Weekly Courier Journal

President Cleveland Silences Idle Talk About the Cabinet.

Rumors Affecting Secretary Carlisle Declared "Silly Misstatements."

No Disagreement Upon the Issuance of Bonds Or Any Other Subject.

The President Expresses Sincere Appreciation of the Secretary's Great Service To the Country.

Washington, Nov. 14.—(Special.)—If any further contradiction were needed to end the rumors in reference to the relations between President Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle, it was given to-day in a direct and forcible manner by the President himself. Mr. Cleveland's attention was called to the statement contained in certain newspapers to the effect that there had been a disagreement between him and Mr. Carlisle in regard to the issue of bonds and other matters, and intimating that such disagreement might result in the Secretary's retirement from the Cabinet. The President emphatically denied the entire "batch of silly misstatements," and said:

"Never since our association together has there been the slightest unpleasantness or difference concerning the affairs of the Treasury Department or any other matter. I have every reason to believe that his attachment to me is as sincere and great as mine is for him. I should be much afflicted if anything should cause him to entertain the thought of giving up his position, where he is doing so much for his country. We have agreed exactly as to the issue of bonds, and there has been no backwardness on his part on that subject.

"I see it is said that I am formulating a financial scheme. If such a scheme is presented it will be the work of the Secretary of the Treasury, and I shall indorse and support it. The trouble seems to be that those charged with the executive duties of the Government do not appear willing at all times to take counsel of the newspapers and make public all they intend to do."

Upon this subject the Philadelphia Ledger, whose editor, Mr. Clarke Davis, is an intimate friend of President Cleveland, prints the following editorial to-day:

The New York Tribune yesterday said, with respect to the proposed bond issue by the Government:

The spectacle of the President of the United States assuming control of the Treasury Department, and thus making the Secretary of the Treasury appear as little more than the President's clerk, is one of the ridiculous features of the bond issue which will be made to-day or to-morrow. No one in Wall street censures President Cleveland for taking the power and glory of the position away from Secretary Carlisle, but they laugh at the situation in Washington which makes such a procedure necessary. Now that Cleveland has decided himself to arrange for a bond issue, the general opinion is that such action, whether necessary or not, calls for the resignation of Secretary Carlisle. By the action of President Cleveland, Secretary Carlisle can not hold his position and maintain his self-respect.

The above is, in all particulars, in its statements and in its conclusions therefrom, conspicuously inexact. It is farther from the truth than the equator from the pole. It is absolutely without foundation in fact. The Ledger said yesterday, in making the first authoritative announcement of the Government's definite decision to issue $50,000,000 5 per cent. bonds, that the President and the Secretary of the Treasury "are now and have been at all times since the question was at first considered by either of them, of one and undivided mind with respect to it."

It would be a hopeless task to attempt to roll back the flood of misrepresentation with which partisan journalism has deluged Secretary Carlisle, as one misstatement concerning him or his relations with the President is no sooner corrected than another rather more mischievous and inexact is invented. The duties of the office which Mr. Carlisle holds have been, owing to the condition in which he found the Treasury when he entered it, of the most difficult, onerous and exacting character, requiring for their proper discharge rare intelligence, sagacity and conservatism. Considering the difficulties of his position, the Secretary of the Treasury should have, instead of detraction and misrepresentation, the sympathy, encouragement and aid of all those who have any interest in the maintenance of public and private credit. Among these is President Cleveland, whose sympathy, encouragement and aid Secretary Carlisle has continuously enjoyed, and never more so than during the time they together considered and agreed upon the issue of the announced loan.

There is nothing sensational, either, in the announcement that Assistant Secretary Hamlin has been designated by the President to act for the coming six months as Secretary of the Treasury, during any absence of Secretary Carlisle from the department. The designation of Mr. Hamlin to act as Secretary is in continuation of a custom which has prevailed in the Treasury Department ever since Mr. Carlisle has been Secretary. Each of the three assistants serves in this capacity for half a year in rotation, and as Acting Secretary they sign all papers of a routine character, thus relieving the Secretary from this onerous duty. This official designation is necessary under the law, which requires that certain specified papers shall be signed either by the Secretary or an Acting Secretary. The Secretary does not contemplate leaving Washington, but much of his time for the next two weeks will be devoted to the preparation of his annual report.