Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-19
cABIsEr MAKING.

ogeneity to the Administration. For when
the head Of department is thinking con-
tinually of the effect of his conduct upon
his own political prospects, it is to be ap-
pretended that he will rather seek to con-
troll the Administration in his interest than
cooperate cheerfully and zealously in
carrying out the wishes of its head. And
If no member of the Cabinet has any
further desire than to do well the work
that lies under his hand, the probability is
that the Administration will reflect faith
fully and continuously the policy of the
President and the dominant party.
In appointing Brewster Attorney-Gen-
eral the President has departed from the
traditional practice with marked advant-
age to his administration. 1t has been
customary to urge for this position some
lawyer who has gained more distinction in
party warfare than in his profession,
and thus it has been rare to find really
able lawyer in the Office. Mr.. Brewster,
however, is very much more of lawyer
than of a politician. He has not mixed
much in politics, though an undoubted Re-
publican. He is the head of legal firm
which stands very high in the profession,
and it must be presumed that in accepting
a place in the Cabinet he surrenders much
larger emoluments than the Government
can offer him. The democratic spirit being
hostile to the elevation of men who have
already succeeded In life, has generally
resisted the appointment to such offices of
those who would have honored them most,
and have given the country the most valu-
able services. The spirit of faction has
supplemented the leveling tendency, and
has sought to compel Presidents to restrict
the field of their choice to the party
workers" Hence when an Attorney. Cen
eral was wanted it was customary to point
out such lawyers as had neglected their
profession to take an active part in poll
tics and as the lawyers who neglect their
profession are almost invariably those
who have failed to make their mark in it,
mediocrity and inferority have been among
the leading features of the eligible candi-
Gates. Mr.. Brewster happily does not be.
long to this class of appointees. He has
proved his fitness by his life-work in the
law, and he has acquired competence
which renders it possible for him to accept
an office which must entail pecuniary loss
upon him. Such man can be trusted to
acquit himself well in his new position,
and it could be wished that the choice
of Cabinet officers was always as sound as
in his case.
1t is reported that the President was dis.
posed to give seat in his Cabinet to Gen.
eral Beale, and that if this was done
General Beale would be regarded as repre-
senting California. But this would be a
serious mistake, for General Beale cannot
be accepted by California as representa-
tive. He owns large tract of land in the
southern part of the State, and he raises
cattle there. But he does not reside in
the State; he is not known to the people
at all generally /; and it would therefore be
most unreasonable to speak of him as a
Californian. When it was intimated, and
apparently on good grounds, that President
Arthur felt disposed to give the Pacific
slope representation in his Cabinet, the
public mind here at once conferred upon
one man, who could be fully trusted, and
whose appointment would be alike an
ministration. That man was ex-senator
A. A. Sargent. In selecting him President
Arthur would strengthen his own hands
greatly, and satisfy the sentiment of the
Pacific coast completely. No doubt Senator
Sargent has enemies, and they are willing
to do him whatever injury they are capable
of. But his enemies are also the enemies
of all upright and faithful administration,
and their resentment against him is the
malice of baffied intriguers and public
plunderers.
If the President thinks fit to give Cali
fornia place in his Cabinet it will be
necessary for him to select Californian
for that honor, and if he intends to make
the appointment significant of his future
purposes, it will be necessary that he
should choose Californian whose ability
and integrity are acknowledged. Senator
Sargent meets both these requirements.
He is representative Californian, and he
has had long experience in the transaction
of public affairs. His Congressional career
has rendered him familiar with the work of
all the departments, and with the demands
and needs of the country in the most
various respects. Moreover his character
is fully understood and appreciated by his
late colleagues in the Senate, in which
body he always commanded that respect
and attention which it awards only to
sterling merit and full information. No
man indeed has better yindicated his fit
ness for the highest positions in the service
of his country, and should the Presidents
choice fall upon him it will be felt that ne
has followed out the lines upon which he
began to form his Administration, with
singular skill and consistency.
Why General Beale should be offered the
Navy Department we do not know, unless
it is in recognition of that mysterious
custom which seems always to select for
this Office some one profoundly ignorant
OF all nautical matters. There seems indeed
to be something in both English and
American governmental traditions which
makes it the proper thing to place the con-
troll of the navy in the least competent
hands. Sir Joseph Porter, X. C. B., is
well known to have been satire upon the
First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr.. Smith,
who is bookseller by trade. Gen. Beale
is no doubt capital judge of cattle and
pasture land, but presumably knows MOTH
ing of naval affairs. Perhaps the President
considers that in the absence of a navy
such knowledge would have 10 scope,
and there is measure of reason in this.
But ii we are ever to have navy it
seems desirable not to saw necessary.