National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-04

taking the time necessary to inform his
mind before rendering judgment
But the statement is made that the
"Stalwart element" is especially dis
satisfied. By this it is meant that the
Republicans with whom the President
acted ut Chicago in 1880 are dissatisfied
because he does not make places for
them. 1t may be that sharp remem-
brance of the past causes some to wonder
why the President should hesitate to
prescribe those who were not long ago
demanding the prescription of all who
dared to differ with them in a party
nominating convention. Those who so
wonder are of the order called Stalwart
but they are only n portion of that
order. To them their Stalwart brethren
argue thus: There never was time
when it was right for q party President
to prescribe any of his party. The votes
which elevate him to his place are the
votes of political equals, and he has no
right to use the offices as rewards for
| those VINO make his nomination posi-
bic. This makes it important that no
nomination should ever be made posi-
BILE upon a condition the fulfllment
of which would involve injustice
toward any element of the party. If
this rule has at any time been violated
no justification is thereby afforded for
another violation of it, On the contrary,
if such course has stirred the party to
its depths and created furious strfes and
contentious, all the more reason exists
for calming down the feeling and taking
new start in the right direction. The
party cannot maintain itself except by
substantial unity. OF course no man OF
sense means by this that few NAL
contents should control the body of the
party by making their will the law of the
whole. But it is certain that we cannot
afford TO go into the next presidential
election-no, nor into this years congress
sional clections-with either side of the
last National Convention by itself 1t
was no test of Republicanism that man
should have been for or against Grant
Blaine, Sherman, or Garfield in that con-
vcntion. The election of Garfield and
| Arthur should have erased all lines be-
tween them.
That it failed TO have that effect is O
deplorOble fact.
The death Of General Garfield by the
base hand of an assassin brought party
strife 10 a standstill. The tragedy of his
sulierings before death had u Christening
effect upon the whole country. The new
President entered upon his duties op
pressed with an awful sense of the grea
and startling crime which had caused
the change. 1t would have been un
manly in him to avoid the response
bility, and he went forward.
What was he to do? Would any friend
have desired him to treat the death OF
President Garfield as Il victory for any
set of men? Or would any one say, OF
the other hand, that he should have held
himself ready TO do whatever his prede
cessor's self-appOinted executors saw fiji
to say would haye been his will? What
did he do? lie thoughtiully and rever
emily made himself the guardian ofevery
officially expressed wish Of the dead
President. He stopped not to inquire as
to the errors made in that President,
lifetime, nor into the factional antece
dents of those he had during the recess
, of the seEate appointed to places, He
F. chose to regard the general will and tc
! enforce do general though unexpresset
5 judgment, That Judgment was in
, terpreted to him by his own feelingsanC
! sense Of propriety, and it told him to per
, feet General Gardeld'sacts by nominating
r TO the Senate allwho had been appointet
by the latter during i4.ess, and whc