Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-08
Social Requirements. of Public Life.

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New York Sun.
II is part Of the current cabinet Cos.
sip OF the day that Senator Bayard would
really prefer the post Of Secretary Of
state to any other in Mr.. ClevslAnd's
cabinet, but fears that his moderate
means would not permit him to meet
what are called the social requirements
Of the place.
We cannot but believe that this story
does the Delaware senator injustice. II
he is . true Democrat, as we have always
maintained, he Ia AveTss TO pomp and dis
play In the conduct OF the peoples bust
ness, and incapable Of lending oounte
nance to the absurd notion that there is
any office under our government wi ich Ia
reserved for the rich and closed to poor
men. II, as ia assumed by the rumor-
mongers, MIR. Bayard is q man OF Tut
moderate means, then he has an addi.
ticnal qualification for what Ia regarded
as the chief place In the cabinet, since
no could set 4 much needed example
by accepting the office, diseharg-
ing its public duties faithfully, and
meanwhile living simply and modestly
within his means as becomes a public
servant Of the plain people, who oonsti-
sute the majori'y Of the republic. This
might possibly require some moral
courage, but we believe that Mr. Bayard
possesses that quality and therefore II
he does not become Secretary Of State, it
will either be because the place has mot
been offered to him, or because he feels
that he can he more useful to the country
In some other capacity.
This talk about the social requirements
OF the office Of Secretary Of State ia silly.
The constitution does not mention the
office, soft cannot impose any such obli-
cations. The act Of Congress- creating
the department describes the duties OF
the Incumbent at considerable length,
but 1t contains no reference to his way Of
living, and imposes no obligation to
entertain, either simply or sumptuously.
L. 10 true that among other undamoorstio
ideas that have grown up In Washington
during an era OF loose administration and
extravAgsnt expenditure, 10 one that It ia
the duty OF the Secretary OF State TO give
social entertainments at which the elite
Of American society are brought into con
tact with the noblemen ard gentlemen
Of the foreign legations. II ia likewise
true that pecuniary ability 10 give such
entertainments has probably had nc
small Influence in determining the ohoio,
Of more than one President As 10 Tn,
chief member OF bis cabinet. But Their,
is nothing In the law nor in sound pub
lilo opinion requiring an officer OF thil
government to reproduce any Of the ont
ward symbols which In some countries
mark the barrier that divides the govern
ing few from the governed many. 8,
far "a this display is reorgpiz ID as a dutI
Of the Secretary Of State, It is a duty i'm
posed by custom within oomparativ.l,
recent times and 1t Is the outRrowth Q
= state Of public opinion which 1t Ia o
desirable to perpe,uAte.
All this should now lie charged. TIL
popular voice has JUST condemned tn
party which has created and perpetuats
these customs. Il has called . man q
the people to the Presidency. 1t ha
given power TO that political organization
wIioh claims TO be the party Of Jefferson
and Jackson. Both Of these celebrate,
stAtesmen made short work Of the iua
and feathers Of preceding administrA
lions, and quite shocked the politics
dudes Of their day by the homel,
Republican simplicity they established Il
the conduct Of public business and In III
relations between the people aud thei
public servants. Grover Cleveland can
not do better than follow their example
and impress 1t on those he calls to sssis
him in the work Of government. Yer,
likely what is now known as Washing
ton society may denounce him as BOOB
but what Of thatH The plain people will
not be offended, and luckily these ar
always the majority.
When Washington society held MP II
hands in horror at the spectacle q
Thomas Jefferson wearing trousers ipsteA
Of knee brooches on state occasion, an
receiving all corners, the people lauVhe
and pressed In to shake his hand an
finally they elected him again. The,
showed similar vulgar disregard Of til
protests OF society in their treatment c
rough old Andrew Jackson, and there /
nothing to prove that they have change
their taste or their sentiments since. Il
tue that the majority may not appes
entirely nice In the eyes Of those WHOM
Matthew Arnold calls "the rempaut 4
but experience shows that their supper
ia OF great value to an administration.