The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-25
PRESIDENTIAL SURPRISES.

President Arthur twice surprised
the country on Friday, and they
were painful surprises also. He
nominated Roscoe Conkling fol-
associate justice Of the United
States Supreme Court, to succeed
Ward Hunt, retired, and Aaron A.
Sargent to be United States minister
at Berlin. What was more unex-
pected than these nominations ?
They are not really Objectionable,
nor are the selections in any sense
bad ones; on the contrary they are
wise choices. They were simply
unlocked for, and hence create
establishment. For weeks past Mr..
Sargent has been regarded as the
certain successor to Secretary Kirk
wood in The interior department.
He, his friends and the public had
all apparently settled down to that
belief. His transfer to the second
NEST important foreign mission can
not fail to be highly gratifying to
him, as it will certainly prove
cGeditable if not advantageous to his
government. His peculiar abilities
fit him admirably for the diplomatic
service, and Will remove him from
the criticism and censure which
in view Of his past career and the
peculiar duties of the Office he could
not have escaped had he been placed
at the head Of the interior depart
ment. Unlocked for as this nomi-
nation was it will receive the hearty
approval Of all save those personal
enemies to Mr.. Sargent who were
anxious that he be not recognized
by the Administration.
But Mr.. Conkling's nomination
will occasion deeper regret than
pleasure, even among the ranks Of
his friends. Indeed, his enemies
have greater cause for rejoicing
than his admirers. Conkling is one
of the most brilliant men on earth,
and as a statesman has few equals
on top of the ground. y year ago he
was guilty Of sad blunder, which
resulted in temporarily cOnsigning
him to unpleasant retirement; but
only death could long keep such a
man as COnkling beneath the sur
face. He was certain to come to
the front again as great political
leader, and in that capacity he
would he vastly more serYiceable
to his country than as q
jBdge. On the Supreme bench
he is buried for all time.
IF he shall accept the po-
sition and be confirmed, his name
will be heard with less and less fire.
queRcy, and his fame as an orator,
a statesman and a leader be soon
forgotten, whereas he might have
been prominent and active in the
affairs Of the nation for a score of
years to come.
President Arthur is either play
ing a very deep game or is remark
ably shallow himself. We are in
clined to believe the former is the
case. Seemingly he is alone in the
Administration, accepting advice
from no one, and acting as his own
counsel. Grant was called the
sphinx, but as compared with Ar
thur he was a garrulous old fish
woman. The cabinet apparently
knows none of bis thoughts, and
those most intimate with him are
ignorant of his intentions. If Ar
thur has the presidency three years
hence in view, he has done wise
thing in burying Cenkling. We
may expect this will be followed by
ether movements that will indicate
the pup SIS of the President fer
it is not K ly that Arthur, shreWd,
calculating and secretiye as he may
be, can keep his hand covered from
the scrutiny Of Watchful public.