New-York tribune., 1901-09-19
NO CHANGE IN THE CABINET.

President Rooseyelt's declaration just prior TO
his taking the oath of office at Buffalo that IL
would be his aim to maintain aDsoiuteiy ui-
broken the policy of President Mckinney LOT the
peace the prosperity and the honor or the couh-
try was universally accepted as perfecuy sih-
core Hardly any man so placed at such time
could have taken that pledge with less than all
his mind and heart and nobody has for mo-
mont suspected Mr. Roosevelt of a mental reser-
WALTON impairing its validity. Nevertheless, MS
promDt and successful effort to retain the ser
vices of all the members of his predecessor
Cabinet is a welcome reinsurance. not OF nueiiS
TO his promise. but of discernment as 10 the
best means of carrying 1t into effect HIS wofd
was a sufficient guarantee OF his lntentlon' put
some anprehenson concerning the future might
have fingered if he had preferred TO make I'M
portant changes in his official family. or If the
late Presidents constitutional ADVISERS nad peen
unwilling TO keep their places.
The country has sustained profound shock,
and foreign governments have necessarily con-
templated its consequences with keen solicitude.
For the time being grief at home and sympathy
abroad are the controlling sentiments. mingled
with solemn pride and exaltation OF spirit al
the spectacle of great nation calmly and con-
fidentIy confronting a direful emergency. Yet
there NAV have been danger that when the ten
sion of feeling relaxed and the inevitable re-
action set in doubts would arise to breed de-
spondency among our own people and misun-
derstandings among our neighbors If such
possibility existed it has been averted, so far as
official action could avert it, by President hoose
velts immediate appeal TO Secretary Hay and
his colleagues for their continued assistance in
the government and their patriotic response.
National policies do not invariably depend for
their success upon their intrinsic quality alone
The estimate widely placed upon the instru
ments chosen to promote them may be an i'm
portant factor in the case. IL is conceivable
that reorganization of the Cabinet at this
time might have encouraged a disposition 10
look too curiously for signs of a departure from
the path marked out by President Mckinley,
and even to manufacture evidence of nnova
tons. That contingency. remote, we believe
yet not TO be ignored, has been anticipated by
President Roosevelt. The continuity of a great
administration remains unbroken. 1t is timely
and universally acceptable fulfilment of his
pledge.
The President has been not only wise but
fortunate. Circumstances might have prevented
him from accomplishing his desire Indeed, it
was commonly supposed that some members of
the Cabinet would feel constrained to insist on
retiring. even if he should earnestly entreat
them to remain. Their unanimous consent 10
continue at their posts is not only an assurance
to the country and the world of the govern
mept's steadfast adherence to the course which
has so sgnally advanced the honor and pros
perty of the nation, but worthy example of
that fine civic spirit which is essential to the
maintenance of free institutions.