Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-07-08
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TO WHOM 1T MAY CONCERN,

From the New York Times, (Rcp) July g.
When Chester A. Arthur was elected Vice
President of the United States no thought WAS
further from the minds of the people who voted
for him than that circumstances should ever
elevate him to tho highest position in the Ma
tiUn. When James A. Garfield was Yesterday
reported rs lying at the point of death, new Bit.
lerness was added to the poignancy of public
grief by the thought that Chester A. Arthur
would be his successor. This is Il simple state
ment OF fact, whose truth can be regretted by
none more than by its recorder. But Ms plain
speaking was never more required than in
presence VI such possibilities AS nUw confront
the people of the United States, the pUsitiun of
Vice President Arthur must be dealt with as
the occasion demands.
Gen. Arthur has held for four months an
Office which acquires inhportance only 10 view
of such an emergency as he crime of Guitteau
was intended to create. Such dignity as be.
seems even the forma responsibilities of that
Office lie has butindilierenily maintained such
reticence and self-reslraint as belong to its pos
sibilities and its estimation IN tue eyes of
thoughtful men he has entirely disrega rded,
| Active politicians, uncoinproinisinp pariisans,
| have held before now the office of Vice Presi-
| dent Of the United States, but no holder Of that
Office has ever made ii so plainly subordinate to
| his self-interest as politician and his Harrow
ness as q partisan. Public condemnation of
The appearance Of Vice President Arthur as an
| actor in the disgracefu squabble over the SEN
atorial representation Of tins State has been
| more unanimous than any other sentiment
which that contest has excited. II matters mo-,
whether in the faction fight at Albany lie had
| more at stake than even Roscoe Conkling: it
matters not whether he WAS reluctant aid or a
| ready volunteer in the work of influencing the
votes of the Legislaiure--his participation in
| that work was, in the estimation of all right
| minded Republicans, business equally derO-
galory to his position and to the good name Of
tho party TO which he owes that position. While
his success sion to the Presidency OF the United
States depends on the issue of a strong mans
| struggle with death, Gen. Arthur is about the
last man who would be considered eligible TO
that position, did the choice depend on the
voice either OF minority Of his own party or
| or majoriiy Of the people of the United States.
| That Gen. Arthur has been untrue 10 his bet
ter self as clearly as he has been taithless to
| the demands Of the aggregate Of political intel
| ligence and conscience which he, In some sort,
| represents, We have no manner 0i doubt. That
he IL able TO profit from such a demonstration
| OF public feeling toward HIM as tho crime of
| yesterday ELECTED We are. equally certain, else
| were It's plain statement us ire levant as pa In
ful. Grossly slanderous ms IL would be to i'm
| pute any suggestion OF hOnicidal intent 10 the
men who have 30 bitterly challenged tho Pres-
ident's assertion OF Executive Independence, II
10 not too much to hope that the revelation OF
how weak mind may be driven ~ the con-
csption Of crime by feelings not remotely akin
To theirs, may not be lost on ANY Of the oppv
ponenls Of the administration. A struggle oi
faction which has for lis incidents charges OF
bribery, conspiracy, and perjury, in which the
most scandnlous imputations against ono Of the
chief contestants are sustained by the opponents
acting as esyesdroppers and keyhole detectives
10 but too fitting a prelude to an attempt at
murder. The morbid egoiism and the ipsstia-
BILE hunger for place which lave lent that con
test most OF it's bitterness, are not qualities oi
which tho Vice President Of the United States
ough. 10 be the foremost champion, since they
represent Influences which make even those
most disposed 10 think well OF him recoil from
the prospect Of his ever being anything more
than Vice President. The man to whom the
criminal act Of Guitteau ought 10 bring the
gravesi reflections Is the man who has appar-
oDily must " gain from ils fatal issue.