Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-04-22
CAPITAL CHAT.
How the Absences Of President Ar
thur Affects Washington.
THE PERSONNEL OF THE CABINET.
Chester Arthur, Dr., President For 4 Night
His Royal Entertainment to the
Princeton Boys at the White
touse-A Good
Story.

-
forms Washington into an uninterest'
ing focus Of political civilization. IL L
made the pretext for all sorts OF acts o.
Omission, il not Of commission, and it L
curious TO note how the official tortoise
draws in his precious head, as he snap:
out: Cant do anything till the Presi'
dent returnsw Meanwhile, however
the country lives, and the wheels OF gov
eminent move on in their usual slow
ness, but certainty Of detail, demonstrate
ing that after all It's presence or absence
OF the chief magistrate is by no means
an absolute necessity Of the republic.
The presidential party are fighting
sand flies and midgets in
the Alligator Land,
striving to be happy nevertheless,
while William E. Chandler is not the
most jovial boon companion in the
world, and the last man l would be
willing TO call upon for a comic song OF
q musty anecdote after dinner.
General Arthur undoubtedly feels thai
he is likely to be the last of the dynas.
ty of Republican Presidents. That con-
summation, however, does not carry with
it the great honor of a noble house OF
race, like the last Of the Barons," OF
"Mtamora." Ii is indeed sacrificial
fate upon which to ponder, because
when history shall be written, II writ
ten, truly, President Arthur will be
handed down to PROSPERITY as man OF
irresoluie purposes, who at the moment
when high moral coursge became 8 ne.
cessity of the situation, resigned his
command to lieutenants whose ambi.
tions were greater than his own.
Arihur's Cabinet.
In the choice OF Cabinet advisers
President Arthur has displayed the
failures of his character. Mr.. Freling'
huysen, as Secretary of State, represents
tue eminent respectability Of old fogy-
ism, and compared with his predeces-
sors, is personally and officially the
merest Satyr of Hyperion. The idea
of Mr.. Frellnghuysen being competent
TO advise the President OH a mstter OF
state is too ludicrous 10 entertain. Some
body, OF course. practically performs
that Office, such as chief clerk or head
of division, well up In the precedents
OF that department. Hence, the secre-
tary is the figure-head, and performs
the duties Of bis position onl y yicarious-
ly. Foreign influences dominate at
the State Department, and Mr.. Freiing-
huysen does not see that he Is made the
mcrest catspaw. In lieu Of being an
institution it is a bad imita-
ton of Downing street." with its full
array of "Tite Barnacles."
Secretary Folger
is Secretary Folger, no more, no less.
Once an excellent judge, he stepped
aside from the judicial pathway, and
entered the unknown paths of finance,
largely admixed with political ambl.
ton. Had he been made Attorney
General, one could conceive the p ro-
priety of the selection, but how, and by
" hat process of reasoning President
Arthur made him Secretary of the
Treasury, is an insoluble problem. The
public received him kindly, mainly be-
cause his predecessor, Secretary Sher-
man, was unpopular in his methods,
and lacked that warmth OF home
geneity which should characterize high
officials in their dealings with the peo.
pie. The President discovered his mis-
take, but in lieu of rectifying it at once,
to it by greater errors.
Then came the New York fiaso, and
Folger was left on his hands,
or rather bis shoulders, like an "old
man of the sea-" He is there yet!
Secretary Lincoln,
and laborous in administer
ing the war portfolio, but exclusive and
Of temperament, no more
like his father tnan an utter stranger, il
held in place andspower by sentiment
upon Which he is calculating as force
for future presidential nomination. He
will do his best as Secretary OF War,
but beyond that cannot and does not
in political sense to the adj
Secretary Teller
is a lawyer of ability, but his con-
nections with railroad monopolics argue
a subserviency to their interests TO the
detriment Of the people. lie is a shrewd
politician, and has a following which,
by utilization Of the patronage of the
interior department, he naturally seeks
10 strengthen. He undoubtedly realizes
that, come 1855, he must step down and
out from cabinet place. and therefore Is
ambitious 10 be returned to the Senate
for another term. To succeed in this,
he must not only be certain Of carrying
Colorado in 1888, but in the meantime
weaken and destroy the opposing
of rivals. That he Is actively
working for success in these regards,
cannot be doubted. The administra-
ton il not strengthened by this inter-
necine fight.
Secretary Chandler
"goes without saying" Ke is keen as
q briar, smart as whip, and the repre-
sentative of Mr.. Blaine's peculiar inter-
ests, OF which he has for years past been
the political expounder. He is presi-
dent, secretary, king, subject, baron, re-
tainer, combined. One cannot help
the "Woolsey" characteristic
of the naval secretary. He has the
President well in hand and the bit in
his mouth, go that he cannot run away.
When Henry ~. dies, long live Henry
w., and so on! The shipbuilding inter.
tSkS vi anu OlIlcI5 arc SiIc III
bands, aud he has keen eye to wind
ward for substance.
The death OF Postmaster General
Howe and the succession of Postmaster
General Gresham is likely to break up
the
Frank HaNton Syndicate,
which has heretofore "ruled the roost"
at the PostOfilce Department with a rod
Of iron. Frank is a clever fellow and
all that, but his ambition to control the
President las made him trouble and
operated greatly TO his injury. The
new Postmaster General, ifhis character
be judged by his antecedents, may pro-
pore To run that institution to suit him.
self in which cave Frank Hatton's
power must suffer eclipse.
Attorney General BreWster
is Brewster Attorney General" and
that sums it all up. A good lawyer Of
the old school, relic of departed age,
befrilled and eccentric ia all his habits
aud tastes, he contributes only to the
antique, like the broken china and tue
spindle legged furniture priced for their
ancient service. He IL not q politician
in any sense, and loves the good things
L.. 4. l. II