The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-01-25

has been a great ceal Of gossip of every
kind abou; every Imaginable sort of pub
lie man in the almost united effort now
being made by the American people, es-
pecially that part OF it engaged in news
paper work, to assist in the making OF a
new cabinet. The great mass of this has
been of the most irresponsible character.
Scarcely public man OF any kind has
been able 10 come to the city without be-
ing put down at once as a candidate for a
place in The presidents cabinet. But
win all this talk and writing little atten-
tion has been given thus far to the office
of secretary of state. About the only man
thus far talked of for this Office has been
Mr.. Phelps of Vermont, formerly minister
TO England. In addition to his name
there has been occasionally mentioned
ex-Postm aster- General Don NJ. Dickinson
in connection with what is generally
looked upon as the leading cabinet office.
Why Overlook Bayard?
It seems strange that in all this discus
sion almost no attention has been given to
the name Of Thomas F. Baysrd of Della
ware, secretary OF state under Mr.. Cleye-
ldnQ 3 llfbb -NCGAiN
member of the former cabinet has been
mentioned for his old or new place, but
Mr.. Bayard's name has. for some reason,
almost by common consent, been omitted
from the list OF men deemed eligible for
this important place. This is the
more strange, too, when it is known that,
everythiI considered, the relations OF
the preeident-elecI and his secretary Of
state were quite as close as any two
men ever associated in public p aces.
Both before and since each has always
spoken of the other in the Warmest terms
of commendetIon, personal as well as po-
litical. Mr. Cleveland has always ex-
pressed ths highest confidence in Mr..
Bayard and no enlc2y has been too 10 ~
for him to pronounce upon his ability,
character and patriotism. He has been
known TO declare many times, both
before and since his last election. that if
he had the power to hunt the whole
world over he could never find for this
important post q man of higher impulses
or OF greater ability or character than his
former secretary OF state.
Right on the Tariff.
It must be remembered that the presi-
dent-elect looks upon the reformation OF
the abuses of our tariff system as the most
important work entrusted to him. In this
respect. he has much admiration for Mr..
Bav ards consistent record on this inn
portant question, aud knows thoroughly.
the yaue of his advice on this and
kindred questions bearing upon success
full administration Of the government
finances. In order that he may have
time and opportunity to do this great
work he and his friends recognize the inn
portance of escaping from these numerous
foreign complications that arise to trouble
almost every administration.
Up On Foreign Affairs.
One OF the arguments put forward in
favor of Mr.. Baysrd's reappointment to
his old post is that the questions now in
foreign affairs are almost identical with
those that came TO the front during Mr..
Cleveland's former administration. The
fisheries trouble Is no nearer settlement
than it was when Mr.. Bayard and Mr..
Phelps negotiated treaty with England.
only 10 have it rejected for purely parti-
gan reasons. The Bering sea question ia
not new. 1t has only been newly treated
in the most paltsring way. There is every
reason to think that a return to Mr. Bay
ards thoughtful and conservative policy
would result in permanent settlement of
this ANNOYING question. An extradition
treaty with England that was a great
advance upon anything that proceeded it,
was a negotiation OF Mr.. ClevelAnd's
former admIni,trstion and result of Mr..
Bsyard's work aud was rejected by parti-
san senate Tor political reasons. The
Chinese question seems no nssrer settle
ment than it was after the passage of tie
Scott law. bad South American policy
= - h. fhRrot,nblv
Secretary Fre,inghuysen was compelled TO
do in 1881. A new and sensi-
bic policy Is TO be adopted. so
that permanent friendly relations
shall be- re-estsblished with all South
American countries instead OF the suspi-
cious ones now existing. Mr. Bayard is
familiar with ali this as he is also with the
advantages and the drawbacks of the
policy of reciprocity engrafted upon the
Mckinley bill just before its passage. He
would be prepared to enter upon his work
almost without any necessity for the de-
lay inseparable from the choice OF new
secretary. In general. Mr.. Cleveland
could, by the choice of such a man, al
most hope to begin where he left of, so
far as foreign affairs are concerned.
The Ex-Premier Qualified.
For all these reasons, and others that
need not be recapitulated; it is not un-
natural that public attention should have
been directed egain to Mr.. Bavsrd as an
eligible man for reappointrnent to his old
place. lie has made no movement in
this direction, no more than he did in
1855, when, without solicitation or appli-
cation on his own part. he was chosen for
this important post. 1t may be said. with
truth. that Mr.. Bayard has perhaps seen
his old chief less during the past four
years than almost Rnv other one Of his
chosen advisors, who live within reason
able distance of New York. Stranger
things might therefore happen than de-
termination on the part Of the president