The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-27
MONDAYS APPOINTMENTS.

In the nominations sent to the senate
last Monday, Mr.. Cleveland preserved
that element Of the unexpected and sur>
prising which he seems always to take
pleasure in.
Mr.. Phelps, who without any previous
public notice, was nominated as minister
to England, is LAWYER of much reputa-
ton in Vermont, where he lives, but is
not much known outside. Though he
has sometimes appeared in New York in
law cases, there are few there who know
him. He is law professor in Yale col>
lege, where he shares the prevailing SEN
timent in favor of free trade, and, as we
learn from the New York E1eajHg Post,
is very popular with the students. He is
counsel for the Panama Railroad COM
pany, to which place he was appointed
by the late Trenor w. Park He is very
much of a theorist, dogmatic, positive,
impatient of contradiction, peculiarites
that are rather heightened by a neuralgia
temperament and a delicate physical
constitution. He was the democratic can
didate for governor of Vermont in 1880.
and was beaten Of course. He has never
served in congress, is unknown in demos
cratic national conventions, and nobody
ever dreamed that he would receive the
most desirable diplomatic post that is at
the disposal of the president In fact, Mr.
Phelps himself did not expect such
thing until Mr., Bayard telegraphed for
him, four or. five days ago. No political
reason whatever is apparent for giving
such an Office to citizen of Vermont, &
state hopelessly republican; and yet it
cannot be said that Mr.. Pine lps is I'M
equal to the public duties to which he is
assigned. At the same time it is certain
that he cannot perform those social, posts
prandial and semi>literary duties in
which Mr.. Lowell has made himself the
most popular man in England; and it is
equally certain that the new minister
will never come back, as Mr.. Buchanan
did in 1856, to carry off the democratic
nomination to the presidency and be
elected by the people afterward. In this
sense it is prudent appointment
Mr.. McLane, Of Maryland, whom Mr..
(Nav-aIonA E.
France, is a gentleman of eminent talent
and cultivation, accomplished, intellcctu>
al, wealthy and popular. His services
to the democratic party have been con-
spicuous, and nothing can be said against
his being minister to France He will
give quite as fine dinners there as Mr..
Morton, whom he succeeds.
Mr. jackson of Georgia, who is nom
mated for minister to Mexico, served as
minister in Austria under President Pierce
and was confederate brigadier general
in the civil war. The Office to which he
is now allotted is quite important, and be
succeeds man of extraordinary ability,
wisdom, and influence in the person of
Mr.. Philip H. Morgan, of Louisiana, who
has been minister in Mexico during the
last five years
The appointment of Mr.. Pendleton, OF
Ohio, as minister to Germany, is not the
least sensational in this list of SURPRISES
The public mind had supposed that Mr.
Pendleton would have one of the two
great missions, and be sent either to
England or France He is o gentleman
of great experience and influence, and i
may be that in sending him to Germany
President Cleveland has felt the necessity
of having there representative of un,
usual strength. The Bancroft treat,
needs to be revised, and if Mr.. Pendletor
shall succeed in obtaining such a revision
of it as this country requires, he viii per
form a great service and more than just
~fy his astonishing appointment to th
second class post.