New-York tribune., 1877-10-26

A SECRETARY BEHIND TIME.
There are Secretaries and Secretariea. Pres-
dent Hayes has appointed several, and per-
haps disappointed as many more. Those ne
has appointed are of various degrees Of eX-
cellence all good of course, but some Of them
uncommonly good. Without entering upon a
discussion of their comparative merits, or
enumerating their several good qualities, we
take occasion to say that the Secretary who
Mt this time attracts the largest share of public
admiration is one not in the Cabinet,
OF subject to confirmation by the SEN
ate. 1t is the careful and prudent
though not over-rapid scribe who is IN
intimate and confidential relations with
the Executive, the Presidents Private Sec
retary. That gentleman hes, or is supposed
to have, in his posses ion the much-talked-ot
and long-lo)ked for New iork appointments.
Through remarkable c0ncatenatlOn OF CIR
cumstanceS these appointments have been pre-
vented from reaching the Senate chamber up
to this time. That they have all been de-
ced upon definitely and decisiye!y by The
President, everybody knows. That thoy have
been formally made ont for submission 30 the
Senate we have been frequently and solemnly
informed But something keeps happening to
them.
Yesterday. "A we are informed from Wash
ington. the Presidents private secretary took
them under his' arm and started for the Cap
itol 1t looked, for few moments, really aS
though they would attain the second stage OF
their progress But--thc Senate adjourned be
fore the secretary reached the chamber. and
at last accounts they were somewhere IN
iraasita on Pennsyvania-avc.; possibly, by this
time. they have reached the White Hon e,
and been put in the refrigerator or some other
cool III icc, awaiting the secrctary's recovery
from his fatigue for new start 1t Is very
queer about those appointments As to the
singularly provIdcntial circumstance which oc-
cured Yesterday we arc without the particn-
lars We do not know whether the senate,
hearing that they were on the way, adjourned
incontncutly. or the secretary stopped 50 long
on the way to do the White House
marketing, or discuss the English mission,
that tuu Senate concluded not to wait for hIm.
We only know, In a loose, general way, That the
appointments did not reach the Capitol untll
after the adjournment of the Senate. AZ
provincial newspaper fOrcibly remarks with
regard to the appointment OF General Harlan,
End the disappointment of Mr.. BristOw, " this
business demands an explanation" There is
a suspicion prevalent that the secretary lin
sered purposcly on the way, ard that, like
David Dudley Field, he watched the
flag over the Senate wing of the
Capitol until it was fured, and then in his
confidence that the country was safe. rushed
ND to the door of the Senate chamber, all out
OF breath, and expressed surprise Here in
:. :. a rI,t yh,f tin n mi "A
not possibly have held on long enOugh for the
secretary to get tho NewYork appointments
there before the adjournment. Ii is the gen
e.al belief that he would have stopped and
bought peanuts, and waited for ten-dOllar bills
TO be changed, and kept at it till he had
bought every peanut on the avenue, rather
than reach the Senate chamber before the flag
came down
There be those who criicse the secrctary's
leisurely locomotion. We have no sympathy
with such. 1t is our convection that the Secrc-
tary il not lazy, only uncommony prudent
What seems to the supcrstitious or dcyout to
be a special interp0sitOn of Providence TO him
dor these appointments from falling into the
hands of the Philistines was only the exercise
Of great discretion and good Judgment on the
part of the secretary. And in that view of it,
the public, however much it may bo rae ed
with curiosity. will not withhold its adj
mlration for his sagacity. lie is not a
rapid secretary indeed, but there never was
one more judicious. Having paid him the
need of praise for his truly wise and sensible
gait; we venture now to suggest to the Presi-
dent that, as there seems 10 be no good reGsOn
to delay longer serdmg these appointments ID
tho Senate, and no way TO avoid it, it might
be well to send them ly district messenger
or some other unreasOning conveyance.