Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-07
Arthur,s weighty Task.


arrived in the history of the Republican
party that calls for the display of the
finest diplomacy. The Presidency and
a slender majority in the House were
secured to the party only by the lavish
use of money where 1t would do the
most good" and the boldest falsehoods,
which frightened the Northern factory
hands. Had President Garfield survived
his wound he might have brought about
peace within the party and maintained
it till 1884. To President Arthur falls
the task of hsrmonizing the differences
that pervade the ranks of the party, and
labor as he may his work will be diff
ficult.
The New York Convention, which
witnessed the initial struggle between
the stalwarts and half breeds, closed
with a substantial victory for the latter.
True, the stalwarts were practically
beaten before they entered the conven'
ton, but an evidence of the respect they
command from their opponents may be
found in the tabling of a resolution look
ing to party reorganization in New York
and Brooklyn, the stalwart strongholds
Beaten as they have been the stalwarts
vet have the power of revenge. This
makes them formidable. and when the
half breed cheers have died away their
leaders will lose no time in fastening to
appease the opposite faction. The Presi-
dent cannot, and il is far from his purpose
to ignore his former friends. The grand
battle is yet to come off unless the hun
gry placemen of both sides are prepared
to make the largest sacrifices for the
peace Of the party.
To heal the differences in New York
is in itself task of no little magnitude,
and when it is remembered that differ
ences alike in origin, but less intense, ex-
ist elsewhere, the work of the President
appears all the harder. The Republicans
Of Ohio stand on the threshold of an
important contest. Defeat will involve,
according to usual practice, a redistrict-
ing of the State, which would entail
a loss of several Congressman. They
are far from hopeful Of victory, and the
events of the next few DAYS may decide
the battle against them in advance. They
suspect President Arthur, and their man
ner of expressing their suspicion nettles
his stslwart admirers. In Pennsylvania
the voters are breaking away from the
bosses. Philadei phia a few months ago
elected a Democratic Mayor, and now
Wolfe. one of the purest Republicans in
the State, is leading a bolt for State
Treasurer. Similar discomfort is found
elsewhere.
The Southern question on which the
party traded so long is dead Strive as
they may, they cannot galvanize the old
issues. The foremost manufacturers
are calling for a thorough revision of
the tariff, and if the Democrats are not
watchful the Republicans may grow
desperate and fOrestall them in demand
ing tariff for revenue. The sole re
source left the party, unless there is a
complete burial of differences, is the
power of money. Plumber, its stoutest
adjunct, serves the party to but little
purpose now. since it is upon its divis-
ion that the quarrels are most bitter.
But aside from the spOilsmen, there
are men upon whom the party is forced
to rely, who, leavened by the example of
the dead President, wish to see peace
smile upon the land and are indifferent
as to which faction shall act as his ex-
ecutor, provided his will is carried out
Their numbers cannot be counted, but
President Arthur cannot disregard them,
and to satisfy them he must put country
in advance of party.
1t may be that he possesses powers
with which he has not been credited, and
lie may be able to smooth the rough
places in the party's path, but If he does
it will be only by the exercise of con-
summate Jinesse, seconded by self-sacri-
fee on the part of the chief spOilsmen
such as they have never exhibited and
can fairly be judged incapable of. His
work as a peacemaker will be watched
with j. rest. To the average view the
skill of a Richelieu or Talleyrand would
be taxed with his task.