The New York herald., 1869-02-27
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ssThe man on horseback"--the coming
man-has evidently q plan and . win Of his
own. As the President Of the republican
party, and the elected servant Of its managing
politicians In the division Of the spoIls, he was
pretty thoroughly sounded on Thursday last
by Colonel A. X. Mcclure, OF Philadelphia,
but all in vain. Colonel Mcclure, Il appears,
first urged II as matter Of the utmost impor-
tance that the Cabinet member from Pennsyl-
vania should be Ex-Governor Curtin, because
he had the entire confidence OF the party, and
was recommended, among others, by Governor
Geary, who would be candidate for re-elec-
ton next fall; and by Judge Williams, who
would be the administration candidate next
fall for the place which he holds on the Su-
preme Bench Of the State. General Grant
replied, in substance, that Governor Curtin was
not his man, and that while he desired the sue
cess of the administration candidates In Penn
sylvania he did not see why they should
appoint his Cabinet. Bafied upon Curtin
Mcclure next appealed against the appoint
ment of any man of the type Of George ii.
Stuart, who belonged to class that were
unknown to the active politicians, and would
give the party no strength II appointed. In
short, any man Of that set, in distributing the
patronage of the State, would be the ruin Of
the party. General Grant answered that he
did not see what objection there could be to
Mr.. Stuart, for instance, who had done so
much to sustain the loyal cause during the
war. Mcclure insisted that Stuart, though a
worthy gentleman, was not the man in Cabi-
net position to vitalize party. General
Grants answer was, II am not the repre-
sentative of a party myself, though party
voted for me-"
This ended the argument. Mcclure had
nothing further to say, except that he had mis-
taken the standpoint from which to discuss the
question of the Cabinet of Grant, and SO the
matter stands. The head managers Of the
republican party Of Pennsylvania have been
informed, through their deputy, by General
Grant that the appointment Of his Cabinet is a
task upon which he intends to exercise his
own judgment, which makes him master of
the situation. It is the old Jackson policy
revived. The amiable Lincoln tried the
Mcclure policy of conciliating his leading
party politicians in his Cabinet by making it up
mainly from his rivals in the Chicago Nominat-
ing Convention, from Seward down to Bates,
and it was great mistake. But for the pres
sure of the war, which enforced sort of har-
mony, the clashing Cabinet intrigues, to 60 no
further, of Seward and Chase to supplant each
other in the line for the succession would have
broken up Lincoln's Cabinet in a month. AS it
was, those clashing intrigues were too much for
Cameron and too much for Chase, and would
have been too much even for Seward had he
not wisely in season adopted the saving alter
native of sinking his own pretensions in the
superior claims Of the President. This saved
him to Lincoln and has kept him with Johnson.
1t is enough, however, that Lincoln's Cabinet
experiment of concliating the different cliques
of his party politicians was signal failure,
and Grant is wise in resolving upon different
course.
AS the main result upon the main topic Of
his conversation with General Grant the perti-
nacious Colonel Mcclure is satisfied that Mr..
George III. Stuart is the chosen Pennsylvania
for the new Cabinet. He Is represented as
native of Ireland, an original abolitionist, an
old line republican, President of the Christian
Commission Of the war, prosperous 'Phila-
delphia merchant and Scotch Presbyterian.
With this admirable record Greeley is de-
lighted, and dwells with especial satisfaction
upon Stuart's active church services as Cove
nanter, and in view of the faithful work Of
this Church in the thirty years war against
Southern slavery. But the latest rumors from
Washington say that Mcclure is mistaken and
that Stuart is not the man. The Pennsylvania
politicians, therefore, Of the Curtin-Forney
faction will have to exercise the virtue Of
patience for few days, as our New York
Cabinet-makers are trying to do. A batch Of
them waited upon General Grant shortly after
Mcclure and suggested Judge Pierrepont as
good man for New York. The General replied
that he liked him very much, but of course
could not say just yet anything more, except
that no State, as New York now has, shall
Hdtc tWO mctuocto VI tuc OuWuct. ~ oCcuAo
to be understood, however, that New York
will get one, and the New Workers, thus COM
forted, gracefully stepped out.
The office-seekers and ofice-holders, en-
masse, cannot be patient but the plan re-
solved upon by General Grant of burning their
ofice-begging letters and of Withholding any
positive information concerning his Cabinet
has made them somewhat cautious. They
keep at respectful distance from the new
fountain Of power, but they are busy among
the managing politicians. The lesson given to
Mcclure viii doubtless have wholesome
effect upon all these selfimportant politicians.
II may derange all their calculations Of the dis
tribution Of the plumber in this State or that
State, but 1t will do them good. 1t will ope-
rate to reduce the hordes expected in Wash