Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-17
Ianrastcr filtelllaenrer.
EVENING. MAY II, 1881.
Talking to Arthur.

Senator Mitchell has been TO see the
president to tell him that he should re-
call the nominations of the two Stalwart
Pennsylvania revenue collectors who
had only their Stalwartism to recon-
mend their nominations. He took occa-
sion to tell Mr.. Arthur the condition of
affairs in the Republican party in the
state, and to advise him that his COL
league, Senator Cameron, was running
the concern into the ditch. He re-
minded him of similar warning he had
given him last fall and generally took
occasion to deprive Mr.. Arthur of any
future opportunity of explaining that he
did not know what was going on in the
state. OF course Senator Mitchell had
no idea that he could turn Arthur away
from Cameron but his visit to him was
wise and manly movement :; it was
right that he, as Pennsylvania senator
and leader of his party by virtue of his
position, should tell the president just
what lie thought of his policy, what he
knew of its effects and what he intended
to do if it was persisted in. Senator
Mitchell has developed into bold,
square, open fighter.
President Arthur is quite the other
style of man. There is nothing open
about him as he told Senator Mitchell,
he has been for twenty-five years in the
practice of g practical politics in New
York city, and that is the practice
which he carries into the presidency. 1t
is obviously not one likely to make the
Office illustriouS or to adOrn his admins
tration with either fruit or flowers. The
devices of the New York city politician
are not the ones best adapted for presi-
dental use nor is the man who has
spent his life in their cultivation the
one best fitted to be president. Arthur,
by nature and education, is crooked. He
has not frank, open look. He averts
his eyes and in conversation looks any
where by preference rather than directly
at you. Nor does he reply directly. 1t
is not easy to get any information from
him. Senator Mitchell did not get any,
though he Was addressing him On 4 most
interesting topic and saying to him
things which seemed to call for a re-
sponse, and which would have received
it from an honest, open man. And yet
neither Senator Mitchell nor the public
are in any doubt as to what Arthur's
course is to be in Pennsylvania matters.
His silence was rs significant as words.
lie has well understood intlexibility
of character and depravity of mind
which leads him to stick, like the oyster
seed, where he has dropped, and the
rOugher the place in moral way the
closer he clings.
There used to he All idea, derived from
his reticence, that he was smart. People
who keep quiet tongues in their heads
are apt to get credit for having long
heads, because they are not always de-
monstrating their Stiffness. But man
who is president cannot long hide his
real self and it is becoming apparent
enough that Arthur is not any more
wise than he is honest. He does not
know much nor reason much, but is
good deal of al animal; a big OK, in
truth, who can stand in the field and fill
his belly with rich grass, chewing his
cud, rushing at red rag occasionally
and finally getting butchered. We will
have him for roast at the Democratic
barbecue in 1884.