The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-01-12

any further changes in his Cabinet seems
to be purely matter of conjecture.
Thus far he has simply filled vacancies
caused by the designations Of Secretarys
Blaine and Window and Postmaster Gen
eral James, and by the desertion of
Attorney General McVeagh. Secretary
Window resigned to secure a six years
term in the United States Senate, Sec
rotary Blaine tor reasons of his own, and
Postmaster General James to accept a
permanent business connection of which,
as a poor man, he felt it to be his duty to
avail himself of. The new Secretaries of
State and Treasury, Messrs. Frelinghuy-
sen and Folger and the new Attorney
General, Mr.. Brewster, are all capable
and honorable men, and their appoint
ments have been we'll received by the
country. President Arthur has not shown
equally good Judgment in the selection
of Postmaster General. Mr. Howe
brings to the Cabinet neither political nor
intellectual strength, nor to the Post Of
flee Department the experience and bust
ness capacity which so eminently quail
fed his predecessor for the place. In any
other department Mr.. Howe would have
appeared TO better advantage and have
done quite as good service as he is likely
~ ~, &c pnst,Oastor n apar,1
1t has never been the rule, however,
to select members of the Cabinet with
regard to their fitness for The places to
which they are assigned; and when they
have been 50 qualified it has seemed to be
the result Of accident rather than hy de-
sign. There have been Secretaries of the
Navy who had never smet salt water;
Secretaries Of War whose experience was
limited to muster days in the militia, and
so on through the list. In such cases the
Secretary is merely the nominal head of
the Department, and the business is
transacted by subordnates. Often dur
ing the two terms of President Grant
every member of the Cabinet was absent
from Washington for weeks at a time
but the public business went on Just the
same. In the War and Navy Depart
ments there are many officers of the two
branches of the service holding more or
less responsible positions and in all the
Departments are experienced officials and
clerks who have seen long service. and
upon whom the Secretary, no matter how
capable he may be, must mainly depend
That Mr.. Fish was the Secretary of State
in fact as in name for eight years, no one
can doubt; then comes Mr. Evarts, who
divided the duties of the office with his
law practice, regarding the former rather
in the light of pastime; then Mr.. Blaine
who held the TeinS with firm hand; and
now We have Mr.. Frelinghuysen who
will be content with the honOrs of the
position, while its duties will devolye
upon Mr. j. c. B Bancroft Davis, his First
Assistant, than whom no man is more
capable or experienced. In the Post Of
flee Department also, the First Assistant,
Mr.. Frank Hatton, is likely to be the rul-
ing spirit While in the Treasury depart
ment, the business of which is now main
" of routine character, the work will
be carried on, as heretofore, under the
direction OF the minor officials 4 Con-
gresham must serve at least one term
two years-betore he is sufficiently ia
milar with the rules and methods of the
House to become a really useful member,
and it cannot be expected that a man
placed, nominally, at the head of the
Treasury Department will be able to
grasp at once a full knowledge of all its
intricate workings and vast details SO as
to direct the business in person; and the
same is substantially true Of the other
Departments.