The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-09-06
SOUNDING THE KEY NOTE.

II ~ = AstS
the most stalwart among stalw art journals.
While the St. Louis Globe Democrat weak
eued at Conkling's defeat at Albany, and
whiningly deprecated his actisn in resigning
his senatorial office, the Inter Ocean manful-
ly stood for its chief and upheld him in ev-
cry move he made. In all article on Vice
President Arthur, which appeared in a recent
number of That journal, occasion is taken to
deal some teri ible blows in the face of the
half-breeds of its party. 1t charges them
that in th4 first week of July when 1t was
believed President Garfield could not recover
from his wound, they Joined in = concerted
action to break down public confidence in
the Vice-Presidsnt. They went so far as to
insinuate that he was indirectly responsible
for Guitteau's act that he could not become
President because Of the lack of evidence As
to his place of birth, and that should he be-
come President he would be a tool Of Conk-
ling, precipitate a crisis, break up the Repub-
llcan party and disturb the equilibrium of
the country. These things and many more
meaner ones, says the Int, Ocean, were said
about Mr.. Arthur, but now, says that journal,
this same faction has changed front. 1t finds
that Mr.. Arthur Is ell-intentioned, honora-
BILE and honest, and will make a good Presi-
dent. But the Chicago paper is not troubled
to find a reason for this significant change.
1t says while Mr.. Arthur stands now as he
did during the early days of the Presidents
sickness, and if he was then unfit to be Pres
ident be is not fit to be President now, still
the probability hat he would become Presi-
dent induced the time-servers, who had made
ground simply because they want to be on
the winning side. They are trimming their
sails to suit the probabilities by
saying good words for Mr.. Arthur,
not because he is any better man
than he was a few weeks ago, but because
they believe he stands a better chance of be-
coming President. "In every quarter" says
the Inter Ocean, "there is manifested a dispo-
sition to speak fairly, if not enthusiastically,
of the character and qualifications of the Vice
President. Aud yet there is no more call for
this now than there was in the first week in
July. That was the time for moderate words
and wise counsels, and the wrong done then to
an Snotiending man cannot be undone or for
gotten"
The concluding words Of the above ex-
cerpt, ':cannot be undone or forgotten" must
be construed to mean that should Mr.. Arthur
become President the half.breeds, who have
been engaged in vilifying him and at the
eleventh hour are "turning their faces toward
the morning'in a spirit of repentance, can sx-
pect no favors. They have committed the un-
pardonable political sin, and their transgress-
ions will not be forgotten. They have come
down from among the scotfers on the la OK
seats of the synagogue and before they can be
received in full communion with the stalwart
saints OF the party they mus occupy, for a
season, the mourner's bench at the foot of the
altar, and in sack-cloth and ashes atone TO-
their ~grievous offences against the immacu-
late Arthur. Another thing it may be well
for the halfbreeds to remember is that they
should not be too forward in profferins advice.
They have been rendering this unasked for
and cheap article ana are jerked up by the
Inter Ocean after the following style: "Of
course, the &c ntlemen so lately the Vice
Presidents enemies are now ~overfree with
advice as to his future course. He must de-
sert certain friends of his, he must cut loose
from old political associations, and he must
put himself in the hands of those who used
their best efforts to break him down. 1t will
not be like him to do any of these things. He
is loyal to his friends, and he will continue to
be loyal whether President or Vice President.
He has worked hard with the advanced wins
of his party, and should lie become President
he will continue what his constituents have
made him, a Stalwart Republican,"
These are words with the bark on, plainly
spoken, rough and uncompromising. Not q
single ray of light can be discovered in then
by which the wayfaring halfbreed can be
guided to the public crib under a stalwart al.
ministration. That the administration, in the
event of Mr.. Garheld's death, would be q
stalwart one, we have every reason to believe,
II has worked hard with the advanced
wing of his party" and it would be assuming
too much to assert that he will stultify him,
self, prove false to his convictions and a trai.
tor to his stalwart associates by accepting up
on trust and taking to his bosom representa-
tives of a faction of his party who attempted
during the darkest hours ofhis political exist
ance to cover his name with obloquy and
shame. It must be presumed that the Int,
Ocean speaks by the card and thai, in the ar
ticle referred to, it has sounded the keynote
of the policy of Mr.. Arthur's administrator
towards the halfbreeds, in the event he is
called upon to yield the executive power Of
tn nation. Mr.. Arthur will be true to his con-
v~ictions, and 1t must be remembered that