Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-31
THE QUARREL IN THE CABINET.
Either Blaine or MacVeagh Must
Leave the Presidents Political
Household.

AOuBGAOG0s
Philadelphia Special to the Boston Herald.
The events Immediately attending the
closing hours Of Congress have made
breach in the Cabinet which cannot be
healed except by the retirement of Mr..
Blaine or MacVeagh from the Cabinet.
This fact is not more apparent from the
transactions which followed the rejection
of William e. Chandler for Solicitor
General. than by the drippings which
have fallen from Mr.. MacVeagh's
talk upon politics since his arrival here
to-day to attend the funeral of Thomas
A. Scott. 1t appears that MacVeagh's
hostility to any stalwart Presiden-
tial candidate was so pronounced
before the Chicago Convention
that he was led into a series of intempe-
rate remarks, not only in relation to Gen.
Grant and Mr. Blaine, but in relation to
Gen. Garfield himself Mr.. James Nc
Mr.. MacVeagh in the reform movement,
but afterward mace an alliance with
Blaine, and was leading spirit of the
Blaine forces in Pennsylvania against
Cameron and Grant, now comes to the
front with a series of charges that Mr..
MacVeagh made most dIsrespectful allu-
sions to Gen. Garfield, if not criminal
charges against his official acts and per-
sOnal integrity. He says that it is noto-
rious fact that Mr. MacVeagh was most
bitterly opposed to Garfeld's nomination,
and was not careful in expressing his
connection with Credit Mobilier and De
Golyer pavement transactions All that
Mr.. MacVeagh did say in disparagement
of the President has been placed in Mr..
Blaine's hands, and most of it has been
faithfully detailed by other lips than
those of the Secretary of State. 1t is
also claimed that, during the tendency
of William E. Chandler's nomination,
Mr.. MacVeagh made remarks deroga.
tory TO Mr.. Blaine, which will make
it virtually impossible that there shall
be further intercourse between
them. All these facts have been re-
ported to the President, but were not
much spoken of by any member of the
administration until since the adjourn
ment of the Senate. Since then the
matter has been the subject of frequent
discussion, until the conclusion has been
arrived at that it is necessary to the har-
mony of the Presidents political house
hold that Mr. Blaine or the Attorney
General should leave the Cabinet Mr.
MacVeagh, who is now here, does not
dispute the fact that the differences be-
tween himself and the Secretary of
State are very serious, but looks upon
the situation quietly, and seems perfect
the President may elect. He has
kept close hold of his law practice
here, evidently feeling that his tenure in
the Cabinet was exceedingly uncertain,
unless he would sink his individuality,
lay aside his convictions and be will
ing instrument of the stalwarts. 1t is
claimed that Mr. McAfanes, who is now
Mr. Macy Veagh's bitter enemy, in furnish
ing many of the facts as to his assaults
upon the President, is not the only man
of prominence hostile to Mr.. MacVeagh.
1t is well known fact that all the stall
wart element is opposed to Mr.. Mac
Veagh's continuation in the Cabinet, and
will assist Mr.. Blaine in his war upon
the Attorney General. On Feb. 8, 1880,
before the Chicago Conven-
ton, Mr.. MacVeagh was
the signer of an address to
the Pennsylvania State Convention,
which address reads: ave may say,
briefly, however, that the number Of Re.
publicans is very large who cannot be
relied upon to support, on the one hand,
one whose candidacy would violate ira
dition which has become part of the un-
written law of the ration, nor, on the
other, one who regards the skillful use
of patronage for personal ends as the
highest functions of statesman; nor
one whose past inability to resist tempta-
ton would put his supporters on the de-
fensive throughout the campaign; nor
one whose personal ambition may lead
him to regard the public service as a
mere instrumentality for furthering
his own ends, and whose convic
tions are expressions of political
expediency." The press of the
same date. edited by Edward McPher-
son, Mr. Blaine's adherent, in comment
ing upon the address, said: "The public
will not be slow to conclude that Gen
eral Grant, Mr.. Sherman, Mr.. Blaine
and Mr.. Conkling are respectively
aimed at" 1t then goes on to criticise
the action Of Mr.. MacVeagh and his as
sociates in very severe terms. The ad-
dress forms part of the general charge
against Mr.. MacVeagh, which, with his
private utterances, is being used in
the warfare which is being made and
to be made upon him. Those
who make claim that his criticism
Of every eminent Republican leader
has been such that their association
with him at head of department
will greatly embarass the administra-
ton, say that the evidence of his intem.
perate talk is by no means all in hand.
They also claim that Senator Sherman,
as we'll as others, will make common
cause against him. On the other hand,
Mr.. McVeagh's friends claim the under
standing between the President and
himself is perfect; that the President
regards the Attorney General as enti-
tied to respect for his convictions, and
will not interfere in the personal quar-
rels either between him and MI. Blaine,
or any other member of the Cabinet.
This is both sides of the controversy as
presented to night. That there is con-
troversy now going on in the Cabinet
which cannot fail to be important in the
present crisis no friend of the President,
the Secretary of State or Attorney Gen.
nral denies