The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-13
OUR SECRETARY OF STATE In A
OUANDARY.

| IL IS tlhlnthd that the duties OF the Two posi-
tions are incompatible, and that the second
officer In the executive department of the re-
public seriously compromises the dignity Of
his position and his value MS the principal
counsellor of the President by Withholding
his time. talent and counsel from the duties
Of the Cabinet In order to apply large por-
| ton Of tho same to tho care and protection of
the interests Of his clients.
| On the othcr hand, Mr.. Evaris friends aver
that the salary of Secretary of State Is not
adequate to the support Of his large family
In washington In II style suitable to his high
position, and that he is compelled TO exc out
his official emoluments with his lucrative
practice as lawyer, md that his superb
bundant talent and capacity will enable him
10 discharge the duties Of both positions tiiore
satisfactorily than any Other man could those
OF either. In this state Of the controversy.
tho New York bankers brokers' railroad mem
81 Omne id 1c,,,ts, of New York intervene and
propose TO raise fund sufficient TO set of the
loss to Mr.. Evarts from his withdrawal from
practice ut the bar, and enable him to give
his whole time and talents TO the duties of
Secretary of State and chief the Cabinet.
And to this proposition we beg, as citizens
Of tho Republic, 10 enter our protest Us one OF
those forms OF corruption OF public officials.
which have contributed 50 largely 10 that
prostitution Of public and official virtue that
has become SO deplorable "a characteristic of
the administration of our government. EAlssh1
When Daniel Webster consented to accept.
NJ a condition of his retirement from practice,
settlement of 100000 contributed by the
merchants and manufacturers Of Boston, he
sullicd his high reputation. to the great
shame of his admirers
Mr. Evarts would have far less justification
or pallintion for his acceptance of u similar
retainer.
In our view, his continuance of his practice
ut tho bar would be less Objectionable, pro-
vidcd 1T did not involve any neglect OF his
public duties or absence from his position as q
Cabinet officer. A laborious lawyer Of large
capacity, knowledge and experience may fire.
quently, without withdrawing from practice.
prove MS adequate to the most serious and
Iaborious duties, In q public position Of great
responsibility, as the majority of even emil
ncnt men, who give their whole time and
study to official duties. When J. p. Benjamin
was Senator from this State, he had no supe-
rior in body which included many very dis
tinguished men. for efficiency and industry In
the discharge of all his Senatorial duties, and
at the same time was the Lender and had the
largest practice at the bar of the Supreme
Court of the United States.
Tho ablest speeches he ever made in the
Senate, and they were among the ablest ever
made in that body, were delivered just after
leaving the Supreme Court and closing the
argument of some complicated law suit in
which he had to meet such able lawyers Us
Reverdy Johnson. Caleb Cushing, O'Conor,
Brady. Evarts and others of like stand
ing in the profession. Caleb Cushing ID
another example Of q man, equal to all the
duties of even the Office Of Secretary of State.
and the conduct Of large professional bust
ness. It is notorious fact that for years
past he has boon the chief reliance of Mr.. Fish
and other Cabinet officials for the preparation
of public documents and the instructions to
diplomatic agents.
But, whilst objecting TO the proposition Of a
subscription for the substituting of Cabinet
or any other public official, In order to obtain
his exclusive services In public Office, and
preferring even that he should be permitted
TO continue the practice Of his profession, pro-
vided it does not involve the neglect Of his
public duties, we are very decidedly of the
opinion that the Secretary Of State Of the
United States is under no such necessity, and
ought not to bo defended or excused for doing
either. And, first, we dispute the assertion Of
the inadequacy of the salary of his office to
maintain such official In comfort, and in such
style Of dignity and social responsibility as
COMFORTS with his position.
The opposite opinion rests upon an idea
which Is founded on one OF the vices that have
become quito dominant at our national CAPT
tai and all through the country, that ourpub
lie officials should live in style of ostentatious
luxury and extravaganza, aping the fashions
of tho monarchical and aristocratical nations of
the world; that they must give costly enter
tainments, their wives and daughters must
set the fashions retaining the services and adj
vcrtising tho skill of some foreign or native
modest jeweler or haberdasher; that their
turnouts must equal in splendor those Of jay
Gould or Boss Shepherd or some other fortu
nate thief, police vendor or gambler.
All this is the product Of that debasng shod-
dyism which has prevailed throughout the
North over since the war, and which man
Of the talent and character Of Mr.. Evarts ought
to set the example of discountenancing and
frowning down as unworthy of the high rep
utation of the Great Republic whose character
istics should be simplicity of habits and life,
moderation, economy and thrift and a care
full abstinence from the gaudy displays and
designations, in which the aristocrats of the
Old and the spectators and charlatans Of the
New World NAV very appropriately indulge
To enable Mr. Evarts to set such an example,
he can very safely and wisely withdraw from
practice give his whole time and attention to
the duties of his Office in Washington, and
find in the salary of his office an easy
and comfortable support for himself and
| family.
Plus TX.
| LIFE or FIFTY YEARS IN THE CHURCH AND