New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-21
Providence in the fact that Mr. Garfield did not die
until the Nation was in measure prepared for his
l.
THE TAKING OF THE OATH.

One OF the nine persons who present at the
swearing in of General Arthur as President gave TO
TRIBUNE reporter yesterday minute account of
the occurrences at General Arthurs house, but with
ths request that his name should not be published
l. number of Mr. Arthurs friepdsD he said had
been with him during the evening endeavoring TO
divert his mind from the sad calamity that was
constantly in his thoughts The bulletins in the
later part OF the evening had been so reassuring
that there was something like hopefuness of feel
ing i'll the little group, although nothing was said
on the subject The first announcement of the
death of the President came from n TRIBUNE re-
porter who called at the door 1t was received by
all and especially by General Arthur with incredu-
lty But few minutes later the telegram came
from Attorney General MacYeagh. This conirma-
tlon OF the dreaded news led to an immediate con-
sutation to the proper steps be taken by Gen.
eial Arthur. Owing to the peculiar complication
OF circumstances it thought best that the oath
OF office should be administered possible
This determination the result of comlnunica-
tions previously had betwee General Arthur and
the members of The Cabinet, and it had been under
stood that in the event of President Gariield's
death his successor should be sworn in without any
delay. AT the time when the President was so very
low two or three weeks ago, Judge Blatchford re-
manned in town several days that he might be in
readiness to administer the oath. By the time the
oatl had been written out by of those present.
dispatch from the Cabinet came making the request
that General Arthur take the oath Immediately
Ehhu Root and DR.. L. c. Van Wyck started ut once
III one chb and District Attorney Rollins and Police
Commissioner French in another, to find q Jud,,e
The former returned shortly after l o'clock with
Justice Brady, and then there was shoIt delay
until the Others came with Justice Donohue. As
Justice Brady came first he asked to administer
the oath. There were then present in General
Art rlp hocs1 and
and those named above, only General Arthurs
private secretary. j. O. Reed, making nine in all
General Arthur and Justice Brady stood in the
centre of the front parlor, and the Others were
standing closely around. 1t was % very striking
scene the time of the night ntensifying the i'm
pressiveness that all tho other circumstances gave
to it. At its conclusion there was some quiet
conversation before the visitors started for home"
Justice Donohue of the Supreme Court was pres
ent at General Arthur's house when Justice Brady
who had arrived at the house before him. admins
tered the oath of Office to the President
Justice Donohue said yesterday that the ceremony
was very brief, although impressive. The few per-
sons present were gathered in the front paror and
stood around General Arthur and Justice Brady
while tic oath was being read. O" believe" Justice
Donohue said in his terse way in answer to further
questions, " that Mr.. Arthur is going to make a
irst-ia President"
A TALK WITH JUSTICE BRADY.
Justice Brady was found in his Thirty-thlrd-st
home by TRIBUNE reporter last evening He spoke
very briefly about the occurrences connected with
the giving of the oath of Office to the new President
The only thing to be said, no remarked, about
the fact that the oath taken before a State in
stead of Federal officer that the circumstances
were striking and unusual, and the energencv made
such step necessary and proper, 1t had never
arisen before and il to be hoped it never would
again.
He had heard of the death of the President, JUS
tice Brady said, before midnight fhronsb nm
extra that was cried through the streets. lie had
not gwen up hope until Monday that the President
settled itself into positive convection that it was
not General Garelds destiny 20 die by the hand OF
broke down the last hope and destroyed the posi-
billty of sleep for the night. He was therefore
awake and dressed when Mr. Root and DR.. Van
Wyck drove up TO his door 10 ask him To go TO Gen
eral Arthur's house.
q have known Mr. Arthur a long time" he coas
tanned the belief that President Garfield would sur
vive expressed the opinion both here and at sara
toga THAT General Arthur possessed the attributes
likely to make him an excellent President 1 still
hold the same opinion. He is broad man; a man
same time man who forms an independent judg-
ment IN which he has confidence. lie is one
VINO makes friends and strong ones ANTAGONISTS
he has, but no enemies He will not be dictated -
or controlled as President but will act indcpend-
emily and with liberal policy toward all sections
will peculiarly fit him for some Of the most irving
duties of his high Office. He has been brought in
contact with all classes OF men; he has
learned 10 judge of them and to understand the
motives that actuate in their various political
attitudes he comes in a peculiar sense from the
hoSt OF the people whose leader he Is to be- He is
far sighted, liberal, and at the time conserva-
tive, and think that those who have been tLe
sharpest in their criticisms of him in the past will
be greatly surprised to see how good resident lac
will make"
Another who was present told of several adj
dltonal circumstances no. mentioned by the other
narrators; Almost immediately IT was said by this
informant, upon the receipt by General Arthur of
the dispatch from Attorney jienerai AacVeaqh the
Vlce-tTesident with his own hand wrote sent
away the telegram OF coincidence to Mrs. Garfield
that was published yesterday mor ming Then too
after the oath was administered he sent a second
telegram to the Cabinet informing the members OF
the performance of that duty All of the
persons who were in the parlors were
deeply affected while the oath was
being read AT its cone lusiOn General Arthur who
had stood with uplifted hand said Increasingly :.
- 30 help me God do"
A moment afterward the Presidents son Allan. who
although only seventeen years Old is nearly six feet
III height approached his father, and having one
arm on his shoulder kissed him. Tears stood IN Gen
cral ArthuTs eyes.
/ ADVICE FROM THURLOW WEED
INFLUENCES WHICH HE THINKS PRESIDENT ARTHUR
SHOULD AvoID-KTCHEN CABINETS To BE Dis
CoURAGED.
ono Vice President" said Thurlow Weed yostor-
day to TRIBUNE reporter, lever went into the
Presidential chair under favorable cir cumstances
General Arthur He has nothing to do except take
the Government and 90 on with il. In three other
cases whore the President has died there were COM
pcations for the e-Presdents TO grapple with
\ at once, which they were not equal to-
But General Arthur's course is clear.
lilo will have smooth sailing If he wllo keen the
ship OF State on the General Gariicd's Ad-
minstration had given her. All that General Gar
fpId xyI,tla fahnu /: