The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-10-27
CABINET INTRIGUES.

A Washington letter writer says:
"After the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Arthur, all the members OF Gar
fields cabinet placed their resigna-
tions in the hands OF the new presi-
dent as a usual matter of form, and
the president put them in his pocket,
intending to hold them until the re-
ports of the departments were pre-
pared for congress, and the star
route prosecutions developed
ThereupOn Secretary Blaine began
to labor to induce the president 10
hand back all the designations as a
matter of compliment to Garfield's
cabinet, who were holding over to
do Arthur's work at great personal
sacrifice, as, for instance, in Win
dom's case. Taking this line of ar
gument, Secretary Blaine also caused
it to be intimated to the president
that he had been misrepresented as
to his personal enmitv to COnkling
| in the cabinet. The president, who
is very polite, was considerably i'm
pressed by these representations.
Ee expressed R Blaine's emissary his
satisfaction at the message in regard
to Conkling and his appreciation of
the services of the cabinet. These
UpOu1parler'S proceeded, aud only a
| good opportunity was needed to Sc
cure the success OF Blainc's plot ana
the chivalOus return by the presi-
dent of all the cabinet designations.
But now another agency inter
\ vened and upset Blaine's scheme.
That agency was Wayne MacVeagh.
the attorney general.
| The. whole of the cabinet have
been jealous of Blaine, who. in their
4 opinion, has pushed himself into
| undue prominence at their expense
4 and has assumed the authority of
an acting president without consult
ing them, his equal colleagues, as
to his action. Wayne MacVeagh
represented not only the general
feeling but personal anlmOsity
toward Blaine, whose tracks he had
uncovered during the Investigations
for the star route prosecutions and
whom he more than suspected of
being opposed to the course of the
government in those cases. Mae
Veagh's secret confident and assO-
ciate was Secretary Window, vino
had also had his suspicious aroused
by the fact that financial infOrna-
ton, communicated by him TO
Blaine, had been used by jay Gould
in the New York stock market
| Window was moreover desirOus that
his resignation should be accepted
Immediately, SO that he might be
reelected to the senate from Mime
sofa, and he not only agreed with
MacVeagh TO oppose Blaine's plan
| of return of the designations but
he actually gave MacVea9h the ill.,
formation which assisted him TO lay
Blaine out cold forever in Presi-
dent Arthur's estimation.
| MacVeagh went to the president
and told him that rumOrs were i'll cir
culation that the designations were
true, both Window and himself
must decline to receive their resig-
nations back again; that, as tins
would break all the force of u gem-
eral compliment, 1t would place the
president i'll the position of reap
pointing the other members of the
cabinet. He declared that lie was
authorized by Secretary Window
| TO say that under no circumstances
would he retain his cabinet seat.
For himself, he added, with equal
emphasis, that there was no more
work TO be done in regard TO the
star route prosecutions; that the
matter was in the hands of the dis
trict attorney, and that he prefer
red TO leave the cabinet at once.
| The president, surprised at the
| perempLOry tone of MacVeagh, ask
ed if this decision was final. Mac
Veagh then adroitly turned the
| ticular topics by asserting that he
had had enough of Blaine and
would not remain III any cabinet OF
which he was a member. This
forced the president TO put directly
the very interrOgatOries W hich Mac
Veagh expected and desired, and he
| promptly unloadeG upon the presi-
dent the whole budget of suspicious
which had been talked over by
" indom and himself. The prcsi-
dent then asked for proofs and for
| more definite information, which
Mac Veagh promised to furnish him
| within week.
| During that week. Secretary
Blaine, unsuspicious of the do Ible
game which Window was playing,
had long conversation with HIM
about the course of finances. With
out committing himself TO any di-
rect statement, Window allowed
Blaine 40 infer that the treasury
would call for $25, 100000, instead of
$10,O00,OOO of bonds, and would thus
| flood Wall street with money.
Strangely enough, no sooner had
Blaine received this impression,
than Jay Gould was similarly im-
| pressed, and speculated accordingly.
The information was a trap design
ed by Window and MacVeagh to
catch Blaine, and it caught him.
Mac Veagh went to New York and
put the president Ill full possession
of the facts, which were cOrrObO-
rated upon tie speculative aspect of
the matter by well known members
of the stock exchange. ThereupOn
the president took the designations
from his pocket, put them i'll his
safe, and, metaphOrically, handed
Mac Veagh the key.
| "1Ou may rely upon it," said the
| president, that not one of the cabi-
net designations will be returned or
| allowed to be withdrawn"
With this assurance MacVeagh re-
turned to Washington and Window
Immediately began to lay the wires
for his reelection in Minnesota. The
scandal began 10 be whispered about
among The members OF The cabinet
and soon reached the ears of Blaine
through one of his intimates. Then,
and not till then, did Blaine an
nOunce his intention of leaving the
cabinet. In fact, his more open enc
mics hint that he cannot remain in
the cabinet without being subjected
to a congressional investigation.
They state that he is involved i'll
many speculatiOns, and that his
name has been put down for shares
without any pecnniary equivalent,
but solely on account of his official
position. This is the credit mObilier
game over again, and, IT Blaine re-
mains in politics, he will have to un-
dergo another ordeal by fire and
have another sunstroke.
Such is the secret history of the
breakup of the Garfield cabinet.
The only chapters missing are those
which show how CODklIng worked
"the bulge" upon Blaine. A recon-
struction of the cabinet is certain
before January, and President Ar
thur has in his possession the docu-