error into which you and the public press fall is in not distinguishing between official papers and documents regarding home administration, which I agree ought almost always to be fully open to public inspection and discussions, etc., in considering a subject. It could hardly be considered for the public interest that the Cabinet meetings, for instance, should be open to the public, particularly in respect of suspensions of public officers and selections for appointments, although in the case of suspensions, the reasons for privacy would be much less strong. The natural kindness of heart that most people possess leads one to dislike to express unfavorable opinions about the fitness or capacity of particular gentlemen for particular offices, or to state publicly that they stand low in the estimate of the community where they reside.
TO GEORGE FRED. WILLIAMS
My dear Mr. Williams: Your kind letter of the 13th is in my hands. Let me thank you for the full report of the Reform Club speeches which you had the goodness to send me. You want my opinion about them?
I think it is well to give the President a full measure of praise for the good he has done, and as much encouragement as possible to do more. At the same time I do not think it is fair to him to permit him to believe that in the opinion of the Independents nothing but good has been done, and that they are in a state of unmixed delight. Neither do I consider it just, or wise, to condemn every severe criticism of the Administration, even if it be partisan in its character, as an unprincipled proceeding and an unmitigated outrage. I have always thought it wrong and mischievous to give the President to understand, that nobody cared about the removals he made if only the appointments were good, or that a dozen very good appointments would offset a dozen or a score of very bad
