The sun., 1881-07-03
The Great Change.

According to the Constitution, the death
q President GARFIELD would bring Vice
President ARTHUR into his place as Presi-
Gent. This event has features more surpris-
ing than Is usual even in such sudden re-
versals OF the whole current OF public affairs.
Who ever expected CHESTER A. ARTHUR to
become Presidcnt3 And yet We can say
that the probability of his filling the place
In . respectable and even in a credtable
manner is greater than it might be II some
greater parsonage stood in his shoes. 1t is
not too much to hope that history may
record the name Of President ARTHUR
among those who have occupied tho post
with decided success.
One OF the first changes that will follow
the accession OF Gen. ARTHUR will be re-
construction OF the Cabinet. or course all
tho present Cabinet officers may be expected
20 offer their designations, according to the
custom attending the advent OF q new Chief
Magistrate. 1t will be polite In President
ARTHUR to invite them to remain, at least
Tor the present; but, even II they should be
disposed to comply, some OF them can hardly
stay long. For instance, Mr.. BLAINE will
- sure to insist on going out at an early
day; and on his departure one or two other
gentlemen will accompany him.
II Mr.. CoNKLINa Is willing to become Sec
rotary Of State, 1t is certain that the place
will be given to him and at any rate he will
- exceedingly powerful with the new Ad-
ministration. But we doubt whether he
win wish to accept that Office He will pre-
fer to be in the Senate; and, II that should
prove impracticable, the post OF a private
citizen may possess attractions for his mind
undcr such circumstances as now exist. The
private man who has won political dstinc-
t1on may sometimes have brighter pros
peot OF the future than the man in office.
Among the other Cabinet places there are
four whose occupants may bo seriously
asked to remain. The first Is Mr.. WINDOW,
who by lucky fluke has made a great hit
as Secretary OF the Treasury. 1t is true Mr..
CoNKLINa has an old grudge against WIN
dom, because he voted for tho confirmation
Of MERRITT when ARTHUR was turned out OF
edlce as Collector; but the new President
will shrewdly aim to make new friends
rather than to revive old animosities and
30 let WINDOW go out unnecessarily.
Tho next Of these four gentlemen is
Mr.. LINCOLN, son OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
He administers the War Department in
sensible manner, and Is well liked in Illinois.
Next We come to Mr.. JAMES, the economical
and reforming Postmaster-General, a IA
vorite with the people; and finally there Is
Mr.. MACVEAGH, the Attorney General.
When he went into office he was identified
With only one wing Of the Republicans OF
Pennsylvania; now he Is identified with
both. He can stick, We dare say.
There will remain then only two Cabinet
places to be filed, the Interior and the Navy
Department. The Interior is one OF the
most important posts in the Government,
md 1t Is safe to assume that a wise man
Nke Gen. ARTHUR will desire to have there q
Secretary OF more force than old Father
kIRKwooD. Where he can find just such
Q person We do not undertake to
tell him; but it might be a clever
thing in him to go to Maine and take
EUGENE HALE for this job. This would be
In accordance with the concliatory and
harmonizing policy which he cannot help
adopting.
There remains the Navy Department now
occupied by Judge HUNT of Louisiana. For
this post the name of GEORGE S. BOUTWELL,
of Massachusetts, may perhaps be consid-
cred. Mr. BOUTWELL, Is not a great man,
but Gen. ARTHUR will have to do all he can
for the Old Guard who with him stood by
GRANT and the Third Term at Chicago.