The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-06
THE CABINET.

OCCItldIl " III IL A
dom, of Minnesota.
Secretary of War-Redfeld Proctor. of
Vermont.
Secretary of the Navy-Benjamin F. Ira
cey, of New York.
Secretary of the Interior-John w. Noble,
of Missouri.
.Postmaster-general-John Wanamaker,
of Pennsylvania.
Attorney-general-W. II. II. Miller, of In
diana.
Secretary Of Northumberland Rusk,
of Wisconsin.
The construction of the Cabinet shows
an earnest desire and conscientious eff
fort to harmonic the highest demands
of the public service with those of every
section and interest, and with the Presi-
dents personal preferences. We think
he has succeeded in a very remarkable
degree. The fact that he did not wish
to remove any of the strong Republican
somewhat restricted his choice, but with
this limitation we do not see how he
could have formed a better Cabinet or
one more likely to cooperate with the
PRESIDENT in giving the country a strong,
clean, heightened Republican admins
tratiOn.
The extreme difficulty of forming a
symmetrical Cabinet in such a way as to
harmonic all interests has been shown
during several months of amateur Cabi-
net-making, in which an almost infinite
number of combinations were made,
only to be abandoned. Yet, at last the
sole responsibility devolved ON the Pres
ident, and besides having to regard
every other interest, he had to consult
somewhat his own feelings. A thousand
suggestions had to be concentrated in
final action. Thus, in his first official
act, the President found himself i'm the
position described in his farewell speech
before leaving this city, when he said
"the moment of decision is one of isOla-
tion." He is to be congratulated on the
| manner in which he has solved the diff
cult problem.
Hon. James G.. Blaine is one of the
most widely known and generally adj
mired of American statesmen. He has
been identified with the Republican
party from its origin, and in active poll
JICS ucdIly Ill liz duulb Illcs III WlQt
range of public service and brilliant
qualities as a political leader make him
easily one of the foremost statesmen of
the day, and his accession to the secre-
taryshipO of state is q most natural result
of Republican success. Mr.. Blaine is an
American of Americans, and in his hands
the State Department will neglect
American rights OIL interests.
Hon. William Window is not new to
the duties of Secretary of the Treasury,
having filled that position during Presi-
lent Garfield's brief term. He resigned
a seat in the United States Senate to ac-
cept the Treasury portfolio. He has been
inlpublic life most of the time since 1869,
and during his temporary retirement
from politics has been connected with
some large commercial enterprises. His
previous training and experience have
been such as to leave no doubt
of his eminent qualifications for
the secretaryship of the treasury. Dur
ing his former brief service in that posi-
ton he was successful in funding about
$3.50, OO0, 900 of 5 and 6 per cent. bonds
at 3 1-2 per cent, thus effecting an an
nual saving in interest of $40, 600.
The entire expenses of the refunding
scheme were less than $4,000, besides
avoiding the calling of an extra session
of Congress. This has been justly re-
| gardeda as a remarkable financial achieve
ment.
Ex-Governor Redfeld Proctor, of
Vermont, is one of the foremost men of
his State and a recognized leader of the
| Republican party. Besides being active
in politics he owns the largest marble
quarries in New England, and carries
| on other extensive business operations.
He was chairman of the Vermont dele
getion at Chicago, and cast it's vote solid
| for General Harrison from the first bal
| lot till he was nominated. In New Eng
| land, where he is well known, Governor
Proctor is universally esteemed as pos
sessing decided ability and very high
qualities of character.
Gen. b. f. Tracey is the compromise
member of the Cabinet from New York,
and the appointment is a very happy
one. Aside from its political effect in
the Empire State, he is e%minently quail
fed to take a high place in the new
administration. An able lawyer, a
gallant soldier, and a man of
affairs and large all-arOund expert
ence, he will be able to render valuable
service in restoring the administration
of the government to a high Republican
standard. Gen. Tracey was a warm per-
sonal friend of General Grants, and one
of the famous 3O6 in the Chicago con-
ventiOn in 1880.
Gen. John w. Noble has beer known
as one of the leading lawyers of st. Louis
for nearly twenty years. Heis a man of
large legal attainments, extensive cult
ure, and very attractive personal quail
ties. Heientered the army from Iowa,
of which State he is a native, and at the
close of the wal located in st. Louis,
where he served four years as
United States District Attorney, and
where he has always been recognized as
one of the pillars of the Republican
party. Gen. Noble graduated at Yale
University, after receiving "a pOr-
ton of his education at Miami Universe
ty, Oxford, Ohio, where Gen.. Harrison
graduated, and their acquaintance