The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-28
assumption of the duties of the Presiden.

assumption of the duties of the Presiden-
tial Office 20
mo. The people have already deter
mined that by the way they have treated
and considered this subject during the last
eighty days. The judgment of the people
on this point is as apparent to US as an
open book-that although the hest and
distemper of faction may disorder weak
minds and leads such men as Guiteau to
crime, as in this case, yet it is not intended
that anybody else who happened to belong
to one of those factions should in the
slightest degree be held criminally respon-
sible. Time has permitted the people to
examine into these matters fully, and they
have come to a determination which makes
it certain that Mr.. Arthur's assumption of
the duties of this office will be as peaceful
as if he had been duly elected President of
the United States. Necessarily a success
sion arising out of assassination will always
throw pail ever an Administration of
few brief years, no matter how wisely or
well that administration is conducted, and
therefore it is well for the people of the
country to Tighten those surroundings as
much as possible.
New York world, Dem.,)l
Not as matter of sentiment not as a
matter of sympathy, but as matter of
that sober, patriotic common sense which
is the true and cheap defense of our Amer
lean institutions, good citizens of all shades
of POLITICAL opinion will lead to President
Arthur the silent but substantial support
of their confident belief that the dread re-
sponsibilities which fall upon him to day
will find him ready and determined to dis
charge them in a spirit of loyalty to his
own highest convictions of public duty.
A man must be more or less than man
indeed upon whom such responsibilities
could fall in circumstances SO pathetic and
so painful without stirring all the best and
strongest instincts of his nature. The
political opponents of the new Executive
will have time enough and to spare for
dealing with his policy in conflict and in
criticism. Let us all remember to-day that
the universal sorrow brings to him sharp
er and sterner personal trial than to any
other citizen of the republic.
[St. Louis Republican Oem.)
No man, not even that product of fraud, |
President Hayes, has ever gone into the
office of chief magistrate of this nation un- |
der such embarrassing circumstances as |
President Arthur. The very embarrass
ments that environ him may, however, de- |
velop the best that is in him and make him |
a greater and better president than if he |
had reached his position in the natural /
way. 1t is not impossible fer him to prove
an agreeable disappointment and we mean |
to anticipate the best until the record is |
made up. We believe this is the universal
sentiment of democrats and it is feeling |
doubtless shared also by large majority |
of the republicans. The way is open, I
therefore, for Mr. Arthur to be the presi |
dent of the whole people and not the mere |
tool of scheming partisans. If he arouses |
rancor and hate and political dissension |
he will have nobody but himself to blame. |
Utica Herald, Sept. 20.l
President Garfield died too soon-too /
soon for the high purposes which he had
formed for his administration, for the |
national reconciliation of which he had |
become the architect and harbinger; for |
the progress of humanity, to which he
fondly hoped to contribute something; too
soon for the nation and for the world. |
President Arthur had before him every op- /
portunity. He viii have the sympathy Of |
all citizens in his trying position. He will I
receive the support of his party not only, |
but of the country in adhering to the spirit |
and the measures which his predecessor has
to the people. He will be gener |
ously judged. He win have hard task, |
but success in it will bring rewards worthy |
of every effort.
For the immediate future on any theory, |
President Arthur must seek to carry out |
the plans and purposes of Garfield. The |
transfer of authority must be personal
and not factional or partisan. AS
little friction as possible must be permitted
under the aff1iction which has befallen the
land. This counsel applies to the incom- |
ing President 1t applies quite as impera
lively to every citizen in his individual
and still more to every source of
influence and of public sentiment.