The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-03-12
Cabinet the Graveyard of Politi-
cal Ambition.
WHAT THEADVANTAGESARE
II VIII Help Man Along in Business
Life.
Number OF Interesting Personal Notes
Relative 20 weH-known Public sTen
Who Have Been in Various
Administrations.
Dorresponaence Of THE HERALD.

President harrison S caDlneJ, recently
said that the advantages which came to
man who had been honored with net
post were very great, and that did lot
understand why of late years t. ere seemed
to be something of reluctance On the part
of men Of influence and especi ally those
who were earning large incol-s from
their professions or business TO accept
cabinet posts. The remark was un-
doubtedly called forth by the report that
several men of high character and ability
declined invitations from President
Cleveland to enter his cabinet, the reason
given being that they could not afford to
make the pecuniary sacrifice.
This report is undoubtedly correct SO
far as two politicians who were asked TO
accept cabinet portfolios are concerned,
and 1t may have been true in respect to
others.
1t is only IN the present generation that
a tendency has been observed on the part
OF politicians to De possessed with less
ambition to serve in presidential cabinets
than the greater politicians had IN earlier
years. The cabinet was looked upon, or
at least the state department. was, as the
etepping-stOne to the presidency. All OF
the earlier presidents, excepting Jackson,
I'D to the time OF William Henry Har-
some of the ablest politicians of the
earlier day who had presidential ambition,
disappointed though it was, held the
first Office in the cabinet, viewing il as
the servant OF that ambition. Thus
Henry Clay entered the younger Adam
cabinet. Mr.. Webster and MIR. Calhoun
both served as secretaries OF state. Lewis
Cass also had that Office. But after Mr..
Buchanan election TO the presidency no
man who had held the office OF secretary
OF state was ever elected president, and
Mr. Blaine was the only one who having
been the state secretary was afterwards
nominated.
The Senate has been called the grave
ward OF presidential hopes, but that term
might with equal accuracy be applied to
the cabinet, for 1t is q remarkable fact
Of political history that no man who ever
served in 4 cabinet in any other capacity
than secretary of state afterwards
attained the presidency. Jefferson DAVIS,
who had been in President Pierce's
cabinet. was presented to the Charles
ton convention in 1859, but not
nominated. Occasionally men VINO have
held cabinet Office have been spoken OF for
the presidency, but no one ever came
within sight of the nomination except ng
John Sherman, who had been secretary OF
the treasury. Benjamin II. Bristow, who
was one of Sherman g predecessors, and
Judge Gresham, who had been both post
master general and secretary OF the treas
ury.
In fact, as a general thing, service in
the cabinet has been the climax OF politi-
cal careers. Some men have gone from
the cabinet to Congress-, but none
ever achieved great careers in the
legislative body after cabinet service ex-
ceDting Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and
John @. Calhoun. Mr.. Sherman's
career as legislator was made before he
became secretary of the treasury.
Very few men have served in presi-
Dental cabinets and not passed rapidly
out OF the public eye as soon as their
cabinet careers were finished. Marshall
Jewell retained great prominence, but it
was because of his unique and brilliant
service as g political manager. Mr..
Evarts seemed 10 have finished his politi-
cal career when he entered President
Johnson cabinet as attorney general,
and it was personal friendship rather than
political considerations which led Presi-
dent Hayes to cali Mr.. Evarts to the state
department. Afterwards the great lawyer
was sent to the Senate not as the first
choice Of his party but as a compromise
acceptable to the friends OF more powerful
rival candidates, and Mr.. Evarts' career
IN the Senate emphasized that political
law which seems to determine the public
careers of those who nave had cabinet
service.
There probably was no more ambitious
man than Tom Corwln, whom Roscoe
Conkling regarded as the most brilliant
orator who ever spoke upon the hustings
west Of the 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
Representatives, and he suffered keener
disappointment when he met with failure
than any but his closest friends fully
realized
But if the cabinet is the highest post
which those who enter it can reasonably
hope to obtain, it is certainly of great ad-
vantage in other ways to have been q
member of it. Mr.. Elkins says
that the post is sufficiently
distinguished to crafty any reason
able inhibition for political fame, and that
the holding Of a cabinet portfolio gives to
any man such prestige as Will avail him
much in business or professional pursuit.
Those who have retired from the cabinet
to private life have invariably done well.
When Z. lockwood Hoar retired from
President Grant s cabinet he returned to
law practice which was so profitable as
to make his declining years most comfort
able. George S. Boutwell,, who was sec
Rotary OF the treasury under Grant, began
the practice OF his profession in Washing
ton and became very successful in the
prosecution of just claims. Though he
was for q long time in public service, MIR.
Boutwell, frequently made more money
in one year IN private practice than his
entire salary for nearly thirty years ag-
gregated. Another cabinet officer of Cen
eral Grant, General Beiknap, who re-
signed under cloud, also became very
successful as a claim agent. Nearly all
OF President Hayes cabinet did well.
Carl 5churz became newspaper proprie-
tor, and afterwards the American repre-
sentative OF one Of the great transatlantic
steamship companies. General Devens
went almost Immediately from Hayes
cabinet to the supreme bench Of Massa-
chusetts. Richard Thompson was regarded
until the Panama revelations as singular
" fortunate in securing post as repre-
sentative OF that company which paid him
S25, 900 a year.
The members of General Garfield,s cab
met, with the exception of Secretary
Window and Lincoln, returned to private
life within wear. Mr.. Blaine began the
writing Of his political history, which
was one Of the most profitable pecuniary
ventures Of his life. Wayne MacVeagh
became counsel of the Pennsylvania rail-
road svstem an Office which is said to nav
him many thousands every year. Mr..
Window returned to the Senate for a
short time, and then engaged in business
in New York which promised to make
him. If he could have given few more
wears attention to it, very wealthy.
Thomas l.. James became a 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 were members of it well. Mr.. Ere
Iinqhuysen, his secretary of state. had
been recalled from private life, and, OF
course. at the end of his term returned to
his cultivated and Injurious home. but
LA not live very long. Mr.. lincoln went