Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-08-03
CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
or NEU- YORK.

the best examination before board of
teahers and physicians. All practicable
ideas Of civil-service reform have always
found in General Garfield an earnest adj
vocate, and we have a right to expect
from him an even fuller development
and wider application of these ideas than
we have witnessed under the present adj
ministration, because he will have the
advantage of Mr.. Hayes experience to
guide his own efforts.
We have no reason to apprehend an
attempt at personal government from
General Garfield He is essentially a
man of the people. open, cordial. and
accessible. Like President Hayes, ne
will be approachable with all, wholly
free from the arrogance and conceit of
Office, and regarding the Presidency as
grave public trust to be conscientionsly
administered for the good of the people.
The simplicity of his tastes and manners
has not been affected by his long career
in Washington, and will not be changed
il he goes to the White House. He is
still the wholesome product Of Western.
Reserve farm life that he was in his
younger days, and will always remain 50.
His personal surroundings are good.
His near family friends are without ex
ception persons Of intelligence and char
acter. The best men in politics, science,
literature, and journalism are his asso-
ciates. He never had the slightest in
clnation for low company. His admins
tration will not SAVIOR of the blrrack and
the stable-yard, nor will it initiate the
pride and exclusiveness of Old World
courts. The plain. practical, hearty Re-
publicanism of President HAYES will
continue to be the rule at the White
House under his successor
Besides the judicial temper of his
thought, his perfect familiarity with pub
lie affairs, and his excellent personal as
sociations, General Garfield has another
qualification for the executive officer such
as few Presidents have had when inau-
gurated,-a remarkably extensive ac-
quaintance with public men throughout
the country. There are scarcely score
of men of the type and experience that
aspire for public Office whom he does
not know personally. His intellectual
and social qualities and his rank as Re-
publican leader have caused men from
every State to seek his acquaintance. He
is good judge Of character, and this
wide knowledge Of men will be Of great
help to him in making good appoint
ments. We may expect from him a
cabinet and diplomatic service repre-
senting the best brains and the best. pur-
poses Of the Republican party, ami
civil service where fitness will be the
test for appointments, and where COM
petent, honest men once in Office will not
be displaced at the dictation of party
managers.
There is still another question, and
one Of great Importance: What will be
the tendency Of his administration, apart
from its personal surroundings and its
function Of filling the public offices of
the country: What impress will it leave
on the the history Of the United States:
President Hayes has done the country
an immence service in restoring specie
payments, and in giving the people re-
pose from intense political excitement
and an opportunity to concentrate their
attention on the development Of their
industries. The new administration, if
directed by General Garfield, will with
out doubt prolong this epoch Of tranquil.
lily and devote its chief attention to eco
nomic problems. All his life General
Garfield has been close student of in
dustrial, commercial, and financial ques-
tons. Few of our statesmen are as
familiar with the resources Of the coln-
try and what has been done to utilize
them, and no one is more competent to
give wise direction to government policy
inTall its constitutional avenues of &C.
tiyity concerning their further develop
ment. The new problems raised by our
advancing civilization, our increasing
material wealth, and our growing density
of population will be studied by him
with characteristic thoroughncss and
conscientiousness. If we are correct
in the view that this nation Is at the be-
ginning Of an era Of remarkable material
development, during which the questions