Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-09-13
Why Waltz

TUESDAY EVENING. SEPT. 13, 1881.
Why Waltz
For period of seventy days the
United States have been without an ex-
ecutive head. No one will say, no one,
indeed, has ever said, that the stricken
president, suffering under the most COM
plete disability, is such a head. Until
the day of his removal to Long Branch
no member of the cabinet had seen him
or spoken with him and then they saw
him, if they saw him at all, only as
other persons here and there in the null
titude, caught glimpse of the wasted
features and shrivelled form as the
patient was handled by the same doctors
and attendants who have maintained a
close circle around him from the second
day of July last. During all this time
not the smallest matter of public busi-
ness could have been brought to his at
tentiOn, except at the imminent peril of
his life. The "powers and duties " Of
his great Office have therefore been, and
are still, suspended. They have not been
devolved upon the vice president, as the
constitution distinctly provides they
shall be, when the president is unable to
discharge them. Why?- The people are
unanimously and supremely anxious to
see Gen. Garfield, whom they elected for
that purpose, rise from his bed of pain
and go about the administration of the
government. But they will not have it
administered in his name, but without
his supervision, without even his knowl-
edge, by an irresponsible, perhaps an in
harmonious council, in open and fragrant
violation of the constitution. There is
absolutely no difference of opinion as to
this. All admit that such agOvernment
is simply usurpative and revolutionary.
More than a week ago Secretary Win
dom admitted the extreme urgency of
the case as fOllows-we copy from the
Philadelphia Press:
"Wo have reached no decision as to what
to advise, nor indeed have we formally
considered the question, but there is no
doubt that some of the departments are
in need of the executive signature in var
ious matters that should not be delayed.
As far as my department is concerned the
reverse is the case. have been surprised
to find how smoothly We could 60 ON for
two months without the Intervention of
the executive. There arc many things
about which should have liked the cOun-
sci and advice of the president before
taking action, but as far as mere execu-
tive acts are concerned, nothing is suffer-
ing for the want of a president. There
are no papers to be signed by him that
cannot as we'll wait without ill.,
convenience or embarrassment be-
cause of the presidents disability. In
other departments, however, understand
that 50 much cannot be said. We have
entire confidence in Vice President Ar
thur, and rs far as he is concerned there is
no danger. The chief danger lies in
broaching tho subject to the president
himself, as there may be some difference Of
opinion rs to the time when he will be
able to give it consideration without ex-
citing him and imperiling the progress of
his recovery. The only aim of the vice
president would be to do as nearly as pos
sibls what President Garfield would do
were he in health. There is reason to be-
lieve that as soon as the president is able
to be removed one of the physicians, prob
ably Dr.. Bliss, will be requested to
broach the subject. He will say that the
physicians have decided that he should be
allowed a period of two or three months
uninterrupted convalesceuce during which
his mind should be relieved of all cares !;
that this time will, at least, elapse
hafo,., l,o will In .,1Nlo fo aSs,u,o IN
duties of Office, and in the meanwhile it has
been suggested that the vice president be
asked to assume the responsibility of the
executive office. 1t is believed that the
president will ttereupon sign proper
paper announcing the facts to the people
and commenting tho nation to the vice
president While there are no matters of
executive routine alone absolutely demand.
ing executive action at the present time it
is important that several applications of
condemned and sentenced murderers for a
etay Of proceedings and review, on the
ground of newly-discovered evidence,
should be considered. There are one or
two men believed to have been improperly
convicted, whose cases will soon demand
executive consideration.
This is, of course, the mildest state
ment that could be made at that time.
But business and difficulties increase
with every day, until the blockade must
be broken. The cabinet, it appears from
this statement and others equally
authoritative, fully appreciate the stu
alton, understand the duty imposed
upon them, and recognize the obligation
of the constitution. Secretary Window
.intimated that they proposed to act
when the president should be removed
to Long Branch /; but they have not
done so and make no other sign than
that they made at Washington. This
removal, moreover, complicates the case
still further. The president is not only
confessedly disabled in the constitution
al sense as we'll as in every other, but he
now lies at q distance from the capital,
the officers and records of the govern
ment, with no possibility of the slightest
communication between him and them.
IF he were on desert island, far out in
the high seas, with no means Of cOmmu-
nication with the world, he would not
be more completely isolated than he is
now on his weary bed in the Francklyn
cottage, with a nation listening to catch
the whispers of the doctors, as to the
low chickering's of a life nearly hope.
less.