Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-03-12

country, and even of his ewn party,
who view without prejudice the |
composition of his cabinet, the re-
gretful conviction must come that a |
few Of his selections are the result
of series of experiments and
changes made, not in accordance
with Gen. Garfield's own sense of
public duty, but rather as the result
of undue influence brought to bear
upon him by leading factionists of
his party. If this is so, it is deeply
to be deplored, for it does not pre-
sage much good from his admins
tratiOn. 1t il not i'm accordance
with the high-sounding tenor of his
inaugural. He was under no spe-
cial obligations to any man or fac
ton of his party. No man ever
received a nomination who was
more absolutely unhampered by it.
His nomination as candidate for
the presidency was never thought
of until the convention met at Chi
cago, and consequently nobody had
ever thought it worth while to de-
mand of him a pledge or promise.
Being elected therefore under such
circumstances, he had grand OPP
portunity 70 be independent-to
act for himself and within himself.
If he has let slip the golden chance,
it is to be regretted. Let's briefly
review his cabinet, and judge as
near as we can if his choice presages
the success or failure Of his govern
ment.
The appointment of Blaine as
secretary of state will be regarded
by the country at large as the best
and perhaps most satisfactory of
them all. Blaine is a brilliant,
thorough and competent man for
the place, and will be splendid foil
to Conkling's and the other machine
politicians evil influence upon the
administration. A stalwart repub-
lican journal says he sis the only
SimoD-pure Garfield appointment
in the whole lot" Blaine will
make a good secretary.
Window as secretary of the treas
ury, will, we think, do no good for
the business interests of the country,
and coming right on the heels of
John Sherman, may be looked for
ward to as a failure.
Robert T. Lincoln as secretary of
war is a mere creature of sentiment,
and has no fitness that we know of
for the position. He is a pal of Jno.
Logan, of Illinois, and, it is said,
was appointed to satisfy that stall
wart.
Wayne McVeagh for attorney
general is generally regarded as a
proper man for the place. He is
learned lawyer and will make a
good legal adviser for the govern
ment. He is a sOn-in-law of Came
ron, but has no love for that clan.
His appointment was made in def
erence to the reform sentiment in
the republican party, which Garfield
had to consider.
Thomas l.. James, at the head of
the postOffice, is an appointment
which will be commended by all
men, and if his management of the
New York Postoffice is any criteri-
on, he will make a most efficient
acknowledgement. 1t would have
been better if the president had
looked more 10 fitness and compe-
tency and the doctrine of civil SER
vice reform in some of his other
selections as he did in this.
s. T. KirkwOOd, of Iowa, at the
head of the interior department, is
no improvement on Schurz. Kirk
wood is n man of no marked ability,
and is old, and will find it hard
work if he attends to his duties of
Office. We predict he will not last
long. A man to cope with the poor
Indian, the patent Office, the pension
Office and the railroads, has to have
a strong, robust constitution and
great executive ability. He is a
bitter stalwart republican.
w. H. Hunt, of Louisiana, holds
the navy portfolio, He was APP
pointed as concession to the south
ern element of the republican party,
which Garfield felt bound to recog-
nize. However, his appointment
will go very little towards securing
a fairer treatment of the south from
the dominant party. Like most of
his inefficient predecessors, he is
lawyer, and has stuck to his desk,
and never gone to sea, ETC., ETC., and
now rules our grand and glorious
navy.
So much. for Garfield's cabinet.
We shall see what we shall see.