Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-09-23
lanrastcr tntclltqenrer.
FRIDAY EVENING. SEPT. %. 1881.
The InauguratfOn.

President Arthur continues to merit
the opinion Of his character which is
spread abroad among the people. He
concluded to have himself sworn into
Office second time. On this occasion
the surroundings were appropriate. The
deed was done in the capitol at Wash.
ington, the oath was administered by
the chief justice of the United States,
before the members of the cabinet and
George Bliss. The presence of the lat
ter individual might have been dispensed
with !: but one may not reasonably object
to the impudent intrusion of insects;
and in our judgment President Arthur
was sworn in time number two quite
according to Gunter." But it occurs
to us that men of ordinary regard for
the binding character of an oath would
not think that they needed to be twice
sworn to do their duty :; and would in
deed very greatly incline to object to the
repetition. 1t seems to he treating the
first oath with light regard g; if it was
sOlemnly taken in {. lawful way it GER
tainly was too complete an act to
he properly repeated. The oath OF
Arthur in New York before Judge
Brady was as good as the one taken in
the capitol before the chief justice,
though tile surroundings were less ap-
propriate; and we do not believe that 4
thoroughly conscientious man would
have cared to repeat the oath. Mr..
Hayes alone of his predecessors is said to
have done this, having first privately
taken the oath on March 18th, being Sun
day, and repeated it the next day 1T the
public inaugural ceremonies. Hayes was
alarmed lest Tilden should dispute his
title and anyway he is not an illustri-
trious example to be followed. Presi-
dent Arthur is said to have been moved
to repeat his oath 10y the suggestion that
the one taken before the state judge in
New York was not 4 matter OF federal
record, and because of his desire to fol-
low the example of his predecessors in
securing their office at the hands of a
federal judge. But this consideration
should have kept him from taking the
midnight oath in New York, which was
reduced to writing, signed and attested
and when recorded in federal Office
would have been federal record.
The president delivered brief inau
gural from manuscript and demonstrated
that he is not i master of the English
language. 1t is not we'll done, to speak
of "the sorrow which mournS the be-
reavement." But it is not serious fault
in an executive officer that he does moi
write elegant English if he will but
think we'll and act well, he may be per
mitted to express himself as awkwarilN
as he plcases. In action and thought
not OratiOn. is the best strength of ;
president. But we fear that the
present officer is poor thinker
too. There is nothing striking
or original in his inaugural thoughts
and in view of the fact that he has sum
moned Il special session of the Senate fo
October lO-as was manifestly his urg IN
duty to GO-he should either have re
ferred to this in his address, or lef
unSaid what he said about an extra Ses
sion OF Congress, leaving The public t
think for day that he would not eX
ercisc the wisdom of our fathers, "whO
foresceing the most dire possibilities
made sure that the government shoul'
never be imperiled because of the un
certainty of human life