American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-08-27
w ny is ITe

Why is it that nobody. either
Democrat or Republican, desires to
have Mr. Ar bur in the Presidential
c.lair, as he would be in case of the
Presidents death or permanent
disability ? Why is it that he is
rot only not desired. hut that the
people of all parties look upon the
Feasibility OF such sn event with
i'',r AMI trembling? Mr.. Arthur is
MT beast nor monster with fire
flying out of his nos.rils that he
khou'd thus be feared or the posi-
I;y of his succession to the Presi.
,lcncy be looked upon with such alb
hoIrencc. On the contrary he is
said TO bc a polite and courtly gen.
ti,man, of fair ability. about whom
thvre is nothing repnlsive or un-
canny.
But there must be something
about tho Vicc-President, or some-
thing in history, that dees not meet
the approval of the people and leads
them to fear the worst results from
his possible accession to the chief
Magistrlcy. What is itf Let us
20 back a little. When Mr.. Hayes
was filling AIR. Tilden's place in the
sFliitehousc, and John Sherman
was Secretary of the Treasury, Mr..
Chester A. Arthur was then Col-
iector Of New York, dispensing the
patronage to suit himself and his
friend Senator Conklfng. If the
story be true. things were not man-
aged as they should have been. and
III" following notes were addressed
to Mr.. Arthur:
.iYou have made the Custom.
house ccn'Ie of partisan political
managemrnt.-R. B. Hayes to Col
.t.9:;nr Arthur, january 81, 1879.
-Nsiih a deep sense of my obliga-
iieI.s under the nstiiution, / re-
s..1 III order that the Office may be
honestly administered" - II. b.
HAYES to Collector Arthur. January
81 1879
"tiruss abuses of administ ration
lave confirmed and inceased during
yonr incumbency." John Sherman
20 Collector Arthur, January 81,
1919
Persons have been regularly
p:Id By you who have rendered lit.
tic or NJ service; the expenses
OF your Office have increased, while
i5s receipts have diminished.
u. ibes, OF gratuities in the shape OF
Tribes. have been received by your
subordinates in several branches oil
the Custom house, and you have in
no case supported the effort to cor-
rect these abuses John Sherman
10 Collector Arthur, January 81,
1879,
These notes throw some light on
The sui jeet of the peoples dislike OF
Mr.. Arthur. They are afraid of a
dishonest administration of the
Preside ntiai Office, correctly suppos
ing that man who was uufai.hful
ia COLLECTOR, would be untaithful as
President. They fear that in the
discharge Of the Presidential fumes
tions he might sometimes offer
brides or gratuilies in the shape OF
brIbes,' to further the advances
ment of his purposes. He has bad
record, is not man of unsullled
political virtue. The country dis
trusts man who was turned out OF
office by the acting President and
financial secretary for dishonesty
These are rather hard words, We
ailmit, but what other construction
can be put upon the notes of Hay ca
AMI Sherman. IL was the reading
If these notes during the late cams
I,1i.n that first turned the people
against Arthur and 1T has been In:
pwn conduct since his election in
siding With ConkliBg against the
President, aud IN king himself :
mere tool for the Senator to use il
Sharpening his own ends, that ha,
epnfrmed them in their dislike. /
He vas Conkling's tool as Wee
fre4ijent, Why shouldn't he be al
i'resi.Itnii He would then have .
si'l better chance to advance hi,
iiseIl5 -a crest.