Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-11-09
A Singular Contest.

Acknowledgement leaves his leave-tak'
Ing cards with his Washington acqnsint
tences, offers his house for rent, ant
quits the town with bag and baggage
The President refuses TO appoint hi
successor, and the Sohcitor-Genera
undertakes also the Attorney-G Generate
duties. And this attachment OF Mr.
Arthur to Mr.. MacVeagh, as is wei
known, sprlngs from no love for him,
for there is no love felt on either eide
The motives guiding each mans action
are we'll understood. But the questions
are whether the President is warranted
by any circumstances in demanding Mr..
Mac Veagh's services against Mr.. Mac
Veage's refusal to render them; and
whether MasV eagh is warranted in re-
fusing TO give them when the President
peremptorily commands them. The
situation as we read it Is just this 4: Mr..
Arthur has been a friend of The STAR
route thieves, and consplcuously so oil
Dorsey. He finds prosecution pending
AGAINST them commenced under his
predecessor. He considers the prose-
cution as most likely TO be without re-
suit. he fears to be charged with the
failure, and therefore desires ia avoid all
appearance OF responsibility for 1t by
leaving it in charge Of those who origina
ted it. Mr.. MacVeagh and Mr.. James
conspicueusly stand before the coun-
try as the star-route prosecutors, and
Mr.. Arthur wants to nail than there.
Mr.. MacVeagh understands this, but
apprehends also that the secret influence
of the Administration will work agains!
the undertaking TO put the Presidents
old friends in Jail. HesknoSs furthe r
more, that he il not Of the Adniuistra-
ton. while ostensibly part oft. He is
not Opposed to stay in it and 10 be turn
ed out when his virtue has been squeez-
ed out of him. Mr.. Arthur and Mr..
Mac Veagh belong to distinctly opposite
branches of the Republican party that
cannot coalesce any more than oil and
water. Under these circumstances Mr..
Mac yeagh pursued the only course
open to him in acquainting the Presl-
dent that he desired TO so ont OF the
Cabinet. Mr.. Arth ur, under ordinary
circumstances, would have been glad to
be rid ofhim. But now he thinks there
is an advantage in keeping him.
Is he right in refusing to let him 90 !:
Who can think so Suppose 1t is true,
as he says, that MacVeash, having
made himself familiar with the star
route cases. is the fittcst man TO prose-
cute them to the end. That would jas
tify him in asking him to stay but cer-
tainly II is a very unworthy and undig-
nified proceeding in President to go
farther than this in his INSTANCE, and 1t
is even childish in him to refuse to fill
Mr.. Macyeagh's place In the idea that
ne will thus more eifectually free him
self from responsibility for the failure
Of the prosecutions. In our Judgment
Mr.. MacVeagh would have done better
10 have retained his Office at the Presl-
dents command for the purpose OF pros
ccutins the work lie had begun. Re-
naming for this well-unders God special
purpose, he would not have been res
ponsible for the policy eff the Admins
tratlon. II Dir. Arthur could afford TO
retain 10 his Cabinet an avowed oppon-
ent who did not want TO stay there, Mr..
MacVeagh could we'll lave afforded 10
remain his position would have been
exceedingly independent, aud his place
a very conspicuous one from which to
proclaiss has F,ews. No sneetion OF
delicacy could have restrained from
antagouizlng a President who Insisted
OH keeping him by lis side against bis
will. The witness which led Arthur to
such ap unheard-of insisiaace mi.ht
have proved 20 be sllllnees Instead,
but it vas no concern Of Mr.. MacVeagh
to protect Mr.. Arthur against his FOL
".
Tie conduct Of the President in tins
matter csnclusively shows him 10 be q
man OF very loy lone. He has been
advertised By lie lTlend' as
o gentleman; and specifically he may
be. But be lacks the solf.respect which
is the essence OF the man and the yen
ileman. We fear, too, that he lacks
sincerity, honesty, aud independence
aud is, in TACT, but u pretentlous sham
as a little Time is likely 10 clearly show.
- Lancaster intelligence.