The national Republican., 1869-01-12
o-'"..s-.'..sx.-,.-..-.,. Our
NASUARr II. 1902

THE NEW CABINET.
The Pennsylvania quid nuncs In washIngton
allege that the price OF Mr.. Grows withdrawal
from the recent senatorial contest was pledge
from all the opponents Of General Morehead's
election to unite IN pressing him upon General
Grant for a cabinet portfolio. This story
Il oks very much as though manufactured by
Or ow's enemies. Ihave no faith 10 II what.
eve Z, as to believe It would argue that Grow
has | lost his senses. He must know, As all sen. |
sible men do know, that 0rants cabinet will |
be sci ,cted on far higher grounds than such as
according positions In It AZ rewards for getting
out OF other mems way In contests for sena-
torships, or for successfully oefsstinE other
mems senatorial aspirations. Were II true
that Mr.. Grow withdrew under any such un.
derstandinty, the fact would doebtless prove
suilcient to defeat his cabinet aspirations,
past perAdventure.
Grant, by-the~by, stated when not long nince
In Philadelphis, that he had pretty much made
up his mind who to call into his ofncisi iamiiy.
This declaration, while It may relieve him
from annoyance from eonslderate friepts OF
some aspirants, will be likely to induce ineen-
siderate friends Of others to begin an active
CANVASS In their favor without delay. The
Washington public is profoundly ignorant OF
Grants purposes In this conneetion. II 10
evident that he has dlvuiged his cabinet
making intentions to no one. In his manage
menr OF this matter he has so far saved him.
| self an immense amount Of bother and vexs-
| tion. Hsehe been open to approach upon IL
he would have been allowed time for nothing
else. The friend, OF Ave hundred gentlemen,
| ambitious to be OF his otfieial family, would
| have besieged him night ADD day without
intermission. shall not attempt to predict
for the entertainment Of your readers who he
will appoint or who he will not appoint, for
know no more on the subject than ali know
which 10 just nothing whatever.
NO sQuABBLES ABOUT CABINET PLACES.
The opposition have been calculating upon
advantages to accrue to themselves from dis
satisfaction on the part OF many Republicans
OF Congress with Grants failure TO consult
them with reference to his cabinet appoi Mt
ments. II any such dlssatisfaction exists IL
has been prudently smothered. 10 truth were
| 1t manifested It would serve simply to bring
those who may entertain II into rldicule, as
publie opinion throughout the country very
] unanimously endorses Grants policy In this
| matter as in all things concerning which he
has taken occasion to show the world that he
has had a policy. So the opposition have
gained nothing so far from Republiesn party
feuds over cabinet aspirations, nor are they
| likely TO gain aught hereafter.
1
All conceivable speeulations are being In.
dulged In concerning the policy of the new
Administration, many Of which are extremely
| absurd. l am much mistaken 10 the signs of
the umes 1t fails to be In many respects
the most independent Administration OF this
Government known to its history earnest and
0 emphatic 10 the enforcement Of the great lead
2 | ing ideas Of the Republican party's policy, yet
b utterly regardless OF the personal interests
t and views (based on those interestsJ Of Indi.
n vidual members OF the party Of whateyer po.
q sition or reputation. I mean that Grant will
y do nothing In Administering the Government
to propitiate or favor any onei while he will
e do everything to the end Of protecting and
= fostering the general public interest and thai
IS only.
{. TaE MARINE CORPS QUESTION.
e There exists intense feeling just now smonI
p the of GERS and friends OF the marine corps II
l. Washington, concerning Mr.. Washburne'
y proposition to reduce the corps from 1850 Off
'e GERS and men dts present number) to 800, al
ir told. Its present force Is no greater than 1t
force In lsi7i less, of course, than during tn
'e war The corps has 400 Officers and men nov
n at sea- II the navy proper be not reduced Il
), proportion to the reduction of the marin
c corps, no saving whatever can be made by dc
j. creAsing the number of marines kept at seH
>. They form the police Of our ships.of.war, an
ID also do on the decks the duties OF rope haul
n Ing, Sc, that must otherwise be done by lands
IS men, at quite IS great expense to the Treasur!
ID as at present by marines.
j. MARINEs SURELY NECESSARY.
Z The experience of centuries in all nayiei
!, has demonstrated the fact that sailors are no
reliable to perform ships police duties. There
c 10 something in the character of the sailol
that, ever since navies have existed, has ren
dered him unit to be intrusted with polIet
!, duties.
II WHERE A SAVING CAN De MADE.
IS During the war, owing to the scarcity o
n men for the marine corps, the duty OF watch
" ing in the various navy-yards was devolve'
y on civilians, usually old and otherwise ineff
cient men, who received from seVenty-nVe {,
one hundred dollars per month each, Their
70; are said TO be from u dozen to twenty sucl
by employed to that end In each navy-yard.
US MARINES AS SHORE wArCHMgS.
IS 1t is not possible that they are half as eff
nd cient as wAtchmen as are marines; for they Ar
Nv under no other discipline than that applieabl
n. to all civilians employed 10 navy-yards. Ma
rines put on watch are punishable II neglect
IS log their duty or orders for moment. They ar
H. visited on their posts twice or thrice nightly
n the officer OF the day, and every two hours b
y the corporal OF the guard and are, besidei
required to answer hail every halt hour I
Of prevent them from sleeping on post. The
& are, therefore, nearly always on the aler
n which Is more than can be said OF the citize
watchmen employed In the nsvy-yards at fro
seventy.hve to one hundred dollars per mont
the marine costing the Treasury but an ave
- age of t3l 30 per month.
~ AN ERRoR IN M. wAsHBURsR's PLAS.
be There is one feature OF Mr.. waShburn,
es. proposition which strikes me as being pee
eu' liarly inappropriate. l refer TO his idea
I'll having the officers OF the corps draw lots
led determine who shall be retired and who
ith tained. Surely some OF the corps officers Z
o. on IN ore efficient than Others, and some entitl
A to grea ter consideration on the part OF
tie, nation, on account OF services rendered, III
others. If the corps Is to be reduced, SURE
40 these latter should be retained, and the lea
pa pa efficient and least deserving dismissed. Will
an 1t Is possible easily to make the discrimn alto
he the plan OF retiring some OF these officers
feI lot is very injudiclous, 1t strikes me. tt
oG plan, of course, contemplates retaining In Il
Wy corps its present proportion OF inefficient al
l. undeserying officers, at the expense OF just
iii many OF its efficient and deserving offlcel
e er who are to be retired to give place to them.
tn, SMALL PROPORTION oP oPFICERs now IN II
I'd, CORPS.
es with a force of twenty-five hundred mt
a. the complement Of three army regiments, I
in, corps embraces only the complement OF oificC
m ~ for two army regiments.
d CAUTION AND THoROUGH ISvRsTIGATION n