Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-07-05
THE PRESIDENTS DEATH.

neld cannot live. With this Concu-
sion naturally comes the calculation
Of the effects of his death. Many and
serious difficulties have been suggest
ed. in connection with the admins
tration of national affairs, and grave
apprehensions are felt by many, lest
tue antagonisms existing between the
stalwart branch of the Republican
party and Gen. Garfeld's supposed
policy, would culminate in an open
overthrow of conservative agents
and methods and an Inauguration of
stalwartism in it's most aggressive
form. We do not participate in these
apprehensions, While there was
much reason to hope that Mr.. Gar
fields administration would have
been characterized by broader pa
triotism and mere intelligent states
manship than any thing that could be
expected from the Grant ring politi-
clans, the circumstances of his
stalking off" and the rapid change in
public. sentiment. will doubtless tenn
per the spirit Of stalwartism and
bring greater conservatism into their
methods.
The assumption of the reins of
power by Mr.. Arthur is under the
most painfully keen scrutiny of pop
ular criticism. The hypothetical Sue
cesses of his predecessor. might or
might not have been borne out by
experience, but there is no doubt
Gen. Garfield had gained rapidly in
the confidence of the people of all
sections and of both parties. and that
Mr, Arthur's faction had correspon-
dinghy gone down in public cstima-
tlon, Death SO softens human hearts
that doubtful ISSUES and half-formed
designs, by the generosity of our grief,
are crystalized into acts of the pro-
t0Gndest wisdom and elevated stote..
There are few who will not do Gen.
Garfield the justice to accord him a
high order Of ability and genuine
patriotism. The ill-timed and vim
diCtire antagOnism he has encounter
ed from the Grant element in the
Republican party, with which Mr..
Arthur has been supposed to be in
full sympathy and accord, has been
almost universally condemned by
falr-minded men, who were anxious
that his administration should he
given an impartial trial before the
country.
Mr.. Arthur will naturally incur
much Of the public reprobation aris-
ing from the course thus far pursued
by Mr., Coukliug and his followers, and
he will be fortunate if the verdict
OF the tmpulsire and thoughtless
partizans of Garfield does not link
his name with disagreeablo suspi-
ci0ns of completely in the death of the
President. For some time therefore
President Arthur will have difficult
anC hazardous task to accomplish.
The real as well as the Hypothetical
virtues of Nh. Carheld's short and
term. will constantly en-
barrass che new dynasty, and will
plead in trumpet tones against the
deep damnation Of his taking off.
We are disposed however to think
that so far as the serious matters of
administration go. the country has
little to apprehend, There will be
wild howls of of agony from displaced
politicians and ofltce-holders. but we
have noticed that the country can
stand a large amount Of this agony
without serious loss to its general VI
tally. The government of this coun-
try is not bound up in any dynasty.
There is no minority in the "heil an
parent to the throne Of the people.
and while the virtues and powers that !.
haply may be centered in any one
OF their honored agents may by their
hrilliancy cast lustre upon the ma
ttonaI escutcheon, they cannot by
their loss involve the peril or dcstruc-
ton of our institutions.
The New York politicians have