The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-11-11
A POLITICAL CEMETERY.
now THE CABINET. DLtGiIT5 \ PUBLIC
MANS CAREER


The Old Stepping -EtonC TO tho l'rcsidrncy
Turned to n Sure Road 90 Oblivion Examples
Of IT'S BlightlnS Effects.
(Lctter to the New York SUM
WAsuINGToN, November 2.-from the
time Of John Adams until the admins
tration of Andrew jackson, the Cabinet
was the stepping-stone to the Preslden-
cy. Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and
John Quincy Adams had been Sccreta-
ries of State. Van Buron, though Ec
had the portfolio of the State depart
ment during Jackson's first term, stopped
from the Vico-Prcsidcnt's chain in tho
Senate chamber to the head Of the talslc
in the White House. With u single On
ception Of buchanan, no man since Van
Brcn's time has been elected to the
Presidency who had previously served
in Cabinet, though General Grant had
been i'll charge of the War Department
temporarily during Johnson's admins
tration. 4 number Of very able men
who had served as Cabinet officers were
nominated for the Presidency. Clay,
Crawford, Webster, Cass and Blaine
were of this number, and were all de-
tcatcd. Indeed, for very many years it
has seemed as much OF barrier i'll the
way to the White House to have been Il
Cabinet member rs to have served in the
Senate. No man has over been chosen
President from among the Senators, al 4
IN N q I,nC, nIth thn,
been nominated or elected who had at
any previous time in his career served in
tho Senate. More and moro the tendon
cy seems to be toward getting Us nca
the people as possible i'll choosing can.
dldatcS for the executive Office. The
history of the career OF Cabinet officers
Tor the last half century sCCnls to indi-
cate not only that the Office is almost
fatal to any higher aspirations, but,
most remarkably, has eliminated the
political careers Of nearly all those who
have acted Rs advisers for the President
If the record of those who have been
Cabinet officers shows anything, it indi-
Gates that q scat in the Cabinet is the
climax of the public life OF those who
hold it. Not always, but in nearly all
cases, this can be shown to be true.
The historian, George BuncoGt, is the
only living representative OF an admin
istration prior to 1850. Bancroft was nn
original member Of President Polll's
Cabinet, taking the Office nearly forty
years ago. 1t was the climax Of Ban
crotts political career, although lie
afterwards represented the government
at one Of the European Courts, an honor
which he was induced to accept mainly
because of the opportunity it afforded
for historical research. With an cxccp-
ton of one or two OF the members OF
Mr.. Buchanan's Cabinet, who cspouscd
the Confederate side, there are none
Cabinet only one is left with us. This is
8Sth year, retains his keenncsY. Of intel
lcct and his accurate power Of Judging
men and events. General Cameron
served i'll the Senate, it is true, for two
terms after he retired from lincoln's
Cabinet, but had boon Il Senator four
teen years before he entered. He had
been possible candidate for The Prcsi-
dcncy in 1860.
Who can tell to. day who composed
Andy Johnson's Cabinet? Eyarts to be
sure, held the Office of Attorney
for short time, and Evarts has since
served as Secretary of State under
Hayes, and doubtless regards concat-
cnation of events us possible in the
future which will permit him to deliver
an inaugural on the cast steps of the
capitol two and half years hence. But
where arc the others? NIcCullouph has
been temporary Secretary. Of the Ireas,
ry again, but only to fill an cmcrrcncv
that occurred during Arthur's admins
tration.
OF General Grants first Cabirtst
Washburn, who has since dreamed Of
being President, cultivatcs a life of
elegant leisure in Illinois. Hamilton
Fish is living in rctircmentin in New York.
George Boutwell, is practicing petty law
before the Court Of Claims and in the
Treasury Department, over which he
used to preside. Ebcnczcr II. Hoar is
practicing law in Boston. His career in
the Cabinet was such that the Senate
would not confirm his nomination for
Chief Justice Of the Supreme bench,
Secor Robson is a political bankrupt
and petty lawyer in Camden. Colum-
bus Dclano is q farmer i'll Ohio, Bristow
a lawyer in Now York, and the only one
of them all who has now place of con-
sequence and honor is Don Cameron,
now u United States Senator, who for a
low lllOllbllo WIS N'CllCIul NIIIllI ) IOCcTC-
tary of War. Belknap was dismissed in
disgrace.
What shall be said of Haycs's bogus
Cabinet? With the exception Of Evarts
and Sherman, every one Of them has
lapsed into obsclnity. Even Carl
Shurz's whereabouts arc unknown. Nc
Creery is Justice in one Of the Western
United States districts. Dcvcns is a
State Judge in Massachusetts. Key is Il
United States Judge i'll one OF the South
ern districts. Schurz fizzlcd as news
paper editor, tiatted as mugwump and
lecturer, and is believed to be earning
an h9mblc living in some railway com
Papys employ. Thompson is believed
70 DO earning living as counsel for
Messcps; little Con, who succeeded
Thompson, is a member Of tho IowcT
house, and very inconspicuoug one,
Of Garield's Cabinet, Mr., BIo;nc of
course, has possible future: bnt 2oor ~
old Kirkwood is forgotten, excent tT b1 PIGa %it
neighboring, farmers in Iowa, and {hnr ,rr
are going to send him back to Conorns:9 Com ro9
Wayne McVeagh is practicjng law 0i1, -,
D,iIo1o1,,I,io. ItnYo,.,I T.. ~" III