The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-08
SEATTLE. FErDAY. JAN. 5.
THE SENATE AND THE CABINET

The neWspspe comment upon L'e afs-
nnatlon By Senator Allison OF seat In the
cabinet OF President-eisct Garfield, in a.
most every instance has taken the form
Of recognizing that Senator Allison would
make distinct sacrifice in surrenaerirg
his present position for any cabinet Office;
in other words. that seat In the senate is
q position OF superior dignity to that OF
cabinet adviser Of the president. This s.
IN recognition OF the prevailing opinion
that the acceptance OF a cabinet position
shelves a rnan-puts him ont Of the fed
for future prefermsnt. and most certainly
Is fatal 10 all aspirations 20 succeed 10 the
presidency.
II IL only within the past few years that
the cabinet has sunk in popular estimation.
Prior TO that time Il vas considered as a
matter of course tina. a president should
surround himself with a cabinet made up
OF the sblest and most distinguished men
in his party; and cabinet position was
recognized as the particular stepping stone
TO the presidency. Particularly was this
the case with the position % secretary OF
state. Jefferson. who was in Washing
tons cabinet as secretary OF state. was
elected 10 the presidency as soon as his
party succeeded in carrying an election.
having received electoral votes in each OF
the preceding elections Madison, who
VAS Jsrsrson's secretary OF state. sue
ceedea him In the presidency; Monroe, sec
retary OF state under Madison, also suc-
eeeded 20 the presidency. as did John
Quincy Adams. who was in Nonroes cabi-
ret a. secretary OF state. Clay was secre-
,ary OF state under Adams. and trua 10 the
tradition. Clay received his party's NOM
nation In the election following Adams
defeat, but was himself defeated by Jack
son. Martin Van Buren, was Jackson's
secretary OF state during his first term.
and following the rule became the presl-
dents residuary iegatee.
Here for the first time the chain OF sue
cession WAS broken John Forsyth was
secretary OF state under Van Buren,. The
latter was defeated for reelection in 1910
by Gen. Harrison. and Forsyth died In
1871 IN The following election the Demo
Gratis again regained control OF the ma
sionai ADMINISTRATION by the election OF
Polk. and Buchanan was chosen as his
secretary Of atats. The latter was passed
over for two sabsequene elections but
succeeded 20 the presidency in 1856. The
last historical example OF secretary OF
state becoming ths residuary legates of
tho president by whom ne was appointed
to once occurred in 1854. when Blaine,
who was secretary Of state under Garfield,
secured the Republican nomination for the
presidency. only 90 suffer defea; at the
p0ils
or the presidents Of tbs United States
sin % the earlier ones. previous to their
election. were members OF the cabinet.
ana seven az the defeated candidates for
president. who received electoral votes,
held cabinet positions before they were
candidates for the presidency. Cay. Web
s,s-. Csss. John Bell John Floyd. VIII
IAN Writ and Blaine
OF the eight chief justices Of the SUI
prsnls court OF the United States. three
held cabinet positions prior TO their APP
polnfment 20 The bench, John Marshall,
Roger B. fancy and Salmon =. Chase.
Aside from these the roll Of cabinet Off
GERS OF the past generations is ike ros-
ter q the n'ost distinguished statesmen in
tho country. Among them may be men
tloret Calhoun. Edward Everett Marcy.
Seward. Evarts. Bayard. John sherman.
w. r. sherman. Gresham, stanton. Zach
Chandler. George bancroft. and others.
any one Of whom sas or presidential stat
urs In his day. Jefferson Davis. president
81 TIE southern Confederacy. vas also IN
Fisrce's cabinet as secretary Of war.
The tradition seems TO have completely
died out Under Mr. Cevaand's two adj
ninsstrs1ous. a cabinet officer has been
lutte more than a cn.ef clerk. a bursau
offcial. rot 10 ~ reckoned v1.a as among
presidential possibilities. snd the cabine,
has sank 81 popular ssi imation. unsu the
spectacle has been presented or cabinet
or5cers seeking 20 secure seats in The SEN
sle s. a form % official promotion
i can hardly - truthf1lly sai4 IN az
plsuauon OF this phenomenon tsst ne
status o. ,he senate has risen. while ,Aat
of che caeiuet has sunk. TIE facts ar
very muea On tNs contrary. FOR -es ssns-s
ranks IoWer ia popular estimation t,sav
than IL has az ANY uuae ia the history ~
tne country Senate ans cabinet hsva
a1sks c~sers0rasei
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