New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-06
THE ADMINISTRATION.
THE CHANGES OF SIX MONTHS.

APPARENT GROWING SENTIMENT AGAINST PolLI'
ICAL REMOVALS.
fFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRIBUSE.I
WASHINGTON, June SIT is now six months
since the opening of Congress, with which
the active Administration of President Arthur may
be said to have begun. During this time five out OF
the six new Cabinet officers have been appointed,
and all the steps taken which have now and then
aroused controversy in the party so that u Is
notinaccurae to say that the events OF these months
are the events of his Administration.
1t must be apparent TO everyone that marked
change has taken place during this interval in the
relations between the President and his party. or
that portion of the party with which his predecessor
was identified. 1t a very noticeable feature OF
the talk among Congressman and public men gener-
ally at the opening of the session that the men who
are knowa as Garfield Republicans not only ayowed
their intention to give President Arthur's Admins
tration their hearty support, but spoke, many OF
them, in the most hopeful manner of it's future
believing that it was to be really conciiatory
and that the President wonld for the sake or
his party, step away from his old political as
sOciations far enough TO take middle place. There
were some who, while ready 10 support the Admin
istraion. did not hesitate to express the opinion
privately among their friends that these anticipa-
tons would never be realized. They took the
ground that the school Of politics in which the
duration and intimacy of his political friendships.
were such that their influence would be too strong
for him. whatever his intentions might be. But pre-
dictons of this kind only heard IN confidential
talk, and they were not common. largo
proportion of the Garfield men were
sincerely hopeful of the Administration IL
is a fact which cannot be disputed that this feel
ing has now, to a large extent, passed away.
1t does not follow that there is any organized oppo-
sition to the Administration or that the Garheld
men of 1880 and 81 generally have drawn of from
il. Mr.. Couklings famous phrase OF loII-thaC
"parties make administrations; administrations do
not make parties"-was true in the sense III which
it was intended but in another it is not true. Ad-
ministrations do make parties. at least within par
ties and tie observer in Washington has to rub his
eyes now and then when he tries to convince himself
that this is only the middle OF 1882, and II is just
| two years since the Chicago Convention met.
| There has been the redistribution of men that
usually follow the incoming of a new Administra-
| ton. A number of the men who were known only
az Blaine men in 1880 are in close fellowship with
the StalYart Administration. The " Arthur man"
| has not come into visible existence yet perhaps but
| he casts his shadow before. and General Grant, 10
use the words of one of his supporters IN the Chicago
Convention has ceased to be an issue in American
politics. while If the term Grant Stalwart" sur
|
| therefore convenient.
II IS true that there is nothing like opposition
| 70 the Administration anywhere. There has been
| no factous obstruction of the confirmation OF any
| nomination sent in by tho President this session.
| But the number of Senators who find reasons TOT
| opposing nominations is increasing rather than
diminishing. and the number of Representatives
who feel that there is in their going to the
| White House TO carry the recommendations or
| their constituents regarding appointments II an
influential Stalwart lives in the district. seems
| TO be growing also succession OF Stalwart
appointments III New-York State, neither many
| nor very important, it is true but still
| mostly Stalwart has been followed by tho ap-
| noiutlnent of Collector at Boston against tho
| recommendation of both Massachusetts, senators
| and the whole Republican delegation in the House.
| with one or two exceptions, and against the over
| whclming sentiment of the party in that state,
| which they undoubtedly represented; and this has
| been followed by a course OF appointments In
| Pennsylvania which has helped TO split the party
| in that State squarely in two series ot events
like this conld not fail to have its effect even In
body like the Senate where a rule there is great
| sollcitude in both political parties to maintain
friendly relations with an Administration The ef-
fact is seen in expressions of disappointment with
| the Administration and in growing feeling that
| il will not be what was hoped
| The situation in the Senate has gone through
| several interesting changes not perceptlble on tho
surface of events. The long delay In the appoint
| ment of SOME representative OF the majority at
Chicago to one of the seven places in the Cabinet
brought about state of feeling III the Senate which,
for a time threatened something ike a storm.
Finally Mr. Chandler was appointed, AMI what
might be called disqualification Of the body fol-
lowed several New-England and several Western
| I'll rel afI inns wi
the Administration than they had before held. On
the other hand the Presidents course in Massachu-
setts Pennsylyania and New-York appointments,
and especially what has seemed to be his personal
alliance with Senator Cameron, have tended 10 torce
a number of the Ncw-England and Middle states
Senators, with one or two from the West-not into
opposition to the Administration, hut simply away
from it, There is no more di'hcuty, however IN
| securing contirmati n Of the Presidents appoint
| meuts than there before. No opposition 10
made TO them at any time except by Senators hav-
inc personal knowledge of facts in a PARTICULAR
case, which, as they think. call for negative yote
Attempts to organize opposition for the sake OF op-
| position are unheard of.
Thew would be useless il they should be made.
| The number OF Republicans who have shown by
| their votes now and then that they canno. follow
the Administration IN everything does not exceed
and in fact hardly reaches one-fourih OF the Repub
lican strength of the body and the Democrats are
usually ready toconfrm contested nominations with
the double purpose of helping along Republican dis
sensions and of mgratiating themselves with the
Administrations Combinations are therefore inev
table in almost every case, and the general tone
of the Senate is favorable TO the Administration
Men are not wanting, however, who, while thcy nave
| no relation TO the factonal differences that
axist in some of the States, ana are sup
nortiug the Administration, nevertheless tecl thai
the present tendency of affairs Is not encouraging
and that unless there is change the future of the