The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-20
Tho Cabinet as a Working Machine.

Tho Cabinet as q Working Machine.
The strong points and the weak points OF
the new Cabinet. considered as mechanism
istrattve ideas. have been tested by SIX
weeks Of time. with . rather critical ex.
perisnce OF important questions meanwhile,
There IL . good deal of irresponsible gos.
sip about the Presidents personal attitude
toward bis Constitutional advisers. and
sbout his methods Of impressing his wishes
upon the minds Of those gentlemen. Most
Of the talk Of this sort Is beneath notice.
From facts known to all well-informed
psrsons who watch the progress of affairs
ct Washington. and from differences legiti-
Aately to be drawn from what has ap-
pssred on tho surface since the 4th OF
March. We should say that the true situa-
ton IL pretty accurately indicated in the
following paragraphs:
Judge GRKsHAM has his own independent
notions OF what should be the policy Of this
Government In matters with which the De-
partment Of State Is directly concerned.
He Ii thoroughly American and patriotic In
his ideas and impulses. In the unfortunate
event Of q conflict OF opinion with the Presl-
dent. on any essential question Of policy. he
isQuite capable Of asserting himself. with
dignity and politeness. and then. II neces-
sary. taking up his hat and gloves. We do
not believe that Mr.. GRESHAM has ever
written a letter resembling that which the
late Mr.. BLAINE sent to Gen. GARFIELD. de-
voting himself unreservedly. all that he was
and all that he could hope to be. to the polit-
ieai fortunes OF his official superior.
Nor Is there the slightest reason for sup
posing that Secretary CARLISLE regards
himself as the occupant OF a merely cleri-
cal post. II 1t came to q question OF prin-
cple. or political consistency. or self
respect. or even to an important difference
~ to ways and means. Mr.. CARLISLE might
b. expected to maintain his opinions. here
after as heretofore. good-naturedly, re-
spsctfully. and firmly. even as against the
opinions Of the President. There has been
no slgn OF self-efacement on the part Of
this honored veteran OF the Democracy.
The Office Of Secretary Of the Navy is Pc
euliar In regard to the special knowledge
and special fitness required Of the incum-
bent Mr.. HERBERT wa chosen on account
Of his special fitness and special knowledge
of Affairs concerning the details OF which
M. CLEVELAND knows. and pretends to
know. little or nothing. This circumstance.
aznong others. removes Mr.. HERBERT from
the cstegory Of Cabinet officers upon whose
complete subservience a President can count
TO any extent. simply because they
everything to him. and recognize the fact
that they had no call out OF obscurity until
~ tossed the handkerchief.
SEr. OLSxY Is another Cabinet oficer who
stands upright on his own legs. IL we may
use the expression. By this We do not mean
70 saythat the Acknowledgement. any more
than the Secretary Of State, the Secretary
Of the Treasury. or the Secretary OF the
Navy. Is not entirely loyal to his chief.
Hut Mr.. OLSEY has shown his personal IL
dependence and intimated his idea of the
side on which the burden OF obligation
rests. by retaining as Attorney-General his
hold upon n lucrative private practice In
boston. and preserving relations with GER
taip corporate interests In New England
which no might have surrendered had he
boon overjoyed at his suninops 70 .ho De-
g9rtment OF Justice.
The status OF the four other members OF
lRe Cabinet is somewhat different. Mr..
LAxloSr and AIR. BTssELL 1--WE their ap-
pptntment to conditions precedent, involv-
ing considerations strictly personal to Mr..
CLEVELAND Mr.. HoKR SMITH and Mr..
6fosros OF Nebraska are political diseove-
Bies and the tcnaiciaries Of Mr.. CLEvE-
LANDS diseernnlent and generosity. Tho
SECRETARY Of the Interior has not yet
smsrgsd suficisntiy from tbs delighted sur
prisa which overwhelmed him at the time OF
Pc ssAsstisa. to manifest ssy strongly In