Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-02-12
CABINET MINISTER'S.

Tn the prevalent discussions about the
possibilities Of General Garfeld's Cabinet,
there is a very perceptible tendency to
exa0cerate the power and Importance OF
the national Senate, and to underrate, by
wav Of contrast, the dignity and value OF
Cabinet positions. In some degree this
has undoubtedly arisen from the short
moss Of the Presidential term, and the
extent to which the introduction OF per-
soual rule into the Presidency rendered
the tenure Of the office by Cabinet Min
;sters critical, insecure, capriclous and
uncertain. This has not been the case SO
much during the administration OF Pres
ident Hayes, but the damage has been
done by previous Presidents, and now 1T
seems to require a great effort OF some
kind to restore the prestige oil the
Cabinet to what it used to be in former
times. Now, although a position in the
Cabinet for four years might be OF less
NQine nn1GI EDiIlC AlASAilAotAhSN'
seat in the Senate for six years, yet 1t
can easily be perceived by anybody that
a Cabinet Minister for eight years stands
head and shoulders above a Senator.
Even in the four years term OF MIR.
Hayes, the two Secretaries-of State and
Interior-who have never been candidates
for other positions during their terms,
and who have devoted themselves vlgor-
ously to the duties OF their positions,
have won for themselves much higher
honors of craftsmanship than any six
years term in the Senate would have
been likely to secure to them. w have
no idea at the present time as to who
may be appointed to Cabinet positions by
General Garfield, but we trust that they
will be persons who will be content to
apply themselves faithfully to their min
isterial duties. and who will not be perpet-
ually seeking to make use of their positions
to secure for themselves life appointments
on the bench or to rotate into the Senate
or some other high position. We do not
doubt in the least chat a complete Cabi-
net Of Just such men as that indicated
can easily be found that will embrace all
the requisite ability, zeal, fidelity, hon
esty and craftsmanship. There could be
no doubt on the subject at all if the men
thus selected could feel assured of the
retention Of their Cabinet positions dur
ing the entire term, subject Of course to
the usual conditions of honorable fidelity
to the duties Of their office. The Cabi-
net-making business has long been Il of
the peculiar evils of Washington city.
The moment a new administration
goes into power intrigues begin to
multiply there to create causes for
possible changes in the Cabinet in order
to crafty the ambition, or the revenge,
or the corrupt purpose, of some political
faction. In some of the preceding adj
ministrations a Cabinet Minister never
knew anything about such matters until
the President suddenly asked him for his
resignation. This is the very worst and
most indefensible feature Of personal gov
eminent, and however well-meant any
such action may have been, there can be
no sort of doubt that it has effectually
destroyed the prestige of the Cabinet and
reduced the Ministers to the rank OF
mere superior clerks, holding Office en-
tirely subject to the will and pleasure Of
n person, and with no independent
tenure of Office.