In the common effort to pre-
vent Jen Davis from ousttng them all. But
for this circumstance 1t Is impossible to believe that
such Cabinet could have been held together four
years. Each man would have had his separate polit-
ical schemes to advance. Each would have had his
separa clique at work in the Senate and House of
Representatives, all more or less at variance with
the President. The result would have been an ex-
plosion, and the formation OF new Cabinet on en-
tirely different principles.
The President is the officer of the government
charged with the duty OF executing the laws and
giving from time to time certain information TO
Congress. His Cabinet should DC composed or men
capable OF assisting him in the discharge OF these
duties. That they should be persons OF sufficient
reputation 10 command the confidence OF the
country must be conceded; but 1t Is not
necessary that they should be great declan-
ers, that they should have held seats IN
Congress sixteen years consecutyeiy, or that
they should have shown dexterty in manipulating
most, be capable OF performing the special work as
signed to them. They are the licutenants OF the
Commander in Chief and should be chosen as Sher
man and Sheridan and Thomas were chosen during
the war; for what they do not for what they can
show. Mr.. Washburne can do two things which are
of vital importance To the incoming admin
istration. lie can stop unnecessary eX-
penditures Of public money, and ne can
tell the plain, unvarnished truth to his chef He
can have no motive for doing otherwise he can
have motive Tor desiring any thing but the utmost
success Of General Grants administration. II he
shall take the Interior department, to which the
Washington gcssips with general unanInisy assign
him. he VIII not only be the best secretary the de-
partment has had during the present generation
but he will prove an invaluable ally 70 tne admins
traitor in the purity and sincerity Of has friendship
to The President elect.