The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-13
fsnnrlal corre.rnndnncel l


Especial Correspondence
WAsuINGroN, Jan. i0.-Now that the
whole country IS interesting itself in the
Job Of cabinet making which Gen. Har-
rison has on his hands, it may be profit
able TO open the doors Of Uncle Sans
cabinet and see what he keeps therein.
Our first peep is at the secretary Of state,
"the premier" Following the European
precedent, our minister of foreign affairs
Il the ranking cabinet officer. In line
with all the old traditions was the presi-
Dental law passed in 1856 making the
secretary Of state the next in line Of sue
cession after the vice president. After
the secretary Of state come IN order the
secretary Of the treasury, the secretary
Of war, the attorney general. the post
master general, the secretary of the navy,
the secretary OF the interior Probably the
state department hasnOt 50 much real I'M
portance politically, or in relation 10 the
affairs Of the people as the treasury, or .
even the interior. Unless important for
oign complications arise, IFS operations /
are largely routine and perfunctory. IL /
is but rarely called upon TO consider the /
momentou5 and delicate questions 20 +
common in the diplomacy Of the nations T.
of Europe. where foreign ministers and F.
their assistants are more like huge corps .
Of detectives organized 10 keep Jealous
watch Of each other. Nor does custom
make Of our secretary of state polit-
cal leader of the administration. Indeed,
the tendency is in the other direction.
tie has nothing directly 60 do with
domestic OF financial questions. Having
no home patronage 20 bestOw. he Is
brought but little into relationship with
the active men Of his party. His mind
naturally drifts toward the foreign and
away from the local field. II is bec0m-
inc, too, a part If the cabinet etiquette
for the secretary of state 30 devote bis
attention exclusively % his own depart
ment, steadiasflv refusing 10 NEEDLE
withthc affairs of other ministers When
10 Cauields cabinet Mr. Blaine made
several bitter enemies by declining 10
interfere with certain matters IA depart
ments other than his own. a premier"
may De the presidents chosen chief adj
wiser on The general lines of his admin
isirutlOu. as Blaine WAS Gariiclds adj
wiser. but this depends upon The man
rather than upon the Office. for be
fore his death llr. Manning. the score
tary Cf the treasury, was President
Cleveland's chief adviser, as Mr. Whit
ney, the secretary Of the navy, has been
since. Few men have made great repu-
.ations as secretary Of state. OppOrtmi-
ties for anything beyond the merest
routine come but rarely. And yet there
IS always before the premier the pos 2
,ibility Of being called suddenly to face I
.he grave5t questions, involving the
peace and prosperity and perhaps the
very existence of the nation.
-.
But for The prestige adhering 60 it, ,
name, the possibilities Of foreign c0mpli- @
.ations of FIRST importance, and the very D.
nigh social rank belonging 20 it. the Of s.
ice of secretary Of state would not be q
highly priced by men ofambition. There u
s no perfect analogy for our secretary / >
u state in the governments of Europe e
ie - not q premier like Gladstone. nor u
5 he simply foreign minister. Besides =
eing charged with all correspondence p
With the public ministers and consuls, d
nd with the representatives Of foreign y
overs accredited 10 the United States. 90
nd with al negotiations of what "
yer character relating 10 the for
ign affairs. he is also the medium 49,
{ correspondence between the president g
nd the governors of states, hes custody q
f the great seal, publishes the laws and r.
solutions Of congress, etc. This is a Oh
range admixture of duties, and vet OK
aves the department Of state so devoid ID
business Of real national importance go
lat IA the absence Of foreign compiled IN
ons The first post ia tac cabinet IS, so ev
IT as the work Of Ike Office is con. Iil
.rned, little better than a clerkship. W
~
Socially the secretary Of state is Of the "a
CHEST importance Fifteen minutes D.
ter the New Years reception at the
hite House had begun, Secretary Bay 10
ID was seen with "a tired, worried face To
lrrying his daughters to their car
age. No wonder the secretary coun-
nance bore marks Of anxiety, for one ~
the most perplexing duties which the W
st cabinet minister has to perform is Inc
give q breakfast 70 the diplomatic
rps Immediately after their call at the
hite House New Years morning. The -.
cretary Of state has charge Of the ar no no
ngement Of all state occasions, 70
I soci9l, in which the presi- Lui