New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-06
THE GARNET

The Cabinet, like the Inaugural, is all that
any earnest and practical Republican could
ask. 1t represents fairly and with strong and
clean men every section of the party.
1t recognizes every strong element,
Grant and anti-Grant. The Blaine
men are complimented by having their great
chieftain at the head Of the Cabinet along
with q number of others who have been per-
sOnaly friendly. There are two Grant
men, and the Independent and Reform
Republicans have q conspicuous repre-
sentative in Wayne MacVeagh. The
seats are fairly distributed geographically.
The claims of New-England, the great Central
States and the West have been adjusted with
consummate skill, and the South has a native
Southerner. 1t is Cabinet that is as solid
as a cube.
1t is a Garfield Cabinet clear and straight
The foresight and sagacity with which Gen
eral Garfield did his work at Mentor. and the
tenacity with which he has adhered to it in
the whirlpool of conflicting currents at the
Capital, may be judged from single fact
which we learn on unquestionable authority.
With a single exception the list of Cabinet
officers Yesterday nominated and confirmed is
nrecisely the list which the President-eect
wrote ont at Mentor. The one change is in
New-York, where the name of Thomas l..
lanes was substituted for that of L. p. Morton.
The President has sought advice in many in
fuential quarters, but the Cabinet is his own
bandiwork. He has harmonized conflicting
interests. and yet has chosen his own
councillors. He has backbone and something
elsa united party behind him.
Let us look at the work in detail. No Re-
publican has 80 firm hold upon the conf
dence and affections of the mass of his party
"a Mr.. Blaine. His transfer to the
State Department has been confidently
nredicted on all sides for months, for the
simple reason that he was recognized by friend
and foe as the strongest man--tbe man OF oil
others-to head the Cabinet. His dis
tinguished services to the party, and
his conspicuous ability, have made
this choice a political necessity as well as
personal privilege. We have the right to ex-
pect from him q brilliant administration; and
If yigor be needed in enforcing the Monroe
Doctrine, we shall have that.
IL ia known that Mr.. Window was the first
choice of Secretary Sherman. and was warmly
ureed by him for this portfolio. This
fact must be borne in mind, as one
or two of his recent utterances have
given rise to some uneasncss, so that con-
servative interests may possibly accept
his nomination at first with some re-
serve. We refer to this prejudice
frankly. and we warn the business men
of the country, and especially of the
metropolis that they must not condemn
the Secretary of the Treasury in advance.
There is ample reason to believe that man so
sound in all the principles of finance as President
Garfield always has been could not
have taken Mr.. Window into his Cab
met without @ thorough understanding
with him on these points, and without being
sure that the Secretary's course would be In
accordance with the safe and conservative
policy which he would advocate himself.
When it was finally settled that there was
no chance for the Treasury Department,
the place ranking next in importance
from patronage and vital interest
TO every section of the country was assigned
to our own State. That Mr.. James is
the man best fitted in the United
States for the office of Postmaster General
il universally acknowledged by the press of
the State and of the whole country.
He has the special advantage of be-
ing an original Conkling and Grant
man, while not in any special
way unsatisfactory to the anti-Conkling and
anti-Grant men. His chief characteristic is
that he is an admirable executive officer,
who devotes himself first and mainly
to the duties of his Office. He ls a
printer who rose from the case to
the Post Office and will consider it
She browning glory of his life that. like the
first great head of the Post Office Department,
he reaches that place through these grades.
New-York has every reason to be proud of its
self-made representative in the Cabinet.
Robert Lincoln's name commends him to
the hearts of Americans. He viii make an
excellent Secretary of War. His nomination is
at once tn inspiration and proof of the Presi-
dents political sagacity. This is the one thing
which senator Logan desired and it may
fairly DO presumed that be is likely to be
especially pleased when the candidate whom he