Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-07
Garfield and the Third Termers.

If the article which we copy elsewhere
from the New York Tribune, in which
the editor Of that paper processes to give
an outline of the policy of Garfeld's adj
ministration, really possesses the authori-
tative character claimed for it, it may be
regarded as foreshadowing an open
rupture between the supporters of
the incoming President and the
third-term Republicans. The 1Tf6une's
announcement, taken in connection with
the now universally credited report that
Blaine is to hold the position of Secreta-
~ of State in the new Cabinet-Blaine,
of all other men the most obnoxious to
my Lord Conkling-leaves no room to
doubt that there is to be lively fight
between the Radical factions The st.
Louis Republican, commenting on the
TTI5uae's article, says:
'The third term leaders have believed
that the fact that they and their follow
ers elected Garfield would insure them
the balance of power in the new admin
istration, and they intended to
use the power to punish their
enemies of the Republican per-
suasion The plan was, and still is,
to make Garfield's first term a stepping
stone for Grants third, which can
only be done by sharply disclplining
such Republicans as were prominent in
the movement that defeated Grant in
18S0-thereby persuading them to assist
him in 1884. But if the new admins
tration is not to be used for such pur
pose, and has honorable recognition"
instead of dishonorable humiliation for
the anti-Grantites, the plan collapses in
advance and must necessarily be aban-
doned. Yet our Washington special of
of the I'd says:
" But Garfield will not break with
anybody. Although Blaine may accept
the position of Secretary of State,
Grant or Conkling man will go into the
Cabinet from New York. The only
trouble Is that it will not be the man the
machine would select. II will be one
they cannot fight, however.
IF Mr., Garfield is SO foolish as to sup
pose he can carry water on both shout.
ders in such quarrel, events will con-
vince him of his grievous error. Blaine,
as Secretary of State, would open the
battle. He is more obnoxious to Grant
and Conkling than any Democrat in
the land, for political jealousy is sup
plemented by personal dislike of the
bitterest sort Any New York Repub-
lIcan who went in the Cabinet with
Blaine, would thereby cut himself loose
from Grant and Conkling. and they will
find ways and means TO fight him to his
hearts content. The fight would of
course involve the President, who ap.
pointed him in defiance of the machine,
and then and there would come the
break The simple fact of the matter
is that Garfield must choose between
the two factions claiming him. If
he tries to go with both he will be
torn asunder, for the paths of
the third termers and anti.third-
termers diverge widely. Neutral he
cannot be; independent he may
and ought to be. If that independence
brings upon him the opposition of
Grant, Conkling & Co., he will get more
than sufficient support from other quar-
sers to enable him to hold his own. And
the most unmistakable declaration of in
dependence will be the construction of
his Cabinet from harmonious material,
and the refusal to lend the influence of
his administration to the persecution of
those who do not wear the Grant collar.
We shall soon learn, as the saying is,
whether he is g man or mouse. The
man haa nothing to fear. The mouse
will have to look out for the cats. ;"