New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-23
ROEnnNTNG TRAERTL

] Before the dead President is carried t. his
last restlng-placc tie question of the probable
course of his successor is discussed in the pub
! lie prints and in all places where men meet
/ to talk over the calamity that is uppcrmost in
/ all minds. IL would, no doubt, be more fitting
l to let the subject rest until the last Offices of
mourning are paid to him who has inst pnt
down the burden of life, but Am rican thought
! is restless and eager and always runs ahead of
events. The living grieve no less profoundly
! for the dead because they ask themselves
" What of the future r. 4 change i'm the Chief
NagiStracy is in peaceful times the most serious
occurrence which affects the interests % the
whole Republic. The new ruler brings new
ideas and purposes to the ceutre of Executive
power, and something of the influence of his
] personality, training, ambitions, culture, preju-
d'ccs and friendships influences all branches OF
the Government, even though his accession
may not bring with it any shocG of political
change. Mr.. Hayes once said that every prcsi-
dent has left his Impress upon the history of the
country. If science could analyze the structure
of our National life it would find in it elements
directly traccablc to the more obscure and ac-
cdental Presidents like Tyler ard johnson AS
well as to those of strong intellects and wills
like the Adamses, Jefferson, Jackson and Lin
coin. 1t is no wonder, therefore, that men do
not postpone to a less solemn season their spec.
ulations as to the conduct of the Admnistra-
ton under its new head.
A No doubt something of the haste Ia discuss
this topic is due to q widespread apprehension
that evil will follow as consequence of the
murder of President Garfield. The country is
prosperous and contentcd sectional bitterness
is fast disappearing; the conflicts of faction
J have ceased under the influence Of n profound
National grief All patriotic men dread
change because they see 10 good to come from
II change, and can imagine much i'll that may
ensuc. All was going well with the ship of
state before the captain was struck down at
his post-the sea was smooth and the skies fair.
the craft was obedent to the hand of the tried
and slNful seaman, and there was bright pro
mise OF happy, prosperous voyage. win all
] 20 well with Il new commander is the question
men ask now with doubtful and foreb0dinp
looks.
Let us reason together and SEQ if there is any
good cause for the apprehensOns so freely ex-
pressed Ill these days of sadness General
Arthur succeeds to the Presidency at n time
when there are no great National controversial,
veXing the public mind. There is no United
states Bank question rs in the DAYS of TYLER
no Slavery question as III those of Fillmore. and
no Reconstruction question as in those of John
son. In the Republican party of which he has
been devoted adherent ever since il was
organized, there are no issues of principle ar
1 policy upon which men widely differ The
great cardinal ideas of the party-such as canal
suffrage, fair elections. general education. n
sound currency and faithful payment of pub
lie obhgatlOns-aro as dear to him az they were
I to the lamented Garfield. We need not fear
that he will make any new departures or seek
4 to remove any of the well-sctted landmarks of
the Republican faith. On one point he NAV
differ somewhat from his predecessor-we
mean on the question of the need Of Civil Ser
vice reform; but we venture TO predict that
only few months experience of the WAYS of
ohce-seekers will be needed to bring him to the
conviction that u law fixing the tenure of all
minor offices and prohibiting removals, save for
good cause, would be blessing to both Presi
dent and people,
General Arthur has, neither in the political
conditions which surround him nor in his own
personal character, any of the pitfalls which
destroyed the influence of the last Vice presi
dent whom death summoned to the White
House. His proper course as the chief of the
Nation and the official head of the Republican
party is SO plain that he can hardly go astrav
and we have no reason to suppose that he is
afflicted with that vanity of small natures
which seeks to be original to show itself
independent, and succeeds only in being
stubborn and wrong headed On the con.
trary, he is an intelligent and sympatbctic
man, who has lived in the centre of
affairs and values the good opinion of the