Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-29
ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND

to Destroy a Good and Great Man
On March 1, 1885, the Democrats tor
the fret time since 1861 found themselves
IN possession of the executive branch OF
the Government.
In insugurstiug the rev regime 1t nat
urally occurred that there existed among
the yictoSs an ardent desire to have the
advisers Of the President-eiect chosen from
the recognized leaders OF the party. So
s,roDg and universal This desire IS 10 fol-
mulale itself into party sentiment, which,
10 have ignored, would have been wretch
ed pohcy-damaging to the Democratic
usrly aud fatal to the popularity OF the
Administration.
Mr.. Cleveland had the discerrmsnt to
appreciate and the wisdom to CRAFTY this
sentiment Of his parry. it was well that
he did so. History sbounds 10 examples
Of ill.tstea Eulers who either learned the
Lesson OF graceful mphance with the pop
Mar will 100 late, or never learned It az all.
II may we'll De coDjectured that ct an
other time and underdlEereGtc circumstances
Mr.. Cleveland, with his strong personahty
and mssterful inchuetions, would have pre-
Eerrei 8 Cabinet composed entirely OF men
iAe Endicotr and Mauning-aOle and COM
petent. bat without National replte, aud,
therefore, not likely TO be regarded ss con-
shutting q power benlnd the tsrone' great
ar than the throne itself. But ss ibiogs
we're for the reason indicated, the PfesI-
dent selected q majority OF his chlet adVlS-
RS from the more prominent leaders OF the
uarty, With an eye we may Vel! believe TO
individual Btnsas rather than sectional TO-
c. irY ,.
,iors conss,v. .;Vs, painstsking snd ex
perienced B4ysrd, wa n4a oSTH que 80. y.
his great rivals before the NOM >''"S ~
yention. The portfolio Of State COntu
have been confd. d TO safer hands. Through
his veins flowed the blooi Of several gen
erstious of statesmen identified with the
best pages OF Americas parliamentary
history.
For Secretary of Interior, the choice
naturally fell upon Lamar, the brilliant
Missi.sipp,an, whose pure aud lofty spirit,
by being the foremost in the South 10 grasp
tue legitimate results of the war, had Deen
able 10 command the admiration of the
whole country without losing the conf
Gence OF his own section.
Fox Attorney General, the voice OF the
paopls had anticipated the Presidents
c1oice. Under Republican adu Illustration,
rnis great law ofics OF the government had
5een prostituted notably at one time, by
imbeciEity. and at another yinCom potency.
Hence, of the new administration, WITH lts
uledges Of reform, it was demanded that
here should be put at the head of this de-
partment a chief worthy Of the place. No
new, unhsdged doubtful adventurer; no
tricky manipulation OF party wires, out a
statesman Of acquired influence who should
also be a lawyer of comprehensive learn
ing and a man of unidentified lite.
In the press Of the country, as we'll he
nublcsn as Democratic, there was In It's
recommendation at the time remarkable
unaiumity. Months prior to the insuEura'
,inn, the leading journals, while differing
widely among themselves as to the prooa-
ole makeup Of the Cabinet as who'll,
.rikiuVly agreed as to the one man whom
he President ought to and would likely
appoint as his Attorney General.
We are justified then, il saying that the
anpointment OF Mr.. Garland, the Senator
ftom Arkansas, if not a foregous conclu'
,i5p was at least hearty response on the
mart of Executive to the voice at the peo-
pie; that voice, ever potent 10 the govern
mental affairs of republics, and sometimes
stern aud implacsble in its demands upon
kings.
Libel and Islander had ibeen weapons OF
partisan warfare % es-ly as the days Of
President George Washington, causing even
he Father of his Country, as We no"
know. many q bitter psug. And 1t was
.ot 70 be expected that Mr. Cleveland o:
Mis- Cabinet would escape unmsriteo
muse aud vituperstion. Bat II did seem
10 be within the bounds OF reason 10 hope
hat those journals, which, claiming tc
yoice the sentiment OF the people, had sue
csssfully appealed to Ne. Garland pair
otism. inducing him to surrender his high
and cougenisl place in the national Sen
ATE where he had been for years aud st'i
vas a recognized leader 10 accept the mor'
Isborious but less exalted position OF At
,orney General; that such journals. q
Least. would be slow to commence or Joil
IN a vicious attack upon his personal suC
oeSc;al honor. 1t is probable had Their
hsen AT work no more powerful intneuc
han the natural inclination to ind TAU
With men in po#er, that sdch journals q
the New York World and New York Tn
bnns With their satellites would have bee
slov to single out Mr.. Garland as the sp'
cial object Of attack.
But a great. greedy, gormandlzing nj
nopoly scented danger. Ihe Bell le'
nSope Company, with its millions OF none
wrunr from the people BY extoriou, drss
"A 10 have its patent, acquired, as man
|, believe, through Atro,ious fraud, soJuq,ca
al BY tbs courts of the country: hiT
compsn ea, severslly claiming priority
Invention, had properly appealed for reii
10 the Law Department of the governmeG
To meet this the poles ives adopted
he Bsll monopoly to harssS the chief
, ,bst department. to enveloP his chsraet
: in clouds of suspicion, and, If possiol
hound him out Of Office,
The means seemed to be at hand, TOR