Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-12-11
Totals
Boston Advertiser (Ind. } ]
Cabinet Complications.

The discussion that is now going on in the
journals that supported Governor Cleveland,
~ to the policy that should govern the form
alton of his Cabinet, is but another sign of
the new ''irrepressible" ''confict' within and
about the democratic party, of which we re-
Gently spoke. The independent press raises
the cry Of "bourbons TO the rear" and ex-
plains its meaning to be that the men and the
influences which have dominated the demo-
cratic party in the past mu.t not be permitted
to shape the policy of the incoming admins
tration, if il hopes to gain and hold the con-
fidence of the country and to retain the
sympathy of the voters who made Cleveland's
nomination and election possible. II is urged
that the only method of converting tentative
trust" into an extended grant of power, is to
make the new departure permanent and pro-
1ressive, and that in order to do this
the new President must surround him
self with advisers and assistants who are in
harmony with his ideas of administration.
The difference between ''old-fashioned"
democrats, such a. Mr.. Hendricks
prOclaims himself to be, and the
new school of democrats, of which
Governor Cleveland is an example, is illus
trated and emphasized by comparison ofthe
Brooklyn speech of the Vice President elect,
in which he proposed that the civil service
be reformed by having the offices filled with
good democrats, on the Jscksonian prin-
ciple,--or IA another "old-fsshioned' demo-
crat, Mr. Thurman, put it, by taking the
boys in out of the cold and warming their
toes with the utterances of Governor
Cleveland in favor of the reform principle
and system And the conclusion is drawn
that as an administration divided against
itself cannot stand, the logic of the situation,
III. 4 a. ~. .lA
his own administration, will lead the Presi-
dent to select his Cabinet chiefly from among
the democrats who represent the newer
impulses and more progressive elements of
the party.
To this the old war horses" have as yet
made little reply. but from certain significant
indications il is evident that they smell the
battle sfsr off. and are getting ready for the
conflict. Who is to take the bourbons to
the rear, il is asked; or are they expected
voluntarily to retire to that position, cheer
fully. from an inward recognition of the fit
ness of things ? Any such anticipation must
rest upon gross ignorance of the nature of
the bourbon animal. Among the things
which he has neither learned nor forgotten in
politics, is how TO decline an office, or to
sacrifice himself for the good of his party.
1t the ''old fashioned" democrats were invited
to select the representation IN the admlnlstra-
ton which they think belongs TO them, they
would leave Mr.. Cleveland nothing but his
own chair, and accompany that reservation
with the intimation that a stool should be
provided for the Vice President close behind
II.
What will be the outcome of this phase OF
the new irrepressible conflict. it is of course
impossible TO tell. From what knowledge
the public has of the character of the new
President, and especially of his disposition to
be his own master, il seems most reasonable
to suppose that he will form Cabinet to suit
himself,--not in a merely personal way, but
to adapt the machinery of his administration
to the accomplishment of the purposes which
he believes the people had in view in his cleo
! tion. II he shall do this, he will be pretty
! certain of the support of the country, and
disappointed partissns will have nothing &c
do except to fall in with the procession or be
| lef( in the rear.