New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-26
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
Mr.. FULLERs APPOINTMENT.
MsDrIEcTED' EFFORT OF oSE-MAN POWER ANS
sToLID sELF-sUFTICrENcY.
70 the Edftor Of rae Tribune.

sToLID sELF-sUFFICIENCY.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The domination of the President for Chief JUS
.ce tends to confirm the opinion lately expressed by
Senator ingalls, Of the ignorance and Incompetence Oh
our Chief Magistrate efficiently to discharge his I'M
portant duties Called upon to I'll the most impor
tant Office in the United States, and having judiciary
and bar of thirty-eght States and eight Territories
together with the United States Supreme Court from
which to mako his selection, he has nominated man
for the position who never known outside oil the
State where he pracses his profession and who has
no National reputation. This may be in conformity
with the procedure by which the President himseif
reached the position he now occupies But Is IL safe
one to adopt In the judicial department OF the Gov
ernmentl From all the material at the disposal OK
the Executive, there to be found superior
to Mr.. NJ. W. Fuller for such important and ex-
allied postonl II such be the fact land Mr.. Cleve-
land says sol 1t is melancholy tribute to the learning
the virtue and the qualifications Of the legal profession
throughout the United States.
Before asserting, however, to the correctness OF
this decision It may not be out Of place to inquire IL
any effort had been made to find Of the requisite
qualifications, OF tired merit and being
generally recognized By the country as the most
eligible nominee for that high office. The President
lawyer by profession, It might naturally be supposed
that he would be Jealous carry out this object not
only from sense Of professional pride, but from
desire to give eciat to his own Administration.
But did no do sol It is to be feared that he dh
not His nominee was wonder and a surprise to
every He dsregarded las his privilege) the
suggestions Of the leading lawyers OF the country,
even Of HIS own party. lie sighted, unworthy OF
notice. the recommendations Of the Judges Of the su-
preme Court after having agreed to meet them upon
the subject. And II in mockery Of the Civil Ser
vice Reform, he reverts TO the "spols' system, OF
which he processes such holy horror Could there
be more significant evidence Of the value he placed
on his own professional
But not only did the President turn bis back on
of the most eminent gentlemen of the bar Of the
United States, and the Judges of the United States
Supreme Court but, incredible It may appear he
did not think 1t worth his while to consult his
own Cabinet. Mr. Bayard, Secretary of State, knew
nothing Of the nomination till he heard It en- tho
street Mr. Garland was equally In the dark, and
the same may be said Of the other members. Why
this departure from all precedent and former pro-
cedure7 Did Civil Service Reform require it, We
labor under the deuson that protected By our Con-
sttution, safe from any assault Of One-man
power But will any intelligent citizen Of the United
States assert that such arbitrary proceeding could
take place under NJ. Carnot, the President Of the
French Republic under Lord Salisbury the Premier
of England, even under Prince Bismarck, the ruler
of Germanyl
Perhaps the Judiciary Committee Of the seuate may
be able find precedent for this extraordinary
act which IS insult to the Cabinet AMI which would
not be tolerated By any efcspecting In any other
civilized country The elevation from the Sherlfrs
office tho Mayoralty and from that to the Governor
ship, and from that to the Presidency has, it IS to be
feared, unbalanced the judgment and dlsordered the
intellect OF the present occupant Of the White House.
He would like to have Cabinet, advisers, and
probably no Senate to pass upon his proceedings.
But he may possibly find out that career Of medocry
so unexamped in the history Of our country his, Will
not eliminate in successful assertion Of one-man
power 80 hateful to every patriot Of every party
so subverslve of executive precedent, and so OBJ
noxious TO the genius OF our people.
In these remarks there is no design TO deroGate
from the merits Of Mr.. Fuller; but no one can tell
what these merits arc. Some Of his friends have
published an array OF tho cases In which he has
been employed since his admission 10 the bar But
what lawyer in fair practice could not make an
equally good showingl Even the learned gentleman
I'm the White House could doubtless by such evidence
convince us that he had been a profound legal
authority before he left Buffalo. There Is not proi
nent practitioner before nisi prius court who could
not count two TO his one. Was he over employed In
case involving the discussion or presentation OF
great constitutional question! Who knows what his
legal learning Is in common law or equity! Ana on
the various and important questions thar nave arisen
and that are constantly arising among cur population
who knows what opinions he holds or If he has any
what are hts views Of the respective functions OF mo
Federal Government and Of the State Governments
What on coinage currency, cOmperce, taxaton, ral
roads corporations and other scpjects on which the
adjudicatel - ooo 'Oh4'Ae
w crfo