New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-21
PROMOTION DOWN STAIRS

PROMOTION DOWN STAIRS
Mr.. Bayad for the Treasury would have
lcen selection most favorably received at
The outset Everybody acquainic with public
Affairs Observed with surprise, when Mr. Glove
land announced his Cabinet. that he had put
The round men into the square hoes. II was
observed that Mr. Bayard had known nothing
about foreign affairs. but had been chairman
of the Senate Finance Committee. and was
identified in public opinion with definlle finan-
cai IDEAS which conservative interests APP
proved Then Mr. Lamar, philosophical and
dreamy not to say lazy, was exactly the man
not to put into the department having the
most drudgcIv to perform. II MIR. MannIngs
retirement makes a reconstruction OF the CaU-
met necessary. it is natural that the President
should think Of Mr. BayaId for the Treasury,
lccariSc 81 many people have publicly said that
he ought TO have been put there at inst, and
VIZ. Lamar would have TO misnanage the state
Department very badly ndccl to escape gain
lng some re- utation, coming If or Mr. BNaId
Then il would please the DcmCcra OF lndl-
ana. and possibly give them really needed
hep, to have McDonald IN the Cabinet, albeit
his qualities for the Interior Department arc
not more consp cuodsly fitting than Mr. La
mars.
But these spcculaiions, however natural in
many respects fail to take into account Mr.
Bayard's preferences How wOull he like 10
tc Lifted Downstairs TO he promoted from The
pa, Tor TO he XII chen To the world. the State
lie ar'ment is he mos. important pos ton in
The Cab net NJ Ba' d h; S ntcrcd u or su h
negotiations, and taken such positions on diff
hot lie fran for N no
rartmcnl could no; fail to he regarded as Il
ycgdc' of uniitreSs if not of censure. Then
the Treasury Department has not the atrac
tiOn for him now that it would have had at
first lis policy has teen sha ed, and another
man has got the credit of it, Mr. Bayard could
gam no credit by following Out the policy de-
fined by Mr. Manning and Mr.. Jordan, and vet
neither his own convictions nor his Official
superior would permit The adoption of rad
cally different policy. The officials of the de-
par,mcnt have been selected and another man
has intrenchel his friends in its strong p aces
OF influence To take a department filed
throughout with the trusted friends of another
political leader would not be pleasant, and yet
it is probable that a sweeping change of
sistants and subOrdinaies would not lie per-
rlitted
Mr. Lamar would be in somewhat the Same
pred cament except that his promotion from
kitchen to pallor would not imply ccnsurc or
a verdict Of failure. He has made botch Of
his department, or rather has suffered sub
ordnaeS and bureau officials to bOtch things,
it is true, but official promotion would make
matters pleasant for HIM, and the duties of thc
State Department would he to him far more
cOngcn al than those he has undertaken. Yet
Mr.. Lamar wonld go into department which
has been filled 10y Mr. Bayald with his per-
sonal friends, and great many of the selec-
lions, 1t is safe to say, arc such rs Mr. Lamar
would not have preferred for himself. He has
more political sense in day than Mr. Bayard
in month, and it would seem to HIM gorgeous
folly TO send broken-down hacks of the scccs-
sion variety to represent the country abroad
Yet general change could not now he made
nor would Mr. Lamar have a chance to pick
even his nearest official associates and most inn
portant subordinates. Besides, if the State De
partmcnt can he said to have a policy, tina,
policy has been adopted with the Presidents
approval, and Mr.. Lamar might not he free to
change it. But 10 suppose that he would not |
wish it changed in some respects is to suppose |
that he has no more political sense than Mr. |
Bayard
The President made a great mistake when |
he took Nh Bayard and Mr. Lamar out of the |
Senate, where they were serving their party |
with credit. Able as Mr.. Manning has been,
and worthily as he has performed such Of his |
duties as concerned the fiscal conduct Of the |
Treasury. his selection was not wise one for |
the President. II tod refoImers that the |
methods of party manipulation were to rule |
in the most important department., and the |
subsequent selection of Higgins as appointment |
clerk gave surprise. Having blundered at |
the outset, the President would only blunder |
again If he should put a man of MIR. Bayards |
proved incapacity at the head of the Treasury |
Department. 1t would not he forgotten, IN |
that event, that his appointment as Secretary |
OF the Treasury nj first demanded with |
great persisiency by British bankers and their
representatives here, and the scandal of a Sc
lection under such influence would not be the |
less because the President had once refused |
to make it. Certainly it would be wise thing
for President Cleveland to find for at least
three Of the Cabinet places new and capable
men, who have not been involved in the dis
oredliable performances Of the last year, and
who could represent Democratic opinions with
yigor and intelligence.