Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-06
THE GARNET.

The composition OF President Mckin-
ley's Cabinet proves to have been very
accurately forecasted by the newspapers.
At the head OF the list o. names sent
10 the Senate yesterday stands that OF
John Sherman, who was nominated LOT
the Office OF Secretary of state Ihe
other names are less widely known. But
General Alger. who IS to be Secretary OF
War. like Mr. sherman, has been an
unsuccessful candidate for the presidency
What is more, on one OCCASION ne
succeeded In Capturing" the delegates
that Sherman had gathered up in the
South.
In his memoirs. not long ago published,
sherman welt so far as 10 say that
| Ayers agents bribed or bought these
delegates from their allegiance TO MN.
Since that time. as may be imagined the
relations between these two distinguished
RepublIcans have been strained" How
ever II is understood that an armstice
has been arranged which will enable them
to sit at the same council tapie
without coming TO blows.
No doubt General Alger is glad to be-
come a member of the Cabinet, even II
he has to sit by the side of Sherman.
Now Alger may consider himself Vindi-
Gated from the charges made against
him by Phil. Sheridan. We have not the
time now TO so into the history OF these
charges. but they we've to the effect mat
Alger was in the habit Of absenting him.
self from his command whenever an en-
eagement was imminent. we think II
but fair to say that Alger has produced
testimony to show that the charges were
made under a misapprehension, If not
from malice prepense. The matter has
been very fully discussed in the news
papers from time 10 time. and much
TO the modification of Alger; but his
nomination by the President to be Sec
rotary of War will go very far towards
removing the stain upon his name.
Mr.. Gage, VINO is TO be the Secretary
of the Treasury is a millionaire ana
national bank man of Chicago. His ad-
vent into that office will be watched with
more than usual interest, because the
public will be anxious TO see If practi-
cal financier will make a more than or
dinarily successful Secretary Of the Urea
sury. The great masters of national
finance in this country have not been
practical financers. Both Chase and
sherman are considered to have been
eminent secretaries, yet neither had
such a practical training for the work
as Mr.. Gage has habitat is, If TO have
been a successful banker is the sort OF
training that a Secretary Of the Treasury
needs.
Mr. Cornelius N. Bliss. who is to be Sec
rotary of the Interior, is another practical
businessman that Mr.. Mckinley has
persuaded to enter his Cabinet. Mr..
Bliss is at the head of large dry-goods
house of New York, but is also largely
interested in several great money in
situations.
Mr. James A. Gary, of Baltimore, who
is also successful Businessman, is to
fill the Office of Postmaster-General.
This is the only Cabinet position given
to the South, and there is some dis
position on the part of southern Re
pubIicans to question whether Mary
lander can truly be said to be 'repre-
sentative southerner." We are so well
satisfied, ourselves, with our Maryland
brethren, it is not a question that we
should ever raise, but it has been raised,
and by Republicans. and against their
own President, too.
The Pacific slope has representative
in ex-Judge Joseph McKenna, Of Califor-
MIA, who is to be Attorney-General.
Ex-Governor Long, of Massachusetts,
who is to be the Secretary of the Navy,
is a good deal of an office-seeker, and
a good deal Of the scholar in politics,
also. He is the author of several books
which show familiarity with the classics.
Mr.. James Wilson, of Iowa, who is TO
be the Secretary of Agriculture, is said
TO be a practical farmer. He has also
been associated in the management Of an
agricultural college.
This is not a list of very brilliant
names, yet it may prove to be a very
acceptable Cabinet. Indeed, it would
seem to have more than the usual pro-
portion Of practical men OF affairs IN H.
That the nominees are not all widely
known, "cuts no great figure with us.
Indeed. though John Sherman Is the
biggest man" in the lot. we undertake
to say he is not the man who will give
the President the greatest aid and com
fort in the difficult work before him. on
the contrary, we venture the prediction
that Sherman will prove to be the least
serviceable man of all.