Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-30
ire .ons,, i. s,,o cabinet.

The Presideut-eIect Is receiving vast
amount Of free advice. lie has m'nn Oh
hrs own. and II not likely IN take more OF
this advice than l. good for bin or proba'
BILE TO the country Least OF ali II ', pro-
Liable that ie will defer TO the likes ana us
likes OF the men who opposed bim st the
roIls. Yet these are the very persons VINO
are expressing their views most ireciy on
the subject Of Mr.. Uieyelands caDinet aD'
polptments. They are extremely Solicit
ous that be shall not do much Tor the
south In that line. They want that part oi
ihc country still 10 remain In the BACK
Ground where II has been encctually Kept
for twenty years. They profess to fear that
Mr.. Cleveland Is on the point OF making
the south prepobderating fniluenc; IN MS
cabinet. Hence these dolorous warnings
and energetic protests. This Il clearly
case Of borro wing trouble. The editors
who are 50 anxious that the coming Presi-
dent shall make no mistake In this mater
are moi in the slightest degree responsive
for him or his policy. IL Is they VINO WIZ
expect 20 profit, In a partisan sense, Dy
hs errors OF judgment, II be commits
any. Why, then, should they distress
themselves thus early about the compost
tlon OF his tabineti They are not Mr..
ouaIdiars so far n discovered. lie Will
find n difficult enough 10 please politicians
az his own party, but impossible TO satisfy
those Of the opposition. They stnd reldy
70 condemn any selection he might make
from the South either for q place III his
Cabinet, or foreign mission, or any other
responsible post. Their objections are not
10 the men. but TO the south. IL II ques-
ton not Of southern domination during
the next four years, but OF the recognition
of any southern element whlteyer In the
executive branch OF the Government. Tbe
Prcsident-elect could obtain immunity
from criticism on this score only by the
iigid exclusion OF the whole South from
his patronage aud confidence, or by follow
ing the example Of Mr.. Garfield ana con
fning that recognition to single membet
II Mr. Cleveland could afford to do this
The country COLD not. The South has her
proportion OF able and upright men. ana
these should not be passed by In ch0sing
occIIpants for positions where ability ana
integrity are imperatiyely required. The
country needs the advice and aid OF the
South much more than she needs Offices III
the gift Of the President. For nearly
whole generation OF men she has SHOWN
that she can live without the substantial re-
cognitiOn and patronage OF Federal Ad-
mlnistra.ions. Who can say how many
blunders might not have been spared TO
us during that time IL the South had
been consulted more freely in our domestic
and foreign affairs. We are not so wise
that we can safely dispense with the assist
ance OF vast and populous section OF the
United States in the shaping OF our eXccu-
tive policy at homcand abroad. II any one
should propose to shut out the East or the
West from all part and LOT IN that business.
he ould be condemned by all good men
q. an unpatriOtc and reckless adviser.
But he would be no less censIlra5e than
the man who now demands that the South
shall not be summoned to assist Mr.. Cleye-
land in his arduOus work.
1t is time that the south should cease to
be the victim OF this senseleSs sectional AMI
mostly. Since the slavery question was
settled for all time there has been no real
ground Of difference between the South
and any other part Of the United States.
The East and Westarc much more separated
by conflicting opinions on public questions.
For actual sectional issues we must POW
look north Of Mason & DiXon'S line. Fu-
ture storms will not come from the South.
but from the West. II is not rash to pre-
diet that in any crisis that may hereafter
uIisc again testing the stability OF our in
stituiions, the South Will not he the Of
fender. but will join heartily in efforts TO
preserve the Union. At all events. there is
no longer excuse for distrnsting her now
aud d, priving the whole country OF any
sire myth which she might give to the next
Administration.