New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-01
SrcpEThRY PxocToR's GOOD YORK.

Mr. proc.or's removal to the Senate will do
as much as can be done to atone for the loss
TO that body of Senator Edmundss experience
and courage, but it involves great sacrifice on
tbe mart OF tho Administration. When Mr..
Proctor entered the Cabinet he was not Ma
tional figure. As the Governor of Vermont
and as business man of notable success he was
known in the East. In his temperament how
ever. there is little self-asserton and not much
Of that ambition which prompts men in qWet
times to encounter the annOyances OF. offlce-
holding. He was one of that large body OF ex-
ceedingly able American citizens who enjoy the
excitement Of politics, who acknowledge the
duties of citizenship and who in office would
exert powerful influence for good government
but who dislike partisan warfare and are never
heard from until an accident or an incident
brings them forward to the notable advantage
of their country.
No department OF tho Government under
President Harrison has been conducted with
more skill and success than the War Depart
ment, and yet there has been complete alb
eence of noisy claims and vain spectacle. In
the reformation of army disciplinary methods
and in improving the conditions of post lie Tor
the common soldier, not less than In lnauSu-
rating the scheme of seaccast defences which
has been so long agitated, Secretary Proctor has
succeeded where long line OF his predecessors
had conSpicuously failed. This was chiefly due
TO the relation he established between himself
and Congress. II was cordially and sincerely
pleasant. lie won the confidence and respect
of the Nations legislators, and they listened TO
his nlans for tho betterment Of the service as
thev do rot always listen to Cabinet sug-
gestions however excellent. 1t is true that in
all its departments the Administration was close
to Congress, and its plans, whether relating to
diplomacy, finance or general affairs, were re-
spectod by legislators in an unusual degree
But this fact applied nowhere 50 strongly as 1t
did in the War Department, and the result was
the passage Of many reform measures without
any conflict or flourish of trumpets. secretary
Proctor succeeded in impreSing his views into
laws. and a remarkable improvement IN the
military establishment has followed. Promo
lions among tho officers were rendered more
rapid; the daily life Of the soldier was made
less mental and onerouS and more honorable
than il had ever BEEN assertions subsidized, and
a new and better spirit was injected into the
rank and file everywhere.
These common-sense reforms were little IN
themselves, perhaps but they were numerous
and their effect upon the whole has been wide
spread and improving. They will give Mr..
Proctor a large place in the affections of the
army, and they bear eloquent testimony to his
ability as an executive officer and to his prac-
teal value in public affairs. They are quite
as significant as the economy and skill ne has
exhibited in the preliminary work OF fortiiica-
ton. Here he has had free hand, and has
accomplished work of much greater magnl-
tude than is commonly realized. In the de-
fences of Boston, New-York, Portland, Hampton
Roads, Philadelphia, Charleston and San Fran
cisco, great strides have been taken toward
strength and safety The mental qualities from
which these good works have come will find, I'M
doubleday a large fed of usefulness in the
Senate. and probably it is better for the country
that they should 90 there. The President, how
ever, cannot he expected to confront the ques-
ton Of Secretary Proctors successor with any
thing but regret and apprehension.