The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-14
POLITICAL GRAVES.
A Review of the Cabinet Officers OF
the Past Forty-f1ye Years.
From the ChicaQ0 Times.


the democratic machine in Delaware put a
veteran politician whom l met at the Fifth
Avenue hotel the other evening in "a remi-
niscent mood, and for an hour or more he
chatted most interestingly to the ambitious
men whose political careers have been
SPOILED by the acceptance of a cabinet port
folio. 1.-THE man of influence who has any
designs on the future always shows his sense
by declining cabinet appointment" said
he, ''for hard work, poor pay, and a politi-
cal grave are about the only rewards that
await him if he accepts. This has been my
observation for fOrty-five years, and it
holds good to-day.
"Pierce's cabinet was the first one formed
after had begun to take an active interest
in politics Its members were all strong
men, but only one of them figured in after
politics, and not one man In thousand
could recall their names to-day. William
L. Marcy, a statesman never appreciated at
his true worth, and one of the broadcast
minded men that ever filled the office made
a great reputation as Secretary of State,
and buried his presidential prospects at tho
same time. Caleb Gushing, another able
man, filled the Office of Attorney General.
He came before the public but once after
ward. Grant nominated him for chief
Justice of the supreme court, but his
nomination W IS Overwhelmingly defeated
in the senate. Guthrie, Dobbins McClel-
land and Q. .npbell, the latter of whom is
the only one now living, all dropped into
obscurity when their DAYS in the cabinet
came to a Close Davis, Pierce's Secretary
of War, was the only member of the cabi.
net who lived to play a role III the drama
of the war. Judge Jere Black of the
numerous members of Buchanans cabinet,
alone kept his place before the public, and
he more as jurist than as political
leader. Holt is the only member of
Buchanan's official family now living, and
three-fourths of the people have forgotten
that he ever lived.
"How many can remember the men who
composed the war cabinet of President Lin
colnf Nearly all of them had the preSiden-
tial bee buZZing in their ears, but all of
them, with one or two exceptions, are
dead and almost forgotten Chase, by all
odds, the brainest and broadcast man in the
cabinet, saw his presidential hopes vanish
when Lincoln, with his usual shrewdness,
put him out of the way by making him
chief justice. Seward won ia me as secre-
tary of state, but his presidential prospects
he was LincolnS chief opponent in the con-
vention of lS60-were killed the day he left
the senate to accept that office. Stanton
died three days after Grant made him
justice of the supreme court, worn with
disease and broken by disappointment.
Speed, whom Lincoln made attorney general
in remembrance of early friendship but
who never proved equal to the duties of the
office, became a country lawyer in Ken
lucky, and died, almost forgotten, not long
ago Harlan, Lincolns secretary of the in
terror, slid into obscurity by way of the
Alabama claims court, Of which he was the
head until its affairs were wound up
couple of years ago
The cabinet of Andy johnson has Jared
81 e I i
loch, the secretary of the treasury, was
accidentally recalled to his old position
during the closing days of the Arthur ad-
ministration, but he is emphaticalIy back
number
"What of the twenty-five men who were
members of Grants cabinet during his two
terms! Many of them are dead, and of those
still living Don Cameron, who held the
portfolio of war for a short time, is the only
one in active politics. ELhu b. Wash
burne the first secretary of state, and sub
sequently prominent candidate for Presi-
dent, for years before his death, which oc-
Cured quite recently, led retired life and
ranked among the bygones. The same is
true OF Hamilton Fish, who succeeded him.
E. R. Hoar managed the affairs of the at
torney generals office in such away that
the senate refused to confirm his nomina-
ton for chief justice, and forced him to go
ardson is rich and is still a prominent fig
ure in Washington society, but his
career as the head of a department
is almost forgotten Bristow'S pros
ecution Of the whskev cases
ended his public career. He is now
lawyer in New York, demanding and re-
ceiving big fees, but taking no part in
politics. Boutwell, is Washington claim
agent. Creswell allowed the public to for
IN for
while he drew a fat salary from the Ala
bama claims court. Taft is practising law
in Cincinnati. Belknap, dismissed from
the cabinet in disgrace because his wife had
disposed of few post traderships for
money, now has law office in-Washing-
ton, and is said to be making fair living.
Williams, able and ambitious, who built
big house in Washington and dreamed Of a
long public career, passed under a cloud
along with Secor Robson, aud both are
now political bankrupts, the one in Oregon,
the other in New Jersey. Columbus Delano
is leading the lfe of a farmer out in Ohio.
And the Cabinet of HayesN continued
the veteran. "Evarts, whose ability as
pleader won him the portfolio of State, and
Sherman, who failed TO climb into the
presidential chair by way of the treasury
department., are his only members still
prominent in politics McCrary, who was
secretary of war, and whom Hayes made
a United States district judge just before
his retirement, left the bench two or three
years ago and is now railroad attorney in
Kansas City. His political influence is in
significant. Schurz, whom Hayes made
secretary of the interior in return for his
labors with the German voters of
Ohio, has been everything at inter
walls and nothing long. He is now
earning living as agent for the
German holders of American bonds.
Devens is a local Judge in Massachusetts,, and
Key is on the federal bench in the south.
DE Lesseps, who, in common with all
foreigners had an exaggerated idea of the
value of an American cabinet official made
Dick Thompson, Hayes's secretary of the
navy, president of the Panama canal
company at a salary of 1000 a year.
Thompson didn't amount to much while he
was in the cabinet, and he has been of less
value in his present position. His success
sor as secretary was Gen., Golf Of West
Virginia. Golf was the youngest cabinet
officer in the history of the country, but he
is now 10y no means conspicuous member
Of the lower house of congress.
Take the cabinet of President Garfield.
Blaine is the only member of the cabinet
still power in politics, and not one man in
ten can tell who the other members were.
James, who licked the feet of Conkling and
Arthur to secure the New York city post
office, and then betrayed them that he
might crawl into the postmaster general