The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-05-20
DAILY PRESS.
CORTLAND
Thursday Morning: Nav 20, 1869.
PORTLAND
Letter from Washington.
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS CABINET.

THE PRESIDENT AND HIS CABINET.
WASHINGTON, May Is, 1869.
|. The Cabinet is regarded as a good working
one. Several of the men are excellent ad-
mlnisuatlve officers. The finest natural in
tellect among them all-that of John A.
Rawlins-is of but little weight, owing to the
condition OF his health. Still he is felt, and
strongly on many matters. Whoever thinks
that he is run by Gen. Sherman is mistaken.
refer to this, because such rumor circu
lates.
Gov. Fish is, probably, take him all in all,
one of the poorest men for his position that
could have been selected. 1t is in his Depart
ment too, that the poorest appointments and
the most blunders have been made. The
Secretary of State does not belong to this day
and generation, politically speaking, except
in dilettanti sense. OF course he is loyal
Republican, but then years ago he gave up
active political service for enjoyment. He is
a good parlor diplomat, a first class diner-out
or giver of dinners, a lover of good wines,
pictures, etc., having much interest in all the
gossip, serious or sportive, of public affairs,
and with large personal knowledge of men;
and after all he is not and cannot be made
statesman in the sense that Sumner, Fessen-
den, Stanton or even Boutwell, are fairly en-
titled to be so considered. Gov. Fish will lead
in nothing-except in having as agreeable life
as is possible. Take Cuban affairs as an ex-
ample. Whatever the State Department
may or may not do, will be matter of pres
sure entirely. Fish does not sympathize with
Spain, but on the whole cares less for Cuba
If the Alhambra were in the "Ever-Faithful
Isle," if Homer's name had ever been linked
with it, or, to be more practical, if it gave to
the palate so good thing as the wines of
Xeres, why, he might feel some interest in it.
The Secretary of State may be fairly set down
as on the road to failure.
The Treasury is in better hands, both f.
nancially and Enthusiastically. Gov. Bout
well is an honest and sagacious man, with
| long-established convictions and a well-de-
fined policy. He is carrying the latter out,
cautiously but steadily, and will, it is general
| ly believed, prove successful. am not pass
ing Judgment myself, but giving what seems
| w w SeAAOhL CPluAOuo AVACs Al ttiC hiAnd}5C-
ment of his great department he promises to
be even more successful. His appointments,
| when he is left alone to make them, appear
to give general satisfaction.
The most popular man in the Cabinet, after
Boutwell,, is Postmaster General Cresswell.-
On the whole he is probably the shrewdest
politician of them all. He certainly gives
greater satisfaction 10 Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes by his mode of doing business.
The Secretary of the Interior wears very
well, but will not, it is evident, gain any rep
utation higher than that of excellent admin
istrative talent. Changes have been slower
in that Department than elsewhere. But SO
| far there can be no doubt that Gen. Cox has
secured excellent heads of Bureaus. Df. Van
| Aernam, the Commissioner of Pensions, is
admirably well qualified for that important
post. An ex-army surgeon, and an efficient
Representative in the 39th and 10th Con-
gress, he represents the knowledge and expe-
rience necessary for success. Commissioner
Fisher of the Patent Office is most highly
| spoken of by all who have had business with
him, and is regarded as thoroughly compe-
tent man. OF The fitness of Cen. Pars<cr, ths
Indian Commissioner, nothing need be said.
he ought to be, by race and experience as
well as intellectual character, considered as
admirably qualified for his duties.
The Secretary of the Navy is without
doubt of no consequence either in the Cabi-
net or Department. He is only Admiral Por-
ter's screen. No one believes that he will re-
main there long. As to the Attorney Gener-
al there is as unanimous an expression of dis
like to him personally as there is of hearty
respect for his decided ability. suppose no
man could if he fried succeed in making HIM
self more disliked than Judge Hoar has done
in the short time during which it has been
his fate to encounter members of Congress
and aspirants for office. He holds himself
above control or advice, deems it impertinent
almost, even for a Senator or Representative,
to recommend any one to him for appoint
ment, and has not hesitated to say so in rath-
er bluff language.
| The two great elements on which one may
hereafter rely for the success of General
Grants administration is the undoubted hon
esty of purpose which animates all its mem
bers, and the teachableness which is one of
the marked traits in the Presidents charac-
ter. Already evidence is not wanting of
these-in the avowed determination of Gen.
Grant to remove any of his own appointees
if found incompetent or unworthy.
| SPECTATOR.