New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-05
Fly NOT THTRBERf

Now that II seems probable that Attorney
General Olncy will be made Secretary of State
10 succeed Mr. Gresham. we feel free 10 express
our regret that the President in searching for
"Prcmicr'' for his Cabinet did not see and make
Use Of the most obvious material in the United
States We rcfc'. Of course. 10 Mr. Henry !.
1hurbcr Of Monroe. Mich While the question
still seemed open we feared that it might be con
sdcred indicate On our part 10 interfere In such
4 purely family affair. and therefore RETAINED
from urging Mr. Thurbcrs claims. Possibly this
oycrseu,itiycncss on our part has wrought in
iusfic. 10 the Michigan statesman for certainly
he deserved the appointment. II anybody dii, ana
I, is n matter for sincere sorrow rs well rs sur
prlsc tina, both the President and his advisers
overlooked the fact Thurbcr has been one oi
Mr. Clcveands most sincere and self-sacriiicinS
admirers. Did he not give up lucrative law
pra,tAc in Michigan 10 - to Washington AT
small salary and devote himself body and soul
,o the interests Of his idol? Has he not done his
duty there in a manner that should nave won
long ere this the thankful appreciation Of his
chief? Has he not acted as a buffer between the
President and the vulgar crowd. gladly dlvcriing
to himself the blows and kicks that were intend
al for the man In the inner room, whether they
editors or plain. everyday people: Has he not
watched over the Presidential family with true
fath.rlv interest and solicitule. attending 10
their every want preparing their various homes
for their coiulnss and travelling with them rs
guide and bldygu1rl: And should not such de-
voilon be- rewarded;
l. /, no argument against his promotion 10
say that he j. only private secretary. Have not
other private secretaries become cabinet Minis
,crsf Then why MOI 1nurbcrf And besides ms
lust deserts he has positive good points 10 recon-
mend him. In an Administration where We
President himself Is the State and CABINET ON
Gers ore mere clerks To record his Will Thurber
would be "A source ~ positive strength, because
he would never complicate things by acting on
his own Initiative For instance. he would never
h,,e n,,d. IA. sad error which Secretary Grcsh-
am uod, when he took upon himself the rc-l'oh-
sihiIi,y If demanding an apology from Spain i'r
the shots fired upon the Allilnca. Ills plo"'
would not have boiled over the Insult 10 u''
flag unless he knew positively that his 'hl'i
blood was "boiling' also, and mus We SHOULD
have been spared the one Inconsistent aci III
LONG record Of subsoryicnt diplomacy. lie lc'iS
too kccnlv the divinity that doth hedge Il h.ll1
10 permit him to run counter to the VIII of an
uncrowncd one or oppose the purposes OF il real
one and his experience As private buEcr would
stand him In good stead as diplomatic cushion
TO receive and nullify the unklnd thrrsis Of Am
bassadors and Ministers
or course Mr.. Olnoy. from his cXpercnc" IN
the Department Of Justice Is Injured to the treat
ment which Cabinc. officer, receive under the
present regime. as IS proved by his action in the
Incomctax cases. but his su 'cc>Sor VIII hav" 10
be broken in. which will take time. Altogether
II looks rs If the President had made mistake
and possibly lost his last opportunity ht'lngly
70 reward a faithful servant