New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-22
zss0s.g ), z. "a .,rg,l
THE POLIYICAL POSITION

THE POLITICAL POSITION
4 President Arthur stands in a peculiar and
most unenviable position. A great burden has
i been placed upon him under most trying cir
] cumstances.
s. With General Arthur in the Vice Presidents
Il seat there was a bare majority of one in the
Senate when Senator Malone voted with the
8 Republicans. But the chair of the Vice-Prcsi-
5dent is empty. With every seat in the Senate
8 full, Senator Malone voting as BEFORE there
& would be a tie. But the Senators from New
y \ ork and successor of Senator Burnside of
I Rhode Island, will not be in their seats until
they have taken the oath of Office and it is
the declared purpose of a portion Of the Dem
ocrats at least, 10 insist upon the election of IA
President of the Senate before these Senators
can take part in the proceedings. A Pres
I ident of the Senate elected mt a time
when three Republican Senators were excluded
I from their seats would naturally be a Demo-
crat. If the Democratic party seizes this means
1 OF securing an advantage, the contingency of
the sudden death of President Arthur would
! transfer the Executive power to Democratic
hands.
There is no occasion for public alarm, nor
danger OF anarchy. In the worst event, the
people who have met calmly the emergen-
cies of civil war, and the violent deaths of
{ two Presidents, could be trusted to shane
( for themselves a mode of continuing the func-
tons and authority of Government which all
4 loyal citizens would support. Bat some dis
4 turbance and serious apprehension would at
! this time result from any illness Of President
! Arthur or accident to him. If his train had
Y been thrown from the track yesterday or il
4 the malarial atmosphere of Washington should
: cause sickness, or if some lunatic sbould
-.
81 think 1T his mission to bring about another
Z change in the Government, the situation
would be such as to test to the utmost
q the capacity of the people for self-gov
u ernment. For as matters stand, there
lis no President of the Senate nor Speaker of
(, the House. and no one could act as President
h in case of the death or inability of General
q Arthur, until special election had been called
8 and held. True, these are mere contingencies
y But they are removed from us only by the
= life of one man.
Y special session of Congress would raise
81 some curious difficulties. The Republican Sen
g ators might possibly refuse to make n ouorum
q upon any vote in the Senate until the three
81 duly elected members had been admitted To
q seats BY mere technical trickcry, it would he
q possble for the Dem ocrats to completely re-
q organize the Senate, before admitting three
Hmembers who have perfect right to partici-
s. pate in any important business of the session.
Il and the Republicans might therefore, see fit 10
" prevent this by resorting to the same tactics
8 which the Democrats themselves employed for
IA long time at the last session. The proper
n and equitable solution is that steps shall
Sbe taken by common consent to admit
q the duly elected members to seats
q before proceeding to organize, as is done when
n ever a new House of Representatives assem-
d bles. But even if this were done, the Senate
\ would be equally divided, and organization
a might be difficult.
a The new President will be much embarrassed
q in any action that he may wish to take, by
81 this peculiar condition of the Senate If he
q calls that body together he cannot feel conf
', dent that it will help him in making any i'm
q portant changes. The Democratic members
a will easily find pretcxts for opposing him
q wherever party advantage can be gained by
opposition. Many of the Republican members
81 will also be disposed to resist any reversal of
"a the policy of his predecessor In truth, the
81 position of the new President will be an ex-
q cecdingly difficult one, if he does his utmost
a to accord with public sentiment in every re-
a spect. He will need, even in that case, all the
"A generous support and kindly sympathy which
3 good citizens give him. And, should he
81 wish to depart in any important respect from
81 the policy adopted by the late President the
difficulties Of his position would be very greatly
"a Increased.