National Republican., 1881-11-24
President Arthur and Wayne Mac
Ncagh.


When we wish to know what vile
things Wayne MacYeagh is saying Of
President Arthur we look into a certain
Philadelphia journal, the only one in the
country, il is believed, that combines the
disposition with the capacity for such u
service. glance into its columns of
very recent date detected some obscrva-
tions of peculiar malgnity, the intention
being to convince the reader that "when
Garfield died and Arthur came in n
scheme was concoctcd for driving Mae
Neagh out of the Cabinet in order TO
prepare the way for something specially
reprehcnsible by the new Administration.
The intention of the writer--presumably
MacNcagh himself-is to convey the idea
that what was intended by Arthur and
"the Stalwarts" could not be accom-
plished before "MacNcngh's lance was
broken" Nevertheless. in direct contra
diction of this, the article. asserts that
"thc Stalwart President desired delay I;
he wanted MacVeagh to divide RESPONSE
bility with him for the new Stalwart
methods and aims but MacN Neagh posi-
lively declined"
The country has come to have settled
convictions concerning President Arthur;
and its Judgment is equally settled no
doubt about Wayne MacNcagh. While Ar
thur needs no defense MacNcagh cannot
be defended. While the one is approved,
the other is condemned. The President
might rest his reputation for sagacity,
propricty, and the qualities expected
from one in his high station on his treat
mcnt of Wayne MacNcagh and what has
incidentally attached to that question.
That gentleman isprcsumcd to possess the
intelligence to perceive what are his
proportions in comparison. Certainly the
country observes the contrast; and it is
to be noted that while the commendation
of the Presidents action is universal,
especially among men of the higher grade
of intelligence, no word has anywhere
been uttered or written, save in the
Philadelphia journal referred to, even
apologiaing for, much less commencing,
the absconding Cabinet officer.
Nothing becomes some men so much as
their exit; but even this cannot be said
of MacVcagh. He has forfeited the silence,
generally mixed with contempt, which is
mercy to men in MacNeagh's situation.
He insists on intensifyingth feeling that
has followed him. Probably no man in
the memory Of the present generation
who, after rising to an honorable position
in the Government, has so completely for.
feited the good opinion of the country as
Wayne MacNChgh. When he intimates
as he has frequently done, that Arthur
desired his retirement that he might the
more safely enter on Il course that he
desires the reader to infer would be little
lessthan infamous, and then, in contradic-
tion, AYERS that Arthur wanted him to
remain in the Cabinet to divide the re-
sponsibility," he goes to the bottom ot
the worst depths which are supposed tc
be visited exclusively by men thoroughly
bad at heart and depraved in theil
practices.
The truth is, and in this all fair-mindet
persons are agreed President Arthur hat
treated MacVeagh with a consideration
and forbearance he did not merit. Th,
unfortunate gentleman may live to realiz,
how greatly he is the Presidents debtor
1t il the one thing about which there ar,
no two opinions now. Mr.. MacVeagl
stands alone