New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-25
GENERAL ARTHUR AND TIE PRESIDENT.

GENERAL ARTHUR AND TIE PRESIDENT.
NO TRUTH IN REPORT THAT TIE vICE-PREsI-
DENT HAS BEiN SUMMON d TO wAsuINGToN-
THE QUESTION OF INABILITY-PEHsoNAL EELA-
TONS
Reports current yesterday, chiefly in the re-
gioD of speculation, and most frequently reiterated
during business hours, that the situation at Wash
lngton had grown so serious that the Cabinet had
invited Vice President Arthur to come 90 Washing
ton and assume the duties of President, who Il WAS
said, clearly disabled Later these reports wero
amended into the rumor that General Arthur had
been urged to hasten to Washington az on n pre-
vious OCCASION to be on hand in emergency. Siil
later all these contradictcd by author
ity rs having no foundation in fact. The medium
of denial was lawyer in the close confidence of the
Vice President.
Since the excitement and acila ion over the pre-
vious critical condition of President Garfield
the Cabinet officers at Washington and the
Vice-PresdeEt and his friends here have had
opportunity to look into tho questions
of the inability Of the President and of the
need of his successors qualifying promptly IN tho
event of the demise of the President. Whatever
conclusion the Cabinet may have reached the conn
sellors of the Vice-prcsdent have urged that the
Cabinet cannot take upon itself 10 decide when
inability of the President exists and 1t is known
that Genera! Arthur will not head any call or sug-
gestion of the Cab net rs to acting in place
of the President. 1t is safe to say also
that while ViccPrcsidcnt Arthur will not disregard
any request OF the Cabinet, of Mr. Blaine as its
head TO come to Washington, hc is adverse to DONG
so while the President lives. The prccedcnts in like
cases show that there is absolute need that the
Nicc-Presdcnt should qualify immediately on the
death OF President, and General Arthur believes
That there IL nothing pressing III National affairs to
warrant undue haste his part in the event of the
death OF President Garfield.
Mr.. Arthur WAS at his house until a late hour last
evening. Ex-senator Conklng who came into the
city yesterday evening, A. Is. Johnson of Utica and
George Bliss visited him in the evening but what
passed between them was Of course not made known
Naturally, they simply await developments at
Washington
close personal friend Of General Arthur, who
had passed the morning and evening with him, said
i'll n rather warm manner TO n tribune reporter,
referring to an extract from The Cincinnati Gazette
published III yesterdays TRIBUNE:
10unewspaper men make two grave errors about
Arthur. You talk of him as a mere politician. and
you think lie and Garfield are personally unfriendly
This very article here (the one from The Gaseiie)
speaks of him being conspicuous in his adhesion
to a politician who set out to make "a scene etc ;
and find everywhere the idea that Arthur is moth
ing if not politician. That idea is the natural
consequence of his position for years ck He has
been the local leader of tho Republicans of
ful leader have ever had Now 1t re-
quircs no small amount of ability-ability of "a
high order, not mere tact and tricicry-to lead n
minority party like the local Republicans of this
city and still win success. That has been his only
field thus far. Does it follow because he wins with
minority party in local and State politics that ho
is disqualified for the higher duties of leading the
majority party in National politcs9 | think not
ana II the opportunity unfortunately is given
him, through the threatened calamity to tho
country he VIII acquit himself as well in the larger
as i'll the smaller field, and prove as much of "a
statesman as he Is now regarded politician
Nor Is 1t true that his personal relations to the
PRESIDENT are even unpleasant, much less hos
tile. Ddring the troubles Mt Washington following
the nomination OF Senator Robertson as Collector of
the Port, Mir. Arthur all the time try ing 10 be
peacemaker He labured down to the last moment
In trying To bring about some COMPROMISE or
settlement, and even after the designations
OF Senators Conkling and platt he went
personally to General Garfield to see if
some way could rot be devised bv which
an honorable settlement could be brought about
When il was finally decided that there Was no way
open lor comprc:nisc reconciliation, General
Arthur plainly toll the President that he felt bound
in honor to susl ain his friends and added
trust, Mr. President you will not think that there
Is anything personal to you in my action The
President, Il: his usual hearty way, took told of
General Arthur by both shoulders and said Per-
sonal, my dear fellow Nothing of the sort. know
you nave no such petty feeling at ALL. You may he
assured that this was about the substance of the