The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-07-15
ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENTS.

AoO AJo@-Sn Lei Ill., Ou0 Vi BIG LOCSb
liberal, as it IS one of the ablest OF
New England journals ssya:
It is. perhaps, too much to say that no
political convention in this country Will
again dare to nominate a man for Vice
President whom it would not be willing
to name as President. The experience Of
the past would seem to have furnished
ample warning to the body thai nomi-
mated Chester A. Arthur; and yet, in O
gush of weak generosity and brsinle=s
enthusissm, the men who controlled the
Chicago convention invited and scq vi
esced In what we characterized at the
time as most astonishing piece of GRIM
inal folly. If the spectacle which the
Vice-P President has made of himself at
Albany has not sufficiently informed the
republican party Of the nature and ex-
tent of that blunder, the tenor of public
opinion for the past two dreadful days
must have completed their enlighten-
ment. The deSth of President Garfield,
deeply as he would have been mourned,
has seemed to be almost subordinated,
as national grief, to the accession Of
General Arthur.
This is, perhaps. placing the matter
a little too plainly, and wish too
much frankness. Arthur ia not the
wishy- wsshy man that he might he
inferred to be from the above, nor is
he bad man. At the same tine De
is not the person that anyone would
like to. see at the bead OF the nation
He mas neither the capacity nor dig
nifty for s. President whom the % asses
would look up 70 and respect as
they want to II, unfortunately, be
had succeeded to the office, he would
necessarily have made lair average
President. The people would have
forced him to this, by compelling
MIN to accept the advice of wise men
in managing tpe affairs of toe
nation. The peculiar ciroum-
stances under which President
Garfield would have died, had
Cult sau's shot proven fatal, would
rather have changed Arthur as
man, than reVoluhonized the Ad
ainissration. i'll open opposition to
which the Vice President lie known
to be.
Once bstore the assassin alton @! the
President placed man at the
head OF the nation whose principles
and politics were the direct opposite
CT those OF hi: predecessor. Andrew
johnson was a lifelong, consistent
and conscientious democrat. He was
besides, brave, fearless map, and
as Mr.. Lincnln's assassination could
in no way be remotely attributed to
Dr. reflect upon him, he was not under
sVen the shadow of an obligation to
pursue the policy OF Lincoln; whereas
Arthur had been making war upon |
Garfield. and the would-bs assassin
without the slightest encouragement,
al must admit) boosted that he did .
ice deed for the benefit of the Vice !
President. The boast, unwarranted |
and cruel as it vas, made it impossible
or Arthur to aot according to !
1is own policy in opposition /
10 that of him whom be
Iucoeeded. Johnson was an indie
pendent, united president, and be
acted according to his OWE ideas,
apd otherwise, with what
trouble and excitement We all know !
Here are Two instances within
generation that should prove valuable
essoDs TO political parties. No man
whom the party would not like to see
president should be nominated Tor
vice president. Very few republicans
would feel houored with Arthur in
he Executive Mansion. Would any
democrat have felt hOnored bad Bill
Eoglish, the party's late candidate
or vice.president, been made presi.
Ient?