The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-08-26
GARFIELD AND ARTHUR
THEIR RELATIONS TO ZACH OTHER
Said 70 be the Nest Pleasant and
COFdial-A New Light on General
Arthur from the Very Highest
Possible Authority.

current to-day, chiefly in the region Of
speculation, and most frequently reiterated
during business hours, that the situation at
Washington had grown serious; that the
Cabinet had invited Gen. Arthur to come
to Washington and assume the duties Of
the President, who, it twas said, was clearly
disabled, Later these reports were amended
into rumor that Arthur had been urged
to hasten to Washington, as on previous
occasion, to be on hand in case Of an emer-
gency Still later these rumon were con-
tradicted by authority US having no ioun.
dation in flct. The medium Of denial was
a lawyer in close confidence Of the Vice
President,
A close personal friend OF Mr., Arthur,
who had passed the morning and evening
with him, slid in rather warm manner 10
q Tribune reporter, referring to an extract
irom, the Cincinnati GlEette, published in
yesterdays Tribune, you newspaper men
make two grave errors about Arthur, You
talk OF him As a mere politician, and you
think he and Garfield arc personally un.
friendly, This very article here 1.-THE one
from the Gdzeite) speaks OF him as being
conspicuous in his adhesion 10 politician
who set out to make u scene, etc., and /
find everywhere the idea that Arthur IL
nothing if'not politician, That idea Is n
natural consequence ofhis position for years
back. He has been the local leader Of the
Republicans Of this city, and It Is a
proof Of his great ability that he has
been the most successful leader We have
ever had. Now, it requirer no small
amount of abllity-ability Of a high order,
not mere tact and trickery-tO led a minor.
ity party, like the local Republicans OF this
city, and still win success That has been
his only field thus far, Docs II follow, be-
cause he was with n minority party In local
and State Politics, that he Is disqualified for
the higher duties Of leading tho majority nj
national politics? think not; and II the
opportunity, unfortunately, is given him
through the threatened calamity to the
country he will acquit himself as well In d
larger us in smaller field, and prove
as much statesman rs he Is now re-
garded politician, Nor Ii ittrue that hia
personal relations to the President are even
unpleasant, let alone being hostile. Dur
ing the troubles at Washington following
the nomination Of Robertson as Collector
Of thisport Gen, Arthur was oil the time
trying ohe the peaceniakef, He labored
down 70 the last moment in tryingto bring
about some compromise or settlement, and
even nfter the designations af COnkling and
Plattyhe went personally 10 Gen. Garfield to
seeif some way could not be devised by
which an honorable settlement could be
brought about, When u was finally de-
cided that there was no way open for
compromise or reconciliation, Arthur
plainly told the President that he felt
bound In honor to sustain his friends, ant.
added, n trust, Mr.. President, that you
will not think that there Is anything per
sonal to you In my action The Prcsi.
dent, in,his usual hearty way, took hold OF
Arthur by the shoulders, and said; "Per.
sonall my dear fellow nothing Of the sort;
know you have no such petty feeling at
all You may be assured that this vas
about the substance Of the conversation at
the interview between the President and
Nice President at theirlat meeting
Whatever conclusions the Cabinet may
huge reached, 4he counsel0ts d the Vice
ANHNiShb huNV uiHSN'tLtab tllV SublllVb CAh
not take upon itself to decide when an In.
ability Of the President exists, and II Il
known that Gen. Arthur will not heed any
call orsnegestion Of the Cabinet as To act.
ing in. place OF the President II is safe to
say, dlso, that while Vice President Arthur
will not disregard any request Of the Cabl-
net or Of Mr.. Blaine, Us tits head, TO come
to Washington he Is adyersetO doing 80
while tic President lives ,PreCedents in
like cases show there h no absolute. need
that the Vice President should 'dualify.im.
mediately on the desthr OF the President,
and Gen. Arthur believes there Is nothing
pressing in national affairs to warrant un.
due haste on his part in the event Of the
death Of President Garfield. e4
Mr. Arthur was at his house until late
hour this evening. Ex-senator COnkling,
who came into tho city yesterday evening,
A,lB. johnson, Of Utica, and George Bliss,
visited him in the evening, but what passed
between, them was, ,gof course mot Amade
known Naturally they simply await de
velopments 1t Washington.