Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-09-24
PRESIDENT ARTHUR'S INAUGURAL AD-
DRESS.

President Arthur has shown good taste
and good sense in his first public act as
Chief Executive. His inaugural address
is as brief and concise as it could well
have been, and it is evidently intended to
allay the natural apprehensions of the peo'
pie by conveying to them assurance OF his
intention to maintain the status quo as
faithfully as possible. There was no ne
cessity for more than President Arthur
has said in this address. Indeed the
country would not have had patience for
longer document at such a time. The new
President is intelligent enough to perceive
that he has his own reputation to make,
and that the work will be difficult because
of the unavoidable prejudice with which
he has been regarded hitherto. If, how
ever, he can live up to the policy which
he has outlined in his address, the
country will be more than satisfied.
But, of course, it will be generally
felt that experience alone can de-
termine the position he is to occupy. At
present he has not begun to feel the pres
ence of that temptation which is certain to
assail him as soon as he is fairly settled
in power. The fact that he is of necessity
regarded as representing that organized
element which had declared war
upon President Garfield, will subject him
to importantly and pressure such as no weak
man can be capable of withstanding. AT
this moment he intimates, and no doubt in
all sincerity, desire so to shape his
course that it shall avoid the rocks of fac.
tional intrigue and selfishness. This is ma
turally the initial desire of every gener.
ous-spirited man in such conjuncture. But
the tyranny of party, and still more of
faction, is more ruthless and persistent
than that of any dynastic despotism. Our
best Presidents have come out from under
the ordeal enfeebled and blanched, aged and
exhausted, and it would be difficult to name
one who did not find it necessary to sacri-
flee his early aspirations for the sake of
permission to live.
It is said of President Arthur that his
weakness is his worst fault; that he. has
always trusted too much to others that
he has always been too little disposed to
decide for himself. If that is his character
it would be mere sell. deception to try
to persuade ourselves that he can carry out
the programme indicated in his address. In
such a case we must content ourselves
with the reflection that at least his inten-
tions are good, and that if he is allowed to
follow them out he will satisfy the country.
But it is possible, on the other hand, that
he possesses more resolution than he has
been credited with. If that be so he may
agreeably disappoint the nation, and give it
an administration of which it can be
proud. At any rate there will be no
disposition to curtail his opportunities for
doing right. So far as taste is concerned it
must be admitted that he has shown very
thorough realization of what was proper
under the circumstances. Evidently he
wishes to be conservative and cautious. If
he calls the Senate together at once it will
be because that step is being urged upon
him by Senators, who are properly anxious
that the succession to the Presidency
should be provided for at once. His short
address will meantime do him good in the
public estimation.