The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-12
Road to Presidency Doesn't
Lead Through the Cabinet.
Why PORTFOLIOS ARE REFUSED.



years there seemed to b something Of 70.
iucfancs on the part Of men Of influence
ana especially those who were earning
large incomes from their professions or
business. to accept cabinet posts The 70.
mark was undoubtedly called forth BY the
report that several men Of high character
and ability declined invitations from Pres
ident Cleveland 70 enter his cabinet, the
reason given being that they could not If
ford to make the pecuniary sacrifice. This
report 10 undoubtedly correct 20 far - two
politicians who we're asked 20 accept cabi-
net portfolios are concerned. and it may
have besn true in respect to others.
1t IL only in the present generation that
. tendency has been observed ON the part
OF politicians to b possessed with less
ambition to serve In presidential cabinets
than the greater politicians had In earlier
years. The cabinet was looked upon, or
ct least the state department was, a. the
stepping stone TO the presidency. All Of
the earlier presidents, except Jackson, up
to the time Of William Henry Harrison,
had served - secretary Of state, and some
OF the ablest politicians Of the earlier day
who had presidential ambition, disap-
pointed though it was, held the first Office
in the cabinet, viewing it - the servant Of
that ambition. Thus Henry Clay entered
the younger Adams cabinet Mr.. Web
ster and Mr.. Calhoun both served as Sec
retariss Of state. Lewis Cass also had that
Office. But after Mr.. Buchanan's election
to the presidency no man who had held
the ONCE Of secretary Of state was ever
elected president, and Mr.. Blaine was the
only one who. having been the state secre-
tary, was afterward nominated.
The senate has been called the graveyard
Of presidential hopes, but that term
might with equal accuracy b applied to
the cabinet. tor it is . remarkable fact of
political history that no man who ever
served in . cabinet in any other capacity
than secretary Of state afterwards won the
presidency. Jefferson Davis, who had
been in President Pierce's cabinet. was
presented 70 the Charleston convention
in 1850, but not nominated. Occasionally
men who have held cabinet Office have
been spoken OF for tho presidency, but no
ton except John Sherman, who had been
secretary of the treasury: Benjamin II.
Bristow. who was one OF Shermon's pre-.
decessors, and Judge Gresham. who had
been both postmaster general and secretary
Of the treasury.
In fact, a. general thing. service In the
cabinet has been the climax of political
careers. Some men have gone from the
cabinet to congress-, but mono have
achieved great careers In the legislative
body after cabinet service excepting Henry
Clay, Daniel Webster and John G. Cal
houn. Mr.. Sherman's career a. legislator
was made before he became secretary Of
the treasury.
Very few men have served in presiden-
81 a1 3no - 10 ~n~;A1,, -
the public eye rs soon a. their cabinet
careers were finished. Marshall Jewell re-
tanned great prominence. but it was be-
cause of his unique and brilliant service Is
. political manager. Mr.. Evarts seemed
to have finished his political career when
he entered President Johnson's cabinet as
attorney general, and it was personal
friendship rather than political considers.
tons which led President Hayes to call
Mr.. Evarts to the state department.. After.
wards the great lawyer was sent to the
senate. not as the first choice of his party,
but a. . compromise acceptable to the
friends of more powerful rival candidates,
and Mr.. Evarts' career in the senate en-
phasized that political law which seems to
determine the public careers of those who
have had cabinet service.
There probably was no more ambitious
man than Tom COrwin, whom Roscoe
Conkling regarded ~ the most brilliant
orator who ever spoke upon the hustings
west ofthe Alleghanies. and who had been
bred in that region. Mr.. Corwin had been
secretary Of the treasury. His ambition
was not set upon the presidency, but upon
the speakership of the house of represents.
tives, and he suffered keener disappoint.
ment when he met with failure than any
but his closest friends fully realized.
But II the cabinet il the highest cost
which those who enter it can reasonably
hope to obtain. it is certainly . great adj
vantage in other ways to have been q
member OF it. Mr.. Elkins says that the
post 10 sufficiently distinguished to crafty
any reasonable ambition for political
fame, and that the holding Of cabinet
portfolio gives to any man such prestige
% will avail him much in business or pro-
fessional pursuit. Those who have
life have invariably done well. When
e. lockwood Hoar retired from Presi-
dent Grants cabinet he returned
to law practice which was 90 profitable
a. to make his declining years most COM
Portable. George 8. Boutwell,, who was
secretary Of the treasury under Grant.
began the practice of his profession in
Washington City and became very sue
cessful in the prosecution of just claims.
Though he was for long time in public
service Mr.. Boutwell, frequently made
more money in one year in private prac-
tice than his entire salary for nearly
thirty years aggregated. Another cabinet
officer Of Gen. Grant, Gen. Belknap, who
resigned under . cloud, also became very
successful as claim agent. Neatly ali Of
President Hayes cabinet did well Carl
Schurz became . newspaper proprietor
and afterwArd tho American Representa-
tive of one of the great transatlantic
steamship companies. Gen. Devens went
almost Immediately from Hayes cabinet
to the supreme bench Of Massachusetts.
Richard Thompson was regarded until the
Panama revelations a. singuiarly fortu-
nate in securing post Is representative
of that company. which paid him SIS. 900 .
year.
The members Of Gen. Garfield's cabinet,
with the exception Of Secretaries Window
and Lincoln. returned to private life
within year. Mr.. Blaine began the writ
ing Of his political history, which was one
OF the most profitable pecuniary ventures
of his life. Wayne MscVeagh became
counsel OF the PennsylvaniA railroad sys-
tom. an office which 10 said to pay him
many thousands every year. Mr.. VIM
time, and then engaged in business
in New York. which promised to
make him. if he could have given few
more years attention to it, very wealthy.
Thomas l.. James became . bank presi-
dent Mr.. kirkwood, who was An Old
man, retired TO his farm in Iowa, where
he has lived in delightful retirement ever
since. Secretary of the Navy Hunt be-
came minister TO Russia. where he died.
President Arthur's cabinet served those
who we're members OF IL well. Mr.. FREE
linghuysen, his secretary Of state, had
been recalled from private life. and of
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