Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-03-10


without special wonder. 1t has been
understood ever since the election that
Mr.. Blaine was to have the leading posi-
ton in the Cabinet as Secretary of State.
This has been universally regarded as so
inevitable that people have refrained from
the criticisms on the appointment which
would have been freely made had there
been any hope that the question of his
appointment was an open one. Mr.. Blaine
is man whose public career has
been that of a self-seeking demagogue,
and one who has sulled his pri-
vate character by participation in
jobbery and by falsehood to conceal his
guilt. The hold which he has unques-
tionably gained on his party has been
gained by exhibition of qualities which,
to our thinking, utterly disquality him
for the important and delicate duties of
his new post, however much they may fit
him for leadership in popular assembly
like the House of Representatives, and
hence with every desire to maintain a
waiting and even hopeful attitude
toward the new administration, we cannot
but regard the most important of its
earliest selections as most unfortunate
one for Mr.. Garfield and the country.
The appointment of next Importance in
popular opinion, and of probably really
greater Importance actually, is that to the
office of Secretary of the Treasury, and
here again the choice is one we cannot
regard as fortunate. Mr.. Window, who
is to succeed Mr.. Sherman at the head of
the Treasury, is man OF considerable
force and ability, but is not really one of
the strong men of his party, while his
record on financial questions is not reas-
surfing to the friends of honest money.
He was one of the Senators who voted for
the imitation bill vetoed by President
Grant, and he subsequently voted to pass
it over the veto, though it was denounced
by his present friend and hacker, Sem
ator Conkling, as measure of
utter and hurtful imitation paving
the way to disaster, degradation
and distress" He was also one of the
advocates of the silver bill, and voted to
pass it over Mr.. Hayes veto. 1t is proper
to add that since the Republican party
dressed its ranks to the hard money line,
Senator Window has stood with his asso-
ciates, but the country was entitled to
expect that President Garfield would put
at the head OF the Treasury Department
man whose adherence to sound financial
principles is the result of his own knowl
edge aud convictions, and not merely in
obedience to the mandate Of party
caucus.
Mr.. Robert Lincoln, the new Secretary
OF War, is the only surviving son of
President Lincoln and it is probable that
to that fact alone he owes his appoint
ment. He is said to be young man OF
ability at the bar and has not until quite
recently been active in politics. His first
appearance was last fall as the ally of
Logan in the not-at all creditable attempt
TO capture the vote of Illinois for Grant
and third term. This may have been
merely one OF the indiscretions of youth
and inexperience, however, and the
whole country will hope that the son OF
Abraham Lincoln will bear his sudden
and remarkable elevation from obscurity
to most responsible office with honor and
dignity and escape in his new environment
the influences which made him the ally
of Logan and Storrs and their tribe il
favor of Grant and third term
Mr.. Hunt, the Secretary of the Navy
is, We believe, a native of South Carolina
who went to Louisiana when boy. HI
was Union man during the war and ha
been an ardent Republican ever since
He was active in Louisiana politics in tn
carpet-bag days and was candidate 10
Attorney-General on the Kellogg ticket il
1876, and was one of those who's,
government i'll holding the offices t
which they claimed to he elected Mr.
Hayes refused to recognize in accordance
with the advice of a commission of whic
Wayne MacVeagh, another member d
the new Cabinet, was the head. Nj
Hunt was conciliated, however, by a
appointment by Mr., Hayes to the benc
of the Court of Claims, which position h
will resign to accept his place in tn
cabinet. Precisely why former politica
associate of the infamous Kellogg shout
be pitched iii to represent the South
in the new Cabinet it is difficult to see.
Senator Kirkwood of Iowa, who su,
ceeds Mr.. Schurz in the Interior Depart
ment is steady going, sober minded ma
representing wildly radical constitl
ency, and he has, we believe, an nj
spotted record and clear page on whie
to write a creditable record for himsel
his party and his country. II" was Dor
IL Hartford county Maryland Of goo
Delaware stock, being, We think, Of I'll
same family as our Revolutionary her
Kirkwood and hence it will afford u
people peculiar satisfaction il his care
i'll the future fulfilS the honural
promise OF his past. Another OF t
family, possibly the new Secretary
father, a Hartford county man, was RI
fpssor of Mathematics in Delaware Collie
and became President Of the institute
in 1854
Mr., Thomas l.. James, who hpcal
Postmaster General, was born in II
New York, and has resided in that ST
all his life. He was appointed by Gene
Grant Postmaster of New York in IS
and has held the office ever since. she
ing great executive ability, and maxi
the best postmaster the city has i
within the memory Ofliying men. Thou
an ardent Republican, he has not m;
the post Office political machine, but
administered it on sound business prii
pies, and won from men Of all parties
lighted encomums thereby, which h,
given him q National reputation as
almost ideal public servant, and won
him this great prGllotion Men OF
parties will hope that he may be able
direct the whole postal service of
country with the efficiency and vigor
has disDlayad in tho mauagemant nt