Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-12-12
MR.. CLEVELA NUS BINET'


There has been and continues 10 be much
speculation upon the part of the leading
press of the country as regards the forma.
ton Of Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet, which APP
pears rather to amuse than disturb this dis.
tinguished parsonage
The reason for the fact noted doubtless is
that il is the custom of the newspapers to
interest themselves about whatever concerns
the public, and that while the President.
elect is absorbed in closing up his duties as
Governor of New York, and receiving the
numerous calls that are made upon him, the
newspapers, which have time for everything
OF importance, are doing their best 10 ascer-
tain and reflect the wishes of the people as
TO the composition Of the new government.
The press is even more ready than the
politicians, for 4 has only general interest
in the matter, while many OF them have per.
sonai interests to serve, to acknowledge the
right Of the President to select his cabinet.
But 1t assumes that, in making his selection,
the President will wish TO conform, as far as
possible, to the best public opinion that sus-
tained his election, and If an honest and In.
telligent press he not the best exponent of
public opinion under popular government,
the medium which excels it is not known
TO us. As a matter of fact, the press, both
10 this country and ia England, has come
to be more nearly and truly representative
OF their interest than is any single branch of
the government. Let vacancy occur in
Mr. Gladstones cabinet tomorrow which.
for any reason, cannot be filed for fert.
night, and the Liberal papers will not wait
in decorCus and curious silence to see how
Mr.. Gladstone proposes to fill it, The needs
OF the country, the interests of the psrty and
the policy of the government will be dis
cussed with such information and force that
the choice will be virtually narrowed to one
ortwo men before the prime minister, whose
right it is, shall make it.
AT any period, TO aid in forming the pub
lie judgment and in moulding the public
sentiment OF great and free people is a
high duty, iraught with great responsible.
ties. But how immeasureably that respon.
sibility is augmented at this juncture in our
national progress, when, fresh from the ter
rihle scenes Of one Of the most gigantic strug.
giles of ancent or modern times, we come to
slcngthen tue foundations of the Republic
on ihr enduring basis of pubic and indi.
Vidnal prosperity, of strickland impartial jus
lice--mith universal political equality among
all classes-recognizing rights that belong TO
all, and ignoring privileges as belonging to
to none, justly approaching to their full ex
tent the limited powers belonging to our
State governments for the administration of
local affairs, but at'the same time recogniz.
ing, IN its broadcast extent, that still higher
authority which in our political system has
removed all distinctions of caste or color.
and made homogeneous, under one great fed
eratlve system, all who recognize the SD.
preme authority, in the Federal constitu.
ton, OF the sovereign people who constitute
the power and government of the Republic
of the United States.
While the daily press announces 10 us
that the Kings and Emperors of Europe are |
continually assembling in the ancient CAPT.
tails To strengthen and consolidate their alb |
solnte power, and TO still further crystallize
thelr peculiar forms of government, the |
American press is also. every morning, adj.
yising us of the steady progress of our govern
ment, suggesting what changes are desirable
with every administration and the men best
calculated 70 promote the same.
Whether or not the Grecian and Roman
Republics contained within themselves the
elements OF their own dissolution or whether
they fell from their inability to resist the pres
sure Of surrounding and barbarous States,
certain II is that in the absence of an agency
like the press TO arouse and stimulate the
head and the common mind of the nation
for the preservation Of the public liberties
these republics We're gradually subyerted
until they crumbled into pieces, and their
prospects were forever blasted by A sern
military despotism.
II was Richard Brnsey Sheridan, the &C.
orator and statesman, who made
That sublime and pliilosophic declaration,
You may have a corrupt House of Lords
and venal House of Commons, but with
'Fee and untrammeled press will preserve /