Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-10-13

gave MIN D1aS toward Albany. When
he was elected governor he called in
various young men to make ready for
the threatened war between the sec
tions. Arthur had been in the state
militia, an important feature of New
York state institutions. The militia
here is well kept up and is under
rigid state supervision. Morgan sue
cessfully made Arthur engineer-in-
chief inspector general, and finally
quartermaster general. During the
war New York Iaised an enormous
army, such as would do credit to a
very large nation. Arthur transacted
the purchasing business of the state
to an enormous amount of money
without increasing any scandal, and
came out of the Office not much ahead.
1t Is said that he refused every present
sent to him, whether of military
clothing, sadles, horses or trifes. Yet
he did make money at the close, when
large numbers of war claims were put
in the hands of Arthur & Gardner.
This firm also became celebrated for
the speed with which it could draft
and put through legislative bills at
Albany or Wash, Dgton.
ARTHUR A POLITICIAN.
1t is said that Tom Murphy, after
ward collector of the port, drew Ar
thur into politics by having the city
government, in tammany times, make
Arthur counsel to the tax commission
ers. In turn Arthur assisted to make
Murphy a state senator. After Grant
reached the presidency he put Murphy
into the place Of collector of the port,
whereupon there was loud opposition,
followed by Murphy's resignation, and
at Murphy's request, Grant then made
Arthur collector of the port, much to
the surprise of the people, who in
general knew little about him.
For the next ten years, however,
the constant investigations of the Gus
tom house and the huge business it did
for the country, made Arthur a
marked man. When he was removed
by Hayes, strong petitions were pre-
pared in protest. But General Merritt
took the place and held it until the re-
cent confirmation of Robertson.
In the meantime Arthur, who had
developed into pretty bright polite
ian, and had got complete control of
the Conkling machine in New York,
became the regular engineer of the Re
publican campaigns. 1t was he who
decided to support Cooper, Democrat,
for mayor. His Office was in the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, and nearly all the mon
eys to be spent for the election passed
through his hands. The merchants
generally had confidence in him. His
manner was rather fine, yet
sweet. He was always fair to
look upon with a pair of rich black
eyes, in which lay refined smile. A
healthy color was in his cheeks, be-
tokening good living, and he wore a
pretty dress, which became him. Not
originally a man Of strong powers, his
graces are such that when he has done
thing for certain time he shows
skill and perfectness in it. He became
politician slowly, and seldom pre-
sumed until he knew the business, and
then he could be severe if necessary.
He had to say mo" often, and cut off
the head of many q friend. If there
is anything he will be perfect in il will
be making appointments and removals.
SUMMARY OF CHARACTER.
Arthur is a Republican politician in
his views, but Democratic politician in
his ways. He would regulate a party
on the Jacksonian plan, Of discipline
from the top. Under Morgan he was
a rich, self-seeking and rather timid
man, who, after he had reached the
highest position in the state, had not
the art to maintain himself, and was
easily beaten by FentOn for the SEN
ate. Being the beneficiary of FentOns
discontinue, Arthur, of course, allied
himself to Gen. Grant, and through
Grant to Conkling. He possessed in
high degree the receptive, docile quail
tiles of character necessary toget along
with Conkling. That phlegm and sto-
lid conceit Gov. Cornell possesses is
foreign to Althur's nature. There is a
great deal that is still boyish, generous
and pretty about Arthur. He bas
been accustomed. however, to behavior
rather than to formulating principles.
He is an intense Republican, and be-
lieves that to let go of the organization
in the slightest respect is to invite dis
aster to the party. He thinks Conk-
ling to be man of the largest powers,
both of mind and will. Conkling, how
ever, did his best to keep Arthur from
accepting the nomination for vice
president, which has turned out to be
Conkling's only salvation in the time
Of despair. Gen. Arthur might, there
fore, begin to consider himself wiser
politician than Conkling.
Although the nomination of Arthur
was not well received in New York,
because he was considered to be rather
city politician than a statesman, yet
it no doubt did strengthen the ticket
In this quarter. He was seen every
day conducting the campaign in this
state, and to some extent throughout
the country. working methodically and
with altered habits, and many men
were induced to contribute in New
York by the sight of this rather CHEEKY
faced gentleman going to his Office
like another man to a bank, morning
after morning.
IWO MloIAhES.
Arthur has made two mistakes
since he became vice-president. The
FIRST was to endeavor to elect Crowley
sentor against the governors friend
Platt, in which he was beaten. The
next was the attempt to put Conkling
back in the senate after he resigned
where he was also beaten. These two
failures ought to have been an instruc-
tive influence upon the vicepresident.
1t is current belief that they have af-
fected his confidence to the extent that
he viii seek out some Conkling, or
other man Of power, to advise with if
greater duties should devolve upon
him.
AS Arthur is the first public man
from New York City who has ever
been president or presidential expec-
tant, it would seem that he ought to
strive to make his administration wor-
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