The Rock Island Argus., 1882-01-13
FACTS For H1s ooNs1pEaAr1oN.

Previous to the accession of Gen. Arthur
to the Presidency, three Presidents
had reached that Office in consequence of
the death of the President. In the pre-
vious campaigns the second place on the
ticket had been accorded them to concil-
late the minority in the nominating con-
vention. Neither of these Vice-Presidents
enjoyed confidential relations with the
President, and when suddenly called to be
his successor it was felt that there would
be something more than mere nominal
| change in the Administration. 1t was
nevertheless generally believed that the
cardinal policy of the party would be
maintained.
Gen. Harrison survived his Inauguration
only month. 1t was supposed that Mr..
Tyler would carry into effect the financial
doctrines which had so signally triumphed
in the election of 1910. But after four
months of vacillation he discarded them,
and dismissed with a single exception,
the Harrison Cabinet, selecting his ad-
visors, and making his chief appoint
ments from the minority faction which
had been defeated in the nom
mating convention of the previous
year. He ultimately became the open oppo-
nent of the Wing party, and threw the
whole weight of his administration
against the election of Mr.. Clay as his sue
cessor
After being President year and four
months, Gen. Taylor died, in the midst of
the violent struggle over the slavery COM
promise measures of 1880 Mr. Fillmore,
who had opposed the nomination, of Gen.
Taylor, Immediately changed the whole
Cabinet, ignored the liberal policy of his
predecessor on the slavery question, turned
his back on Free Soil Wings of th type of
William III. Seward and led the party so
near to the gates of death that il was only
left to Gen. Scott, in the next Pre- sidential
contest to open the portals and allow it to
be consigned to the tomb which IN ad just
received its great founders, Daniel Webster
and Henry Clay.
The course pursued by Andrew 10 hnson
on the death of Mr. Lincoln is fresh in the
public recollection. Commencing with the
most vehement denunciation of the rebels,
he changed his position step by step, until
he was found in the last eighteen months
of his administration in undisguised hos
tility to the men and the measures that
had prevailed when Mr.. Lincoln was elect
ed to the Presidency the second time.
The lessons taught by these facts are
especially suggestive, because neither of
these three accidental Presidents began
his administration with the purpose of an
tagonizing the party which elected him to
the Vice-Presidency. They each took the
first step in that direction when they re-
pudiated the settled policy of the party on
some cardinal question, and played into
the hands of that branch of it which had
proved to be the minority. in the country
and in the convention for nominating the
President
During the contest for delegates to the
Chicago convention the republican party
gave ample proofs of its profound hostil-
ity to third Presidential term. At the
Gen. Grant was beaten fairly
and squarely on that issue. In view of
the precedents we have cited, it cannot be
wise for Gen. Arthur to conduct himself
in such manner as to create the impr es-
sion that he favors third term for Gan
7. San.