The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-09
CHIEF COUHCILLO RS,
A Brief Sketch of the
Members of
Cabinet.
Their Ages. Previous His
tory and Occupation.

occupies the position of honor" In the
new Cabinet. as Secretary of State. His
fame is worldwide. and the facts of his
public career are too we'll known to need
repetition. Mr.. Blaine is now 81 years of
age, and no one wilifauestion either his
statesmanship or his power as a bold and
adroit politician, A successful politician
has the qualities for successful diploma cy
Hon. William Window, of Minnesota,
the Secretary of the Treasury-the most
responsible position IN the government
has served many years Ia Congress with
Messrs. Garfield and Blaine, and they
know him thoroughly. Mr.. Window was
a member of the House of Representa-.
tives continuously from 1860 to 1870, and
has been in the Senate from 1870 until
the present time. He has been a9promi-
pent member of the Senate Committee on
Approximations, and therefore understands
we'll the financial affairs of the Govern
ment; and he has been one of the authors
and builders of our present general system
of currency and finance. 1t must be that
President Garfield, with his long personal
and official acquaintance with Mr., Window,
has great reason to have confidence in his
financial judgment. else he would not have
called him to a position of such delicate
trust and heavy responsibility. Mr.. Win
dom is native of Ohio. is SIS years of age.
and is one of the solidest and best
appearing men in Washington, He is a
lawyer, and has been a citizen of Winona,
MIMI, for twenty six years.
Mr.. Robert t, Lincoln, of Illinois, the
Secretary of War, is the only survivor of
the children of the veperated ex-President
Abraham Lincoln. He is a native of
Springfield, Ill.,, a graduate of Harvard
College, Massachusetts, and Is in his 3Sth
year. During the last years of the
War of the Rebellion he was a
member of General Grants military
staff. He was admitted to the bar in 1867
and has been quietly but successfully en-
gagged in his profession ever since in this
city and his law partner being Mr. Edward
S.Isham who was collge mate of General
Garfield. Mr.. Lincoln, in 1868, married
a daughter of Hon. James Harlan, Of
Iowa, formerly United States Senator and
subsequently, Secretary of the Interior.
His only political achievement has been
the active Part he took two or three years
ago IN breaking up the corrupt ring which
uuder the name of Town Board"
for years had been plunderiDg the tax
payers of the South Town of Chicago
AS Town Supervisor be, With other mem
bers of the new reform board, cut off an
immense steal, and plugged up the leak so
com pletely that the old gang have never
since had the least encouragement to seek
a return to their old official pastures. Mr..
Lincoln was ore of the Garfield and
Arthur Electors at the Novem Der election,
and rau ahead of his associates on the
ticket. Mr.. Lincoln Is gentleman Of
modest, retiring disposition, fine intellec-
tuai culture, and those who know him bert
say be possesses superior executive abili
ties Those who think President Garfield
has made mistake of Judgment in select
ing the son of our martyr President as
member of bis cabinet, will, we are conf
dent, soon have cause to change their
opinion.
Hon. William Il. Hunt. the Secretary
of the Navy. Is native OF Louisiana, and
was prominent aid successful lawyer in
New Orleans until he was appointed
Judge of the United States Court of
Claims at w ashingtoa-a position he has
held for several years. and now rellnquish-
es in order to accept place Ia the Cabi
net. Mr., Hunt was steadfast Union
man during the War, thus mourning ostra-
cism by friends and family. He was
twice elected Oh the Republican ticket as
Attorney General of Louisian during the
reconstruction period He is IS years of
age and is gentleman CT education ard
more than ordinary ability.
Colonel Thomas L. James the Post
master General, has been Postmaster at
New York city for the past eight years,
and is ACKNOWLEDGED by ALL political
friends and foes alike. that that city has
never bad his equal as Postmaster. lie
is man Of energy public spirit and great
executive ability. Colonel james is a
E TTA.an n ~ g - sc
50ih year, He stated out in lite as q
printer boy. and naturally drifted into
journalism, being the publisher and editor
of The Madison County Journal, Hamilton
n York 1857 to 1872. when he was sp-
pointed al Inspector of Customs at New
York city. and remained in the Govern
ment's revenue service until 1873 when
General Grant appointed him POSTMASTER
of New York Colonel James is a political
supporter of Senator Conkling and it is
| safe to conclude that his appointment il
sat sfec:ory TO toe Senator and bis
| friends Colonel James is in favor of The
most advanced system of fast mails and
prompt delivery, and under his admins
tration He shall anticipate great improve
nen,s 10 our general postal system.
Hon. Samuel j kirkwood, the Secre
tary of the Interior, Is famous as "iowa's
| " ar Governor tie has been three times
elected Gcyernor Of his Stste, ard twice
TO the United States Senate. Governor
Kirkwo6d was born in Maryland. brought
up" in Ohio" and has been citizen o.
Iowa CITY, Iowa, for over a quarter of q
century. He is 81 years of age.
Hon. Wayne MscVeaeh. of Penpsyl
vania. the Attorney General is the son TO-
Law of old Simon Cameron and the brother
in-law of Senator Don Cameron, bul
ldametricalIv opposed to their politics
methods. They are the head of the boss
system of that State, but Macy eagh il
one of the leaders Of the anti Dos.
, movement. He was conspicuous at thu
Chicago National Convention last June a.
az earnest opponent Of ysrsnt and the thlre
term. He is "a years of age. native Of
Cbes,er county. Pa. graduate ef YALE
College and one of the ablest lawyers and
orators of that State. He was the Chair.
man CT the Republican State Contra
CemuJitiae in the campaign of 1863 4. was
i Tinted Safes Minister 70 Consr an,inople
in 1870 /. ard in 1876 7 was che Of tbs
. visiting sr,tesmen" appointed to investi-
eata the louisiana election controversy
He is a brotiar of Mr. Frauklin MaeV eagt
gho il at tie head Of one Of Chicago
principal wholesale houses.