Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-28
The New Regime The Time for
silence Past.

Silence Past.
A month has elapsed since President
Arthur assumed the chair vacated By his
lamented predecessor. For over fort
night the Senate has been in session
ready to lend him its assistance IN the
matters he might bring to its notice.
The public had a right to expect that by
this time the President would be in a
position TO at least indicate the character
Of administration that he proposes to
endeavor to give it. Thus far, aside
from the somewhat delphic deliverances
of the President in the capitol, where
the corpse Of his predecessor was lying,
he has given no hint as to his course.
True, the President avowed that he
would cherish the aims of Garfield, but
that declaration was a pure generality,
and the time has come for something
specific. In the absence of official out
givings, the people are compelled to
judge from what they see. People who
think most kindly of the President, and
wish him well, are fast realizing that he
is a comely vessel for that unspeakable
bore, Grant, to play upon, and unless he
shakes him off speedily he will lose his
individuality in the minds of the public.
Regret it is we may, the signs become
clearer from day to day that stalwartism
has been revived, and that the "Old
Guard" are soon to be restored. The
Presidents peculiar management of the
Treasury vacancy leaves the strongest
ground for the impression, which is ex-
tending, from day to day, that Mr.. Conk-
ling, at his convenience, is to preside
over the department. True, Judge Fol
ger has been selected, but we are told
that he will soon be transferred to the
Supreme Court. The conviction has
settled in the minds of most people that
whoever fills the Treasury will vacate it
for COnkling. In reappointing Mr..
James to the Post Office Department the
President has done wisely, for Mr.. James
is thoroughly fitted to conduct the ser
vice on business principles, and thus far
has shown a resolution to do so.
1t may be the Presidents right to leave
the other departments in statu quo for
the time, but when he could deal openly
with the people and let them see from
the character of his advisers the nature
of his policy, he lays himself open to
misjudgment on the part of the public
by his delay. If he knows his mind, he
has had ample time to satisfy the natu
raj interest and curiosity of the people.
We are on the eve of no great events.
There is no need of sphinx like taciturni.
ty, and, though there was time for
silence on the part of the Executive,
that time has passed. He is doing him
self injustice, and assuming an attitude
unbecoming to his station.
If we are to have.a broad and national
administration the fact should be an
nounced, and the men who are to give
it to US made known. On the other
hand, if the old order of things, which
Mr. Garfield was setting his face against,
is to be revived we should be told so at
once. 1t may suit the President to defer
everything that he can till the meeting
of Congress, but every hour of delay.
and every act of seeming submission
to the badgering or dictation of Grant,
lessons the confidence Of the people in
the man whom circumstances have
placed in the highest post in the land.
The impudence and assurance of Grant
are offensive to many and disgusting to
more of the American people. As
body they repudiated him long ago, and
his own party turned its back on him.
His counsels are dangerous because
ignorant, and he is the last man that any
President, who would win the confidence
and retain the respect Of the American
public would select as his mentor The
Presidents task at best is an uphill one,
but if he handicaps himself with the load
that Grant would bring to him he will
stagger and fall. If he would reach the
top he must throw him off
The people have right to know what
the President proposes to do. They
know what he ought to do, and it is the
hope of every good citizen that that is
what he will do. But whatever be his
purposes they want to know them, and
the time has come when they should be
informed.