Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-15
JUDGE FrELD on CLEVELAND,
He IL Friendly TO the President and
Hopes Well Of His Administration.

preme Corut arrived in this city yester
day from Washington. After CONVEX
sation on various matters, the reporter
asked the Judge what he thought of the
administration Of President Cleveland.
1.-THE President" replied the Judge,
s'would not probably wish to have his ad
ministration judged by policies as yet un
announced. The fact Is, beyond the gen
eralities to which an inaugural address
must naturally be confined, the labors o.
the President, from the day Of his iuaugu
ration until the delivery OF his first mes
sage TO Congress, consist almost entirely
OF hearing and passing upon the claims
and recommendation OF applicants toI
office. To Judge OF an administration by
what occurs during this period OF It's life
would be like judging OF the qualities OF
General by listening to the orders ne
gives for regulating the conduct OF ms
staff and his servants. When Congress
meets IN December, and the President
sends in his first message, we shall then
be better able to form some opinion of the
probable course Of his administration.
We should not estimate him by the work
which he is now compelled to do. The
country cares but little which one OF "A
dozen rivals succeeds in the efforts to Sc
cure an office so long as the choice allgnls
upon an honest and capable man and OF
right political principles. Ii requires
steady and TesOlute man to beat OF the I'M
worthy who are known to be such, and
only Omniscience itself could always AVOID
being misled."
"Has the President consulted with you
as to appointments in this StateY
Il have had two conversations with
him on the subject. At these | confined
myself almost entirely to general state
ment Of the situation in California, and
10 a description of the kind on men |
thought ought to be intrusted with Office
and the kind l thought should be eX-
eluded.D
II see it stated in some papers that
you made objections to the Attorney
General against the appointment OF Zach,
Montgomery, and particularly Oh the
ground that he was a Catholic"
II made no objection on that ground 10
the Attorney General, nor on any other
ground whatever. OF all things in the
world the last that would occur to me in
considering mans fitness tor once
would be his peculiar views upon religion.
NV own opinion IS that Christianity Is a
life TO lead and not dogma for the intel
lect to solve, and that Of a mans religion
no one should Judge but his Maker.
While ! made no objections 10 the Attor-
ney General, l am very tree to say to you
that | think the appointment Of Mr..
Montgomery was mistake, for 1t cannot
fail to excite a good deal Of unpleasant
feeling on the part OF friends OF popular
education. The voice that assails our
common school system touches the most
formidable passion in this country next
TO patriotism itself. The denunciation by
M,r,a rrr.v, Of ha. I'm
as nurseries OF immortality are likely 10
provoke irritating discussion. there
fore regret that the appointment was
made, but the Attorney General himself
will bear witness that l in no man
ner attempted confluence him In the mat
ter"
What can I say of your opinion of the
President, so far as you axe able now TO
estimate limp
lone thing about him has impressed
me, as it impTesses every one upon even
slight interview, that he is a good and
pure man, and DESTROYS TO use his APP
pointing power for the betterment of the
public service. Indeed, his anxiety is TO
appoint in all cases upright and able men
-men who will regard office, not as a
means OF public piunder, but as trust
to be exercised for the public good. He
has in some cases undoubtedly been i'm
posed upon and may be again. 1t would
be a miracle if this did not sometimes
happen. As he has corrected some Of
these mistakes when discovered, IL is fair
70 presume that he will in good time cor
rect all. l repeat that it is not a matter
10 he greatly disturbed about as to who
collects the revenue, who serves judicial
process, or makes the public surveys, so
long as they are good and capable men Of
right principles, The mere exercise OF the
appointing power, important as ii is, and
requiring. as it does, penetration aud
frmness, does not determine the chaTac-
ter of the administration. When the
President has got free from the pressure
of ONCE seekers, we may expect that he
Will give attention to measures Of public
importance.
''There are subjects upon which the
country feels much more strongly than il
does with respect to appointments to Of
ice. There Is the reorganization Of the
judiciary, so as TO obYiate the delays
which now impede the administration of
justice; there is the reconstruction of the
navy, 80 that We may be ready at all times
70 maintain our traditional opposition to
the intrusion Of foreign governments into
the affairs Of this hemisphere; there is the
deYising Of system whereby capital may
be induced TO invest in the great carrying
trade Of nations; there is the adoption of
measures 10 rescue the Southwest from
the oit-recurring ecOurge Of floods; there
IS the opening Of intercourse between the
oceans; there IS the revision Of the tariff
and like measures upon which we may
expect the policy OF the administration
will be disclosed at the opening of next
Congress. We have everything 10 expect
from the character Of the President and
OF the men whom he has called around
him as advisers, that such policy will be
pursued on those matters as will meet
the just expectations Of good men in tn e
country. We shall then be enabled 10 see
what progress the four years OF his term
viii promise. The sooner we all realize
that this nation has other business
than the designation Of a few clerks the
better. Our destiny does not depend upon
the disposition OF the lOayes and fishes,
whether made under the superintendent
Of the politicians or Of the sO-called re.
formers"
"Do you think that Mr.. Cleveland Will
be candidate for re-eleeti0nw
THAT is a matter upon which no one
can Judge At present. This, however, il
true, that If his administration Is "A great
success, he will be nominated and re
elected. IL his administration is
failure, no Democrat will be his sue
cessOr."
FERRAN's "sECRET,EXPLOI
10 is Using His Discovery TO HarYes