Year: 1877


The Cabinet appointments of Mr..
Hayes were sent in to the Senate last
week, and after little delay confirmed
by that body. They are such as TO
give confidence that the pledges made
by the President when accepting the
nomination, and repeated his inaugural
address were not empty words, uttered
to tickle the ears of his auditory, with
out any design of fultIlment. The
country halls this action with approval,
and words of commentator at the line
of policy indicated come upon every
hand. The administration Of the new
President commences under far less
stormy auspices than was feared. and at
the present outlook bids fair to both com
mand and deserve the confidence of the
nation.


1t is not, however, to be supposed that
these appointments are accepted without
cavil by all. Strict party men prefer
that the Cabinet should be made up of
men about whose fidelity to the party
which elected Mr.. Hayes there could be
no question. Something, they feel, is
due to party also, for it was Republicans
not Conservatives, or Independents from
whom Mr.. Hayes received his chief sup
port. There Is no gainsayng this fact,
though there can be no doubt but in sew
eral Of the closely contested States the
vote Of Liberal Republicans and Inde-
pendents thrown into the balance turned
the scale in favor of Hayes. 1t is then,
no more than fitting that this clement
should receive recognition at the hands
of the President, aside from the fact that
it represents principles such rs he enun-
ciated in his letter Of acceptance. Nota-
bly, was the support Of the Liberals and
Independents acceptable in this State
without the almost unanimous aid of that
wing of the party it would have given a
majority for Tilden and turned the eiec-
ton. And 10 the independents, except
those who object to the appointment of
foreigners to Office, the recognition OF
their views MS shown by the selection of
Carl Schurz for a Cabinet position is
highly accep table.


In the appointment Of Mr.. Key to the
position OF Postmaster-G General, Hayes
has gone q step beyond the limit which
the Executive usually sets. For neither
now, nor at any time in the past, has Mr..
Key been in aililati0n with the political
party to which Mr.. Hayes owes his ecc
ton. During the war Key led Confcl.
crate regiment, and after peace was de.
clared he acted with the Democratic par
ty, being at one time one OF the Senators
from Tennessee. His appointment to the
Cabinet position having so vast control
of patronage as the Post Office Depart
ment, would indicate that the control OF
:he postal service is given whore there
will be no shielding of delinquencies for
party's sake. The Republicans cf the
" Nasty " order who " want offs " are
not very well pleased at this appointment,
nor is it to be expected that they would





be. But in the present condition of the
public mind, the removal of one to make
room for another who has done greater
party services, will not be accepted nor
acquiesced in with any degree Of grace.
And if removals are made for just cause,
none can complain,


Believing, as we do, that the best in
terests Of the nation require the contin-
ued ascendency of Republican principles,
in its government, we think the course in
dlcated by the opening steps of Mr..
Hayes administration to be wise one,
and one calculated to secure that end
Whatever of good accomplished may at
tach to that administration at its close,
will rebound to the party which placed it
in power, whatever Of evil the same
We hope to see, in the next four years,
the Southern question disposed Of in a
manner which will give promise of the
permanent pacfcation of ;bat unhappy
section. 1t is a delicate and intricate
matter to settle, and one which will re.
quire the exercise of a wise judgment to
adjust correctly. If the course of the
President be snch as to inspire the con
fdence OF and bring to his aid the Con-
servative element Of the Southern Demo
cracy, 1T will be great step toward this
end. And this is the one thing above all
others which the corntry desires.