The New York herald., 1874-11-26
Ramors OF Cabinet Changes.


vantage is % nearly universal in the popular
mind that expectation is kept on the alert
sometimes on insufficient grounds 1t gives
US great pleasure to state that We have ascer-
tanned by careful inquiry in Washington that
the rumor of Secretary Fish's i'll health Is
happily not true, and cannot be assigned as
reason for his leaving the Cabinet we shouio
be sincerely sorry to have him retire from any
other motive than his unconstrained free will
and sense OF public duty. SO long as he
chooses to stay we trust he may enjoy the
vigorous good health which makes labor a
pleasure and smooths the. rough edges OF
official life. While we should regret to see
Mr. Fish compelled to retire from pub
lie life by the state of his health we
should regret even more to have him give out
as pretext anything different from the real
reason, which is kind of dealing with the
public Of which we believe him quite incapa-
BILE. AIr. Fish will always act with perfect
sincerity and candor, and the certainty that
he would not affect an illness he did not feel
caused the recent rumor to excite an anxiety
which we are happy to dispel. 1t is not Sec
retary Fish but the republican party that is
sick. and there is little chance of it's getting
we'll without more radical treatment than
simple rest and quiet. Sincerely as we rejoice
to be assured on the best authority of Mr.
Iishs good health We do not change
our opinion that it would be wise
and patriotic act for him to retire
from Office, and thereby force q COM
plete reorganization of the Cabinet. Mr.
Fish has none of that sordid love of Office
which clings to 1t for its own sake. Its
emoluments are nothing to him; he spends
many times the amount Of his salary to main
tain the dignity of his station; he is an ac-
complice in no Washington jobs, and the only
motives that can bind him to Office are sense
Of public duty, love of honorable distinction
and personal friendship for General Grant
None Of these motives should have any great
force in the present condition Of affairs The
truest friendship to the President, since the
recent great disaster to the republican party,
would be to smooth the way for him
to make a new bid for public conf
dence by reconstructing his Cabinet A
sense OF public duty cannot require Mr.
Fish to retain his place when our foreign
relations are not critical and might safely be
committed to a statesman of less experience
and prudence. On the other hand the do
nestio politics of the country are in a most
critical, and, as regards the success Of Presi-
dent Grant administration, most alarming
state Secretary Fish keeps studiously aloof
from domestic politics, even in his own State
He must be sensible that a vigorous, aggres-
sive and dexterous politician at the head of
the Cabinet would be of great service both to
the President and the party. No immediate
credit or fclat is to be won in the manage
ment of our foreign relations. either by the
Secretary who conducts or the administra-
ton which is responsible for them.
Mr.. Fish evinced sagacity and sound
judgment In his wish to resign at
the close Of the year in which he negotiated
the great treaty by which the Alabama claims
were settled. There was no period at which
he could have retired with so much dignity
and reputation but he allowed himself to be
overpersuaded by the President, and so long
as the administration retained its popularity
he lost little by staying but his laurels will
wither if he remains attached to an admins
tration which the people have condemned,
and which, unless something decisive is done
TO redeem it. will 60 out of power covered
with obloquv. Mr.. Fish must take his full
share, unless he escapes it by timely retreat.
By remaining he can benefit neither President
Grant nor the republican party, and, least of
all, his own reputation. He would be fully
justified in retiring from position in which
he can win no further honors and risks his
wel-aarned fame.
The AIullett difficulty is an indication of
want of stability in the Cabinet. We do not
choose to discuss Mr.. Mullett's qualifications
as an architect, but it is quite certain that no
man who stands high in that profession would
serve the government for the paltry compensa-
tion OF four thousand dollars year. If Mullett
is skilful architect he must be piecng
out his salary with illicit gains. 1t is charged
that he is in clandestine copartnership with
Boss Shepherd and various contractors, by
which he levies o private tax for his own
benefit on the work and materials of public
buildings in all parts Of the country. If it
should turn out that Mullett's rings
are an overmatch for Secretary Bristow,
and if the self-respect of the latter should
compel him to retire, fresh disgrace would
fall upon the administration, to be shared by
all the remaining members, and among the
rest by Secretary Fish If he were still at the
head Of the Cabinet. II Bristow goes out in
consequence of his quarrel with Mullett
Secretary Fish will sink with his remaining
associates whom he cannot buoy up. Pru-
dence, foresight and patriotism alike dictate
his retirement, especially as his resignation
would force an immediate reconstruction of
the Cabinet
The rumor TINT Mr.. Blaine would be called