Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-25
The Vice President and the People.

The Vice President and the People.
General Hancock is reported to have
said in q recent conversation that he re-
garded Vice President Arthur as high
minded, honorable, patriotic gentleman.
and that he believed, should be be called
to the Presidency, that he would as
charge the duties of the Office for the
best interests of the country. IDS
from one so high toned, so conservative
and level headed as is General Hancock,
is warm commentator for the Vice
President. and will, no doubt, do much
n allay the feeling Of distrust with
which the masses of the people regard
him and which his conduct has done so
much to create.
The Vice President has, unhappily,
had but little opportunity to appear to
advantage Prior to his elevation to the
Vice Presidency he had attracted the
notice of the public as Collector of the
port of New York. The charges as to
his manner of conducting his office were
preferred by Republican administra-
ton, and he was removed 1t is not
necessary to go into the merits of the
question. Mr.. Sherman made a strong
case against him, and, in spite Of the
efforts Mr.. Conkling made in his behalf,
he was ousted.
There can be little doubt that his
nomination at Chicago was an outlet for
Mr.. Conkling's pique, and a slap in the
face to the so-styled "doughface" ele-
ment of the party. The people, how
ever, elected Mr.. Arthur with their eyes
open. His unftness was urged by the
Democrats, and was not very vigorously
disputed. Whatever may be said Of
him, and however justly the people view
his course, when as President of the
Senate he steadily pursued the line OF
the partisan and shared largely in bring
ing about the failure of the Senate to
elect substitute for himself, as was its
manifest duty, he is the constitutional
representative of the people to whom
they must look to take the reins Of gov
eminent should the President continue
disabled or die.
We are free to say that We do not &C
cord with General Hancock in his esti-
mate of the man, though we credit him
with sufficient good sense to be confident
as to whereof he speaks. We have re-
garded Mr.. Arthur as a pliable politi-
clan, and for that reason, together with
the absence of any specially marked
qualifications for the office, We have
been unwilling to entertain the idea of
his succession to the Presidency.
But should he be unhsppily called
to the Office, be will have it in his power
to allaY all distrust, however well
founded, by rising above faction and
party, and, by pursuing a broad, liberal,
national policy, reconcile all good citi-
zens to his conduct of affairs. The first
thing that reconciled the South to Mr..
Garfield was the happy consciousness
that he was actually elected. She ex-
pected nothing from him, nor
did he promise great deal.
What he did promise, however, was
put in such liberal, manly spirit that a
feeling Of trust and hope Of further in
dependence on his part was everywhere
begOtten. To that feeling of trust has
been added respect for the nlustrious
sufferer, whose fOrtitude has won all
hearts, and it is not strange that the peo-
pie are 10th to contemplate his prolonged
disability, much less the misfortune of
his death.
While Mr.. Arthur could not hope to
measure up to the standard of his supe-
riOr, yet, if he should resolve to be the
President Of a people and sink party to
the best of his ability, he would earn the
confidence Of all sensible citizens, and
would encounter no factious opposition
from the Southern Democracy. We
trust that President Garfield will be
spared for the completion of his labors,
but should he be called to a higher
sphere We shall not despair of his sue
cessOr.
Should he choose the role of partisan,
prove deaf to the call of duty, and turn
his back on the golden opportunity that
would be within his reach. time and the
good sense of the people would correct
the evil he might do. On the other
hand. should he, moved by the eloquence
Of the occasion, grasp the lesson of the
hour and plant himself on the rock Of
patriotism, and ignore faction. he would
| be trusted and sustained.