Los Angeles daily herald., 1884-11-23

A VERY lively controversy is going
on Just now between the New York
Herald and World M TO whether Pres
ident Cleveland should or should not
appoint a member OF the Cabinet from
the Independent Republicans, who
are supposed 10 have contributed
largely to his election. The World IL
Of opinion that the new President
ought TO surround himself with ex-
clusively Democratic advisers In the
course Of Its argument il dwelt upon
the fact that the disafIeeted Republi-
cans desired TO defeat Blaine, and
that in that achievement there was
ample compensation for their efforts.
This is unqnesiionably just present
ment Of the matter. Allowing them
the most patriotic Indictment for their
hostility to the Plumcd Knight, the
mere qualification involved in their
success in beating him ought TO be
sufficient reward. The Herald, how
ever, says:
The Independent Republicans have
not asked and probably will not ask
Mr.. Cleveland for Office. But in our
judgment the Presfdent-elect will
make very serious mistake II he does
not urge, and, 40 far rs he can, com
pei them 10 take share, and an inn
portant share, in his councils. II was
not the Democratic party which elected
him II was by the united efforts of
honest Democrats and honest Repub-
licans and against very great Demo-
cratic detection that he was chosen,
and he cannot hope TO carry out the
important reforms TO which he stands
pledged without the continued conf
denee and jealous assistance OF the
men OF both the old parties who chose
him.
We regard this view of the matter
rs strained and fanciful. What rea-
sonable man would have the slightest
distrust Of President Cleveland sur
rounded by the recognized chiefs Of
his party? Most Democrats hope to
zee the new President initiate the ex-
ample Of Lincoln, who took his
cabinet from amongst those who had
been his leading competitors for the
Presidential nomination. With a
cabinet made up in large part of those
who were balloted for in the Chicago
Convention, Mr.. Cleveland would in
spire the country at large with gcnu-
inc confidence. Nine Americans out
OF ten hope to see the noble and COM
manding figures Of Bayard, Thurman,
Randall and Mcdonald seated around
the council board Of the new Demo-
cratic President. There are several
familiar and admirable names from
the South that would add to the feel
ing of hope and security that such a
cabinet would excite in the country.
There is one aspect OF the matter
which the New York Herald fails to
recognize, and that is that the Amer
lean people are very distrustful Of
anything that looks like a political
bargain. Henry Clay was instru-
mental in the election of John Quincy
Adams, and the mere suspicion Of q
bargain in that instance killed both
Adams and Clay. Coalition minis
tries and cabinets are rarely success
full. In fact they never are, either in
Europe or America. The country
does not look for any bigoted parti-
zanship from President Cleveland,
but 1t will expect him to give the peo-
pie patriotic administration, sound
ly Democratic to the core. While we
are in no sense ungrateful to the In
dependent Republicans who helped
to give the vote OF the State of New
York to Cleveland and Hendricks,
we yet believe that they look for their
reward in a higher form than office.