Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-02
A Political Administration.

President Arthur certainly merits COM
mendation for candor, if nothing else.
It required a considerable amount OF
boldness for him to openly assert, as he
did to visiting delegation of Southern
Republicans in Washington few days
ago, that 1.-TWO main objects will charac-
terize my course as President of the
United States. will do all in my power
to build up and strengthen the Republi-
can party in the North, and all in my
power to break up and disintegrate the
Democratic party of the South" Most
Presidents of the United States would
have preferred to express higher and
nobler aims for their administrations, and
even if they felt the. greatest possible
anxiety to use their high Office as the
means of acquiring political capital for
their party, would have been exceedingly
cautious about permitting the world to
know it. Mr.. Arthur, however, is Of
different mould. He evidently regards
the Presidency only as a political ma
chine to be run in the interests of the
political party represented by the Presi-
dent, and he is candid enough so to de-
clare.
1t is also very evident that Mr.. Arthur
means exactly what he says, as he has
already proven his words by his acts.
Since he has been in Office he has de-
voted his every energy solely to the ad-
vancement of the interests of the Radi-
cal party, and he has permitted no
scruples to stand in the way of the &C
complishment of his designs. When he
deemed it necessary to strengthen his
party by endorsing reputation in Vir-
ginis he unhesitatinglY did so, regardless
of the fact that even if such a course did
serve to secure Republican success, its
inevitable effect would be to bring the
Federal Government and his administra-
ton into disrepute throughout the world.
So also when he saw that he could make
political point by removing laggards or
uninfuential members of his own party
from Office, he did so at once, and not only
snubbed lifelong Republicans, but gave
places and position to recreant Democrats
on condition that they should hereafter
work to increase the strength of Radical
ism in their respective communities.
Truly in such course as this Mr.. Arthur
has shown most Enthusiastically what he
regards as the true end and aim of
his administration.
1t is not strange that Mr.. Arthur's in
clinations tend in this direction. 1t is a
very homely but a very expressive and
foTcible saying that cit is hard to teach
an old dog new tricks" and it is next to
impossible to change mans habits and
ideas after he has advanced in years and
they have, by long practice, custom and
education, became portion of his char
acter. Mr.. Arthur's political world had,
until he became so suddenly and unex-
pectedIy Republican nominee for Vice
President of the United States, been
confined almost wholly to New York
city, where his life had been, for many
years, occupied in manipulating local
politics and maneuvring to secure To-
cal successes for New York Republi-
cans. When. therefore, he drew the
first prize in the lottery of assassination,
he could not divest himself of habits
which had become with him a fixed
principle, and as he had been
always accustomed to act IN New
York. so he proceeded to continue to
act in WashingtOn-t.0 make his office
the means, ss Tar as possible, of promot-
ing partisan success. To one of his po-
litical education and mode of thought the
Presidency Of the United States was, in
principle, the same as the Collectorshlp
of Customs of the port Of New York.
Both were first to be used to secure par
tisan triumphs, and the only difference
between the two positions was that the
scope of one was greater and wider than
the other. To his mind the chief end of
the Presidency was to advance Radical
ism in the United States, while the chief
end of the New York Collectorship was
to promote the growth of the Republi-
can party in New York city and State.
While, however, this may be Mr.. Ar
thurs idea of the main use to which his
high Office should be put, and he may
conceive it his first duty to manage that
Office for the benefit Of his party, he will
discover that his course will reflect no
credit either upon himself or his admin
istration. The people Of the United
States, even those who voted for the
ticket upon which he held the
second place, expect something
more dignified and of more lasting
and substantial benefit to the country
from the Chief Magistrate of the Repub
lie than that he should condescend to be
q mere political tool, and prostitute the
office honOred by Washington and JEFF
ferson to partisan uses. In other words
they expect the President of the United
States to be something more than ward
politician. ANY administration, there
fore, conducted on the principle which
Mr.. Arthur enunciates as his guiding
policy, can neither secure the confidence
nor admiration of the country, nor
adorn a bright and honorable page in
American history.
Representative Robertson, Of Louisi-
ana has introduced q bill In the House