New-York tribune., 1881-09-02

can eat, together. with moderate amount of
clothing and an annuity in cash to buy
whiskey His wants are few, and it is cheaper
to supply them than to fight him, though the
morality Of supporting a lot of lazy vagabonds
in idleness to prevent them from plundering
and killing industrious citizens is questionable,
to say the least.
Something definite is now KIN own. about the
participation of France in the celebration of
the Yorktown Centennial. The Marquis de
Rochambeau writes to Colonel Peyton announc-
ing his own coming, together with represen-
tatives of the Lafayette family, and speaking of
the probability of numerous officers, repre-
senting the different departments of the French
Government sailing with them from Havre on
the Oath. The French West India fleet has
been ordered to Yorktown to take part in the
naval display and to escort the Government
delegations, which will include many officers
OF high rank. Evidently the French mean to
accept the part assigned to them in the cere-
monies with hearty good will. Their coopera-
tion and the action of our own Government
give to the affair an interest and dignity
which raise it far above the many local CEN
tennial celebrations of Revolutionary events
The White House bulletins represe MT the
President as having passed tolerably salts
factery day. There was no noticeable i'm
provement in his condition, and none could rea-
sonably be expected with an atmosphere SO hot
and hfeless as was that of yesterday. The
question of moving him to healthier and
cooler place was again discussed among the
doctors, and will probably be settled at the
consultation to-day. 1t is greatly to be hoped
that the decision will be that with proper pre-
cautions he can be taken away from Washing
ton, with its oppressive, debilitating heats and
its poisonous exhalations from the reeking Po-
tomac flats His chances for recovery will be a
great deal better if he can safely be trans
ported to some quiet spot on the seacoast
where he can have the advantage of a pure
lnvigorating atmosphere. Probably the best
place for him would be his Mentor farm but
1t will be weeks before he can prudently un-
dertake a railroad journey of twenty-four
hours. 1t may be decided to take him down
the Potomac in a naval vessel, but it is more
likely that it will be thought best to remove
him to Long Branch on special train, running
slowly and at night. The whole country will
breathe freer when it learns that tho President
is safely out of the enervating, malarious at
mosphere of Washington.
We print to-day conversation of the Hon.
George NJ Robson with reporter of The
TRIBUNE in relation to the question of Presdcn-
tlal inability" The high standing of Mr.
RobesOn as a lawyer and pNrliamentarian will
cause his views to be read with great interest
and attention. He takes the original, and, at
first thought, startling ground that the Vice
President himself is the sole judge Of the time
and circumstances under which the duties of
the Presidency devolve upon him, under the
Constitution. The evidence which he should
require for such decision is the most impor-
tant element in the case, and this is also consid-
cred with some care by Mr.. Robeson. He con-
cludes that the most satisfactory evidence
which could be furnished of the occurrence of
the contingency of inability provided for by
the Constitution would be the statement of
the President himself to that effect. After
that the best evidence would be the certificate
oil the attending surgeons accompanied by q
notification from the members of the Cabinet
We have been inclined to think the safest
method of procedure would be-as soon rs the
Cabinet and the President are convinced that
his present condition of weakness is to be of
long duration-to call Congress together to
pass a statute for carrying into effect the pro-
vision of the Constitution having reference to
such cases. There is nothing in the statement
of MIR. RObeson's views which would inval-
date the view of the question heretofore pre-
sented In these columns. But we call atten-
tion to his propositions as one of the most pos
tive and substantial contributions to the pend
ing discussion yet made.