National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-11-12
M,vEAoH,s POSITION.
The story About the Recent Cabinet Meet
Ine-An Illogical Position.

The story told by the Washington Star
relative to stormy Cabinet meeting atwhioh Pres
ident Arthur rebuked Attorney General MacVeagh
has the appearance Of truth II has probably
| leaked out from conversations which different
Cabinet officers have had with their friends, and
though It may not be accurate in detail 1t may be
assumed to be generally correct Certainly the
| position which President Arthur is reported 70
have taken in regard to the prosecution Of Gut
teau is in every way commendable, and the POSI-
| ton accredited to Acknowledgement Mac
Veagh fully warranted the Indignation which
the President Is said to have exhibited One strong
reason for regarding this Cabinet correctly
described is the fact that Attorney-General Mac
| Veagh has seemed inclined from the very first to
leave the prosecution Of Guiteau entirely in the
hands of District Attorney Corkhill. II has been
represented over and over again that Mr.. Mac
Veagh has no confidence in Corkhill, and for that
reason has done what he could to keep the star
route cases out Of Corkhilrs control. II MacVeagh
had poor opinion of Corkhills ability or honesty
that was certainly an additional reason why he
should have taken an active personal part
in the preparation of the case against Guiteau
There is no lawyer in the land who stands
so high in his profession to be above the prose-
cution ola man who has assassinated the Presi-
dent of the United States. The title of Attorney
General cannot exalt any man above such duty
The sense Of importance which prompted Mac
Veagh to maintain that II was beneath his dignity
to appear in criminal case" Of this character
was enough TO excite the President and call forth
very warm rcprobatlon of very transparent sham.
Though Guiteau Is technically not guilty of trea-
son under the laws of the United States he has
| committed the very highest crime which can be
committed against the Government, and no other
occasion could possibly be presented which
should 80 fitly exact the employment Of the best
talent and energy of the Government law depart
ment IL the Cabinet meeting on this question has
been correctly reported the President also showed
better knowledge of law as well as truer sense Of
propricty than Mr. MacVeagh exhibited, and the
| former will stand higher and the latter lower In
the estimation of the American people than here
tofore The Tribune has been inclined to regard
| Mr.. MacVeagh's determination TO retire from
the Cabinet at once rs an indication that he
was not confident of earnest support in the
| prosecution Of the star-route cases. This is
the impression which Mr.. MncNcagh and his
friends have given out by insisting that these
cases should be intrusted to an Attorney. General
Of President Arthur's own selection But the reve-
lation concerning Mr.. MocVengh's unwillingness
to take part in the prosecution Of Guteau puts a
different construction upon his practical abandon
incnt oftho Attorney Generals Office at this time.
We have no doubt that MacVeagh is an honest
aud conscientious man, but Il begins to look MS
though he Is governed by fnlse ideas of pride and
etiquette, and perhaps disposed to shirk the hard
work and proper responsibilities Of the position he
accepted under President Garfield. tits good deal
easier TO be an outside critic-thc position which
Mr.. MacVeagh has generally occupied in Amcri.
can politics-than to discharge the duties Of q
high Government Office Perhaps Mr. MacVcagh
who is n man of large means and'eOsy standing IN
society and his profession, longs for his former
luxury, and is trying to escape the trials of public
life. At oil events, his present attitude Is ogca
and improper with relation to the Guiteau case
lie ought to return TO Washington and so TO worl
at this important Government matter If he Il
unwilling to do this, his retirement at later tint
will be discredtnble to him and not chargcable t.
President Arthur; and the sooner the PrCsiden
shall flll his place with some good, earnest, indus
trous lawyer the better 1t will be for the Govern
mcnt service. The country wants an Attorney
General in working clothes who is prepared Il
handle important Government cases withou
gloyes.-ChicdgO Tribune