The Portland daily press., 1881-09-20
The President.

81 Despite the griefs and pains of men the
sswork of life must 90 forward. Hearts may
sssbe sore and heads bowed with sorrow but
asthe world goes round and the thoughts OF
Amen must turn from the dead to the living.
s3We cannot contemplate the past alone, al
llathough our minds are drawn to it by fresh
Hand strong emotion. Garfield, well loved
ssof the people, is dead, but the President
sggdoes not die. Chester A. Arthur is Presi-
l%dent and will be obeyed and respected ac-
ssscordingiy by the orderly and law-abiding
sScitizens Of this nation. He comes to the
place under singularly unfavorable cir
@cumstances.. 1t would be hard enough for
'1anybody to follow one so near the hearts of
athe people as the late President, but it is
Especially hard for Gen. Arthur because he
3Nhas been associated with those hostile to
Zthe late administration, although he has
lshimself always maintained friendly and be-
coming relations with his predecessor.
#These circumstances have aroused wide
sspread distrust of Gen. Arthur and have
led to great injustice of sentiment toward
sshim. 1t has been matter Of feeling rather
Ethan Of reason and viii gradually disappear
sswhen it is fairly and, considerably looked
gin the,face; and such fair consideration it
Els now the patriotic duty of every American
scirizen to gfve- to the n1abj joot----
1t must be remembered that Gen. Arthur
sgsis a gentleman of education and position, an
Gable and successful lawyer, man of expert
ssence in practical affairs who has shown great
Executive ability in important stations, a
Nsteady and consistent Republican from the
zearly anti-slayery days through all the strug-
Ssgles of the party for the national salvation
zSand well being, sound on all financial and
Seeonomic questions and well equipped by
training and natural powers forthe high du-
Hties which have come to him for fulfillment.
y He is enough of a man to realize the gravity
iSof his situation and to know that it is no
#time nor place to indulge in factional feel
Aing or to help anybody to work off old
Mgrudges. The whole history and character
ssof the man and his admirable conduct and
Abearing during the trying time since Garfield
sswas stricken down are sufficient guaranty
4 THAT his action will be conservative, discreet
Sand prudent. There will be no radical chang
sses Of policy and no disturbance of business in
Sterests The affairs Of the nation viii move
lon with scarcely a perceptible jar, and men
lwill sow and reap, buy and sell, go and come
Gin peace as before. Those who expect any
ssharm to the Republic from the accession of
Seen. Arthur to the Presidency are doomed
to pleasurable disappointment.
u The nation should do its part in solving
Hathe difficult problem by upholding the Pres
ssgdent's hands and helping him by kindly and
sghopeful words and acts to well accomplish
Sthe burdensome and delicate task which is
s2sgiyen him. Atthe very least let him have JUS
Ntice and fair play, let prejudices be subdued
kand let captious and unnecessary criticism
%be withheld. So shall we all fare better and
lessen as much as may be the great loss
(which the nation has sustained by the death
sEof him whom we all mourn to-day.