The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-24

about General Grants Cabinet. II is an.
nounced, from day to day, that the Hon. Mr..
So-and-So is certainly to 60 into it; whatever
else may be doubtful, that Is certain at all
events:-and the most certain of all has
hitherto been the assertion that Mr.. Wash
burne, Of Illinois, was to be Secretary of the
Treasury, or anything else that he might
prefer. But even this rumor has been good
deal damaged by q lettor from Mr.. Washburne
himself in which he says
$50 far as political position is concerned,
am content with the one assigned me for the
ency. know but little touching Cabinet ap-
pointments, and take no stock In any news
paper talk assigning me to this or that position.
The most desire is TO see General Grants Ad-
ministration success. .snd see al rights OF
al men vindicated and protected-to see an
honest, economical, dignified administration of
the Government, bringing to the people peace,
quiet, happiness, and prosperity"
We have not the slightest doubt of the
entire sincerity Of these just and patriotic
sentiments, which reflect more real credit
on the man who feels and utters them than
would any appointment in the Presidents
gift.
We are inclined to believe that nobody in
the country knows anything concerning the
composition of General Grants Cabinet. We
do not believe he knows much about 1t him
self-or that he has given it much thought rs
upon it more or less, but rather, We imagine,
in the way OF studying the wants Of the Gov
ernment and the necessities of the public SER
vice than in weighing the claims of indivi-
duals or the respective weight due to rival
localities and interests.
But it is curious how mary things are 'set-
tied" for General Grant alresdy-not only
without his assent, but without his know
ledge. We are told every day of matters
which are fixed, not by General Graut but for
him, by persons aud parties that know good
deal more about these matters than he does,
or ever can, and whose chief anxiety is to give
him the trouble of attending to them when he
comes into power. 1t is perfectly well settled,
for example, who is to succeed Mr.. Smythe as
Collector, either upon his translation to the
Russian mission (for which it is understood
"things have been 6xed'' in the Senate), or
upon the advent of the new President. Some
halt-dozen of the principal missions abroad
have been disposed of, and their prospective
incumbents are busy with their grammar and
dictionaries, or with the cut of their garments,
in confident expectation OF what is soon to be
their fate.
All this is very interesting and very Juno.
cent. Playing at administering the Govern-
ment is as diverting to political parties az,
"puss in the corner" to children--and it is
very much the same kind of game. But
while General Grant contents himself with
merely looking on, we fancy it won't amount
to much. He is evidently taking rest before
his work begins. He does not act in the least
like man who is eager for Office aud the
purple-lopgiDg to grasp the sceptre and
WELD the power the people have placed in his
hands. He has the bearing rather of one
who feels the weight Of the great responsi-
bilites that will be upon him soon enough,
and who values every day of deliverance as a
day of relief. His troubles and perpexities
will come soen enough, and will be weighty
enough when they do come. He will not an
ticipate the day of their coming, nor will
be shrink from their weight when they do
come.
1t will not be wise for anybody to set his
heart very strongly on seeing any special man
in any special place-stlll less on seeing him
Eelf there. Those who expect least will be
least disappointed. We do not think General
Grant at all likely to accept dictation from
any quarter, or from cliques and factions of
any kind. He is much more likely, in our
Judgment, to act on all public questions, and
especially on all questions of appointments,
with as much of independence and of reliance
on his own judgment as our system of govern
ment allows to any man in Office, which is not
it must be confessed, at best excessive. We
are inclined to think that he does not intend
to spend all his time, while President in de-
Gliding on the rival claims of applicants for
Office, or in listening to the history OF the local
political contests and quarrels of Squashtown
and Podunk. He is much more likely to put
at the head of the various departments of the
Government men in whom he has faith, and
then to leave the settlement of all these mat
ters mainly to them. In this way, and in this
way only, can he hope for time to smoke his
after-dinner cigar, or to relieve his bedroom
from a crowd of otIice-seekers in time to get a
short nap before breakfast.