Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-30
The South in tie Cabinet.

EOm NeW IUTh JUuIuhl VI SOlu
The President-elect is receiving a vast
amount of free advice. He has mind OF
his OWL, aud is not likely to take more of
this advice than is good for him or profitable
to the country. Least of all is it probable
that be will defer to the likes and dislike5
of the men who opposed him at the polls.
Yet these are the very persons who sre ex-
pressing their views most freely OH the sub
ject Of Mr.. Clevelaud's Cabinet appoint
ments. They are extremely solicitous that
he shall not do much for the South in that
line. They want that part of the country
still to remain in the background where il
They profess to fear that Mr. Cleveland is
on the point of making the South prepon-
derating influence in his Cabinet. Hence
these doorons warnings and energetic pre-
tests. This is clearly case Of borrow
ing trouble. The editors who are So
anxious that the coming President shall
make no mistake in this matter are not
in the slightest degree responsible for him
or his policy. 1t is they who will expect TO
profit, in partisan sense, by his errors of
judgment if he commits any. Why then
should they distress themselves thus eoriy
about the composition of his Cabinet? They
are not Mr.. Clevelands personal friends,
and he has no guardians so far as discover
ed. He will find it difficult enough to please
politicians of his own party, But impossible
to satisfy those of the opposition They
stand ready TO condemn any selection be
might make from the South either for
place in his Cabinet or a foreign mission or
any other responsible post. Their objcc.
tons are not to the men, but to the South.
1t is q question not of Southern domination,
during the next four years, but of the re.
cOgnilion of any Southern element whatever
in the executive branch of the Government.
The President.elect could obtain immunity
from criticism on this score only by the
rigid exclusion of the whole South from his
patronage aud confidence; or by following
the example Of Mr.. Garfield and combining
that recognition to a single member
If Mr.. Cleveland could afford to do this
the country could not. The South has her
proportion Of able and upright men, and
these should not be passed by in choosing
occupants for positions where ability and
| integrity are imperatively required. The
country needs the advice and aid Of the
South much more than she needs Offices in
The gift OF the President. For nearly a
| whole generation of men she has shown
| that she can live without the substantial
| recognition and patronage Of federal admin
| istrations. Who can say how many blum
ders might not have been spared to Us dur
ing that time if the South had been con-
suited more freely in our domestic aud for
eign affairs We are not so wise that we
can safely dispense with the assistance OF q
vast and populous section Of the United
States in the shaping of our executive poll.
! cy at home and abroad. If any one
| should propose to shut out the East or the
| West from all part and lot in that bust
ness, he would be condemned by all
good men rs an unpatriotic and reckless
adviser But he would be no less censur-
able than the man who now demands that
the South shall not be summoned TO assist
| Mr.. Cleveland in his arduous work.
1t is time that the South should CEASE to
he the victim of this sensaleSs sectional ami
mostly. Since the slavery question was
settled for all time there has been no real
ground of difference between the Sou, and
any other part of the United States. The
| East and West are much more separated
by ontlcting opinions on public questions.
| For actual sectional issues we must now
look north of Mason and Dixcn's line. Flu
ture storms will not come from the South
| but from the West. 1t is not rash TO pre-
diet that in any crisis that may hereafter
arise, again testing the stability OF our III
sttutions, the South will not be the otlan
der, but will join heartily in efforts TO pre-
serve the Union At all events, there is 40
longer excuse for distrustng her now and
depriving the whole country Of any strength
which she might give to the next admins
tration.