The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-02-05
What Kind Of q President Will He
Makes

skiing themselves a Question with
which partisan,hip has nothing to do:
What kind Of II President is Mr.. Gar
ield likely to makc?" TO assist our
'caders in answering this most inter-
sting and important question we pro-
,Ose to prcscnt-as accurately and I'M
partially as possible-both sides OF the
picture.
In the first place, MR. Garfield is a
man OF unqueslioned ability. In GER
tain what may be called specialtes
several Republicans are probably his
but taking him for all in all,
in general qualifications for the office
to which he has been elected, it is
doubtful whether his party can furnish
his equal. Nothing but uncommon
vigor OF mind and tenacity OF purpose
could have carried him 80 high from
such humble beginnings. His position.
with the exception Of the last step, is
no. the result OF either accident or
fortunate combination Of circumstances.
lie has worked his way from the bot
tom to the top without the aid of wealth
or influential family connections. He
is, in every sense of the phrase. the
architect of his own fortunes, and has
to thank nobody but himself for what
he has been and is. So, whatever else
he may lack, he does not lack either
brains or energy. Though not yet past
the prime OF life, he has had twenty
years of almost unbroken political ex-
pcrience, commencing in the Ohio Leg
islature and continued in Congress.
His Congressional career has extended
through the most exciting and moment
Gus period of our National history, and
he has contributed his full share to
those changes for good or i'll which
make the Nation of 1880 SO widely dif-
ferent from the Nation of 1860. This
experience, added to his natural and
acquired ability as politician and dc.
batter, gave him the acknowledged Re-
publican leadership Of the House, which
he held when elected Senator. Few
Presidents have had more executive
strength than Mr.. Garfield ought to
have, If that strength comes from long
and varied practice. Ii culture is OF
any particular value in Chief Magis-
trate he has that advantage also. lie
is q scholar; not great one, of course,
but still the best Presidential, scholar
siuce John Quincy Adams. His liberal
education, which has been reinforced
by systematic and judicious reading,
ought to enable him to take those broad
and comprehensive views Of men and
things so indispensable to Presidentia
craftsmanship. With the exception o.
the two scandals so inseparsbly linked
to his name. his public and priva,,
character is blameless. The fact tina
with abundant opportunities to become
rich by johbery and ring association
he is q poor man must be reckOned il
his favor. If essentially and incurabl,
corrupt his record would be more vul
nerable than it is, and he would hav'
more wages to show for his sin. Agree
able and popular manners, free from
ostentation and arrogance, and a facnl
ty for gaining and keeping friends
complete the list Of his personal assets
| The worst point in Mr.. Garfield. s.
far as his character is now known,
his moral c0wardice. This was dis
played in the scandals to which We hav
alluded, in that portion Of his letter {
acceptance relating to the Civil Service
and in his complete surrender of tn
campaign to Radical management. Ha
he been morally brave he would hav
resisted the temptations addressed I
his purse, and those addressed to hi
ambition. He would have begged hi
bread rather than touched q dollar
which the faintest suspicion attached
he would have borne any punishme1
rather than swear that he did not
. what he had done; he would have To-
the Presidency rather than repudial
his own declarations in regard to Civi
Service reform and the sectional issu'
. We believe the instincts of the man 81
! right, and that he is naturally incline
( to DO honest and honorable, but, jud,
. ing from the past, he has not the cou
Z age of his convictions. There il little
e the hero and none of the martyr stuff
. him. His will is made of lead. not irol
When the current of the stream is vii
him, 1Qewjms .bQldys AND swpll b.
= whe1 It1sh 4aip$ HIM he is disposed
: seek u 6soOtsAd ~xitsfor d tujn.s /
d would rather be right than wrong, b.
y he does not want to pay too much 4
b being right. He has no difficulty in Sc
, ing his duty, but pnders trying circur
= stances is liable to fail n,iserSbly in d
. ing it. The majority, though wron
. is more to- him than the minority
: the right. In short, the moral eleme
a in him is far inferior to the intelle,
Z. ual. II the two were evenly b
ie anced, Mr.. Garfield might be one
ID the best of Presidents. As It is, t
ID kind of President he will be Deepen
as entirly upon the circumstances wi
r. which he has to deal. Unfortunate
- y, for him and for the country, crisis
,s National affairs has arrived which
lie must face, and in which he cannot
:. neutral. The Republican party
T. \. divided On the Southern question q
st on the question q reform. During t
ss next four years these questions mi
81 either be settled. or put in the way
in settlement. They cannot be postpon
or ignored, they must be met, and I
new President must 60 with one facti
the other in the messing. We belle
=, that 1.-THE had entire freedom of ohio
VI. in the matter, could do just as
on pleased without risk of opposition,
m. would Choose the better part; that
90 with the reformers and al
he stalwarts. But the anti-reformers q
X. stalwarts, if not numerically
OK strongest, are the most active q
I'm aggressive; and moreover, MIR. CART
VI W owes his election to them. Fear. 8
1e gratitude. therefore. must SWAY