Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-13

AuC AtAuC15 vi tMC AACctOCAss
Though the interest Of the people in
the progress of President Gsrfeld's case
IS not as strong in it's manifestations as
il was in the early days of his illness. 1t
is none the less deep. Indeed, to the
thoughtful observer, there is warrant for
the deepest anxiety. For over forty
days he has lain upon his bed powerless
to help himself, and in all that
time he has been shut out from commu-
nication with his advisers and has had
but brief converse with his family and
intimate friends He has had two dis
couraging relapses, and there is no tell
ing but that he may have another.
1t is idle to judge from the bulletins
daily issued. Sunday evening last Dr.
Bliss ascribed the high temperature of
the President to the weather. and
yet the next day Secretary Blaine tele-
graphed to Minister Lowell that this
temperature which Bliss made light of,
indicated serious internal disturbance,
and pointed to another pus cavity, which
was relieved by the second operation
performed on Monday last. DR.. Bliss
now says he will be prepared to take a
sea voyage in three weeks.
While the fulfillment of this prediction
will be devoutly wished by everybody
there is, in view of the past experience Of
the public, but little ground for expect
ing it.
The surgeons express satisfaction with
the Presidents symptoms. and yet they
qualify their satisfaction by the
information that his progress
is "as rapid as they could ex-
pect." One would suppose that with
the attention and the supposed and con-
ceded talent that have been bestowed
upon his case, the President would have
been much farther advanced on the road
to recovery by this time. The fact that
the President lives and takes food is the
only real sign of encouragement that the
public have. The bulletins are master
pieces of medical diplomacy. They
state the bald facts of the examinations,
but only professional men can judge Of
their significance. The President is
a very sick man, and the public cannot
afford to relax their anxiety, strive at the
surgeons may to allsy it. Since the sec
ond of July there has been no head of
the Executive Department, and, unless
rapid improvement takes place, there
will arise weighty question, which will
call for speedy settlement. Though Mr..
Arthur is the legally constituted success
sor of, or substitute for, President Gar
field, the fact that his credentials are
perfect does not reconcile the people to
the prospect of his elevation, even
though it be temporary. But
would it be merely temporary? What
warrant have we higher than our hopes
that the President will rise from his
couch strong in health and capacityf
What evidence is there that Mr.. Arthur
will not yet succeed him? Again, grant
ing that a few months must
elapse ere the President RECEIVERS,
Mr. Arthur must take his place
Once having taken it when would he re-
linquish it, At the restoration of the
President to health or at the end of the
term?
The language of the Constitution COW
ering the case implies that the service of
Mr.. Arthur would end at the termina-
ton of the disability. But who would
pronounce the disability at an epd?
The question of succession il case of
disability has never been raised. Alto
gether, the problem is one of difficulty,
and it is to be hoped that it will not
come up for solution.
Whatever be their prospects of fulfill
ment, the people have formed high hopes
of President Garfeld's administration,
and, however well Mr.. Arthur may have
borne himself when he was very near to
the Presidency, they cannot contemplate
his accession to it with pleasure, and
hardly with resignation.