New-York tribune., 1881-12-17
schemes to the deliberate action of the Com
mittee responsible for tax and tariff measures

schemes to the deliberate action OF the oom-
mittee responsible for tax and tariff measures
There is an appropriateness in the invita-
ton of the Joint Committee of Congress to
Mr. Blaine to deliver the Grafton at the memo
rial services in honor of President Garlcld
which oil will recognize. The friendship be-
tween Garfield and Blaine began when they
entered Congress together in December, 1858,
and was never once broken. or even disturbed
up to the time of Garlield's death. 1t was not
the ordinary friendship of politicians thrown
together in public life, which rarely stands the
test of claShing ambition but a cordial ana
trustful affection. Among all the men with
whom his lie 10 Washington brought him into
close association, no one stood nearer the late
President than he whom he chose to be the
head of his Cabinet, and whom he had loved
as his c0Iarade and counsellor in the lcgis-
lative work and political struggles OF nearly
score of years.
In the Guiteau trial the Government con
tinucs to cumulate evidence TO prove the
prisoners sanity. This evidence covers his
whole career and leaves no considerable period
Of his life open to question as to whether he
is brought down to the time of his confinement
in jail and includes the result Of careful exam
inatiOn by eminent specialists for indications IN
the eye, face and shape of head of a disOr-
dered brain. No such indications are observed.
The assassin's excited manner and violent out
breaks in court, i'll contrast with his quiet
behavior in his cell, lead DR.. Hamilton to con-
clude that he is playing a part. This is
more charitable suppOsitiOn than the public
has conceived. The general opinion has been
that he is giving free rein to the natural
depravty of his mind. Yesterday Guiteau
continued his custom Of heaping abusive cpl
thcts on his own counsel and on the lawyers
engaged i'll the prosecution and the amiable
judge, as usual, let him sly whatever he
pleased without regard to the cOmmonest rules
of order and deccncy in court proceedings.
Mr.. Benjamin II. Brc wster, after an appar-
emily needless delay, succeeds Mr.. Wayne
MacVeagh as Attorney General. Mr. Brewster
has high Philadelphia reputation as "A law
yer and orator; his personal traits have won
him many friends, and he has always been
an earnest Pennsylvania Republican. lie was se-
lected by Mr. MacFeagh, on account of his pro-
fesSiOnal standing, for the prosecution of the
Star Route cases. There is no reason to sup
pose that he was in any way re5pons ible for the
various mishaps that have tended to give
these prosecutions already the appearance of a
needless failure. He is now, however, in n
position where he can he fairly held responsible;
aud by the results he will be judged. II the Star
Route ccnspirators, through any delay, or dis
appearance of witnesses or insufficient prepqr-
H. D., -
niche in the gallery of Attorney of
the United States will not be an enviable one.
The new President has now made three
changes in the Garfield Cabinet Mr.. Window,
an opponent of the third term at Chicago, has
been replaced by Mr. FOger, strong third
term man. whom General Garfield considered,
but finally decided against for the same place.
Mr.. Blaine is succeeded by Mr.. Freling-
huysen and Mr.. MacVeagh, the most
vehement anti-third-l ermer of the num-
Der, gives place to a third representative
of the wing which the party in convention
did not sustain. Comparisons may indeed be
suggested, but no complaint can be made on
this score. Nothing can be clearer than the
right of the President to surround himself by
Cabinet advisers of his own choice. New York |
and its vicinity fare well at the hands OF the
new Administration. We have now III
New-YOrk the President. the Secretary of the |
Treasury and the Postmaster General; while
half an hour away, in New-Jcrsey, we have
the Secretary of State, and but little further
in Philadelphia, the Attorney General. These
are all good men, too, Of their kind; and if
the party likes, we can turn out the rest of
the Garfield Cabinet and fill their places
equally we'll from the same region.