Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-02-20
CABINET GOSSIP.
Politics Makes Strange Bed
Fellows" Is True.
Witness Checkered Political Career
Of Judge Gresham.
Trouble In Store ier Cleveland Over Selection
oi Political Advisors.

finally succeeded.
What queer man this Cleveland is;
You may search the history of our eoun-
try in vain for another like him. He is
self willed. independent and as coura-
geous as lion. In this selection of Gresh-
am, for instance, he knew he would be
sure to offend many of the '.old line
Democrats, whose traditions teach them
that none but a party man of long stand
ing should be put on guard. He knew
the choice Of Gresham would be savagely
criticised. not on account of lack Of con-
fidence or admiration for Gresham HIM
self. hut on account Of political consid-
eratious. He knew there would he a
howl of Indignation from the straight
outs, and Yet he went ahead pleasing
himself and doing what he thought was
right.
Now, whether Mr. Cleveland acts the
part of wisdom or Of foolishness in this
am not prepared to say, That is not
my affair But l am sure the people
irrespective Of politics like man who
has this fearless style of padding his
own canoe. They admire courage, indie
pendence and boldness wherever dis
played.
should fail to give you an accurate
reflection OF the gossip of the capital if
did not tell you that in the opinion of
many keen observers Mr.. Cleveland's ad-
ministration is to be stormy one-that
he is TO have a heap of trouble with his
friends the enemy, and nearly if not
quite as much with the enemy his party
friends.
1t is the partisan writer who tells you
all is lovely within the camp to which
he belongs, and that all is wrong in the
camp of the opposition. The independ-
ent writer, the mere gossiper who loves
gossip for its own sake and not for its
bearing or effect. tells you the truth.
And therefore | tell You there win be
some high jinks in the senate chamber
and particularly in the executive ses-
sions Of our house of lords during the
next few months
Among the pleasant little rows which
Mr.. Cleveland is to have on his hands is
n quarrel with the Democratic senators
lItlii HIS bNll Stdlt. Ilflt III w dSilllI-
ton, where we are all very like the street
gamins who help to get up fight for
the mere pleasure of watching it after it
is started. we are looking forward with
great interest to the ides of March
While waiting for the bugle blast, we
talk ever the last great contest seen here
between president and senators of his
own prtv. We have been reminded of
the Gsrfcld-Conkling- Plat quarrel, first
by the death Of Mr.. Blaine, who was one
of the actors in that tragedy, and again
by the legal inquiry into the sanity of a
murderer which has been going oi. here
for several weeks.
y Young rEn named Schneider. broth
or Of a fHan once wrote you letter
about. telling yuu how he had built in
Washington nearly 5000 honscs and made
for himself in doing so a fortune of u
round million. shot and killed his wife
and her brother. He was convicted and
denied Il nrw trial. Now they arc in
quirine into his sanity. and the odd thing
about 1t is that his case is good deal
like that of tiuiteau, and that two OF the
chief actors in the Guitean trial-the
judge who presided and the government
expert who testtied-are filling the same
roles in this case.
Like Guiteau, young Schncider's in
sanity has developed since the commits
sion of his crime. Like Guiteau, he
comes of family in which there was a
strain of insanity Like Guiteau, he has
played queer pranks in the courtroom,
attempting to assault the court officers,
seemingly knowing nothing at times of
what is going on before him, Like
Guiteau too. he is accused of shanming,
Of malingering-playing a role of tragic
grotesqueric with his life for the stake.
10 come back to Judge Gresham
what queer pranks fate plays; how the
whirliglg of time and politics brings out
the unexpected, Only eight years ago
Judge Gresham was Republican cabi-
net officer. -Four years ago he was for
midable candidate for the Republican
presidential nomination. Last summer
the third pgrtyifes came near nominal
ing him for president Last fall he cut
loose from the Republican party and
cams ont for Cleveland. Now he Is to I've
premier Of the Democratic adriinistra-
ton. | know plentT of smart men in
Washington who think he will lie .ht
Democratic candidate for president fotl
years hence.
Judge Gresham is ore of the most lov
able HIcn in ail the v-Gr.3, and am MOI
surprised that Mr.. Cle eiari should h;.y'
become infatuated with him. Out il
Chicago men Of all parties los,k np :,
him as the first citizen, though his lega
residence is in Indiana. lie is q bis
brave. sincere, generous. manly man
He has two kinds OF courage-physie;i
! and moral. He was dreadfnlly woundei
in the same battle in which Benjamin
Harrison. Efterward his political rival il
Indiana. won his spurs.
In civic life he would sacrifice his bes
friend and everything else in the worlt
| in defense of his conception OF right ant
duty. He has honesty and uprightnes
SO Thoroughly woven in with every fibe
Of his being that if he thinks man is
rascal or has done a scoundrelly thin,
| be likes to send for him and tell him SO
/ He y the kind of man too honest to b
comfortable. particularly in such pos
as heal of big department Of tire gov
eminent. and when he was postmaste
general he ratified the dry bones an
| showed sche,ners. jobbers and lobbyist
the door in fashion that made him
/. few haters and host of admirers.
How in the world Judge Gresham
10 make both ends meet financially a
secretary Of state is more than can IN
| darstand- He is poor Hlan- as an hon
est man is hkely to be. He has hom
IN Chicago. recently built, but not al
1 paid for. He has little farm down il
! Indiana. and he has his salary That
all
Now. ii costs money TO be secretary o
!. state III Washington The 5000 a yea
I compensation allowed by Uncle San
won't pay the bills Still. the new secrs
tary Of state will worry along somehow
though venture the prediction that b
viii show as how simply and inexpen
| sEvely, and yet fttingiy. an America
poor-lnan gentleman can live even Will
occupying the proud post Of premier
/ But why don't our lawmakers max
ore effort to realize that this Is 10 longe
/ a nation Of q few coaetwise settlements
and to raise the salaries Of cabinet off
GERS to figure that suits their static
and at least meets the demands mad
upon their prrses
: With his simple, sincere, frank mar